VIBRANT VEGGIES & MAGNIFICENT MICROGREENS

By Juliet Almendro

A step-by-step guide to growing at home

Although planting, nurturing, and harvesting your own produce can be rewarding and filled with fun, it can also be a quite daunting experience for those of us who don’t know how or where to start.

Here are some of our top tips on creating a thriving veggie garden in your own space:

1. Build a raised plant bed The soil in a raised bed is often less compacted, and will drain better than soil in the ground. Additionally, having raised beds will make it much easier for you to spot any pest issues, as your crops will be higher off the ground. And that’s not to mention how much your back will thank you!

2. Place your plant bed in a prime position Be sure to choose a spot that receives full sun for most of the day so that your crop can photosynthesize optimally.

3. Add high-quality soil, compost, and some fertiliser This combination will ensure a healthy environment for your seeds to prosper, as it will stimulate plant growth and aid water retention.

4. Plant your crop in a triangular formation By planting in this way, you’ll create an extra bit of room for your veggies to grow. This, in turn, will reduce their risk of stress, disease, and insect invasion. Alternatively, you can encourage vining crops to climb upwards by adding trellises on the sides of your raised bed. By doing this, you’ll allow the vining crops to enjoy improved air circulation, which can reduce the potential of them experiencing fungal diseases. Simply secure your trellises to sturdy end posts with string or nylon mesh and tie your vines to the trellis.

5. Border your veggies with natural security Plant some parsley or marigold around the edges of your plant bed to keep pests away.

6. Water generously once a week Water your veggies heavily once a week, instead of a little bit every now and then. This will force the roots to reach further down into the soil to get moisture, thus improving self-sufficiency.

7. Harvest regularly and remove old blooms This will encourage new growth. As an alternative, you can also plant your crops in succession to allow you to grow more than one type of vegetable per season. For example, you could follow an early crop of lettuce with a fast-maturing corn, followed by more greens. Just be sure to replenish the soil each time you replant.

The best veggies to grow in a raised plant bed:

• Root vegetables • Leafy greens • Onions • Tomatoes • Potatoes

For those of you without a garden, don’t worry! You can still grow your own delicious greens, without even setting foot outside. Microgreens are not only jam-packed with a tremendous amount of nutrients, but also really easy to grow.

Microgreens…

1. May help prevent chronic disease 2. Are high in vitamins (especially vitamins A, C, E and K), minerals, and antioxidants 3. May assist in lowering cholesterol and blood pressure 4. Contain 40 times more nutrients than their mature plant counterparts 5. May aid in weight management as part of a balanced, healthy diet 6. Are considered a probiotic, as they feed good gut bacteria

What you need to grow microgreens:

• Sprouting seeds • A glass or ceramic container with a lid • A growing mat or pad (hemp, coconut, jute, or natural fibre) • Water • Light (natural or artificial) • A mist spray bottle for watering • Scissors to harvest

How to grow microgreens:

1. Soak your seeds for six to eight hours, or according to package specifications. 2. Soak the growing mat and place it in a container or baking dish. 3. Spread the seeds out as evenly as possible and ensure that they remain moist until they sprout. 4. Cover the container with a lid and place it near a light source during this same stage. 5. Remove the lid once most of the seeds have sprouted. 6. Water daily with a mist spray bottle, aiming at the roots. 7. Once there are about four or more leaves present on the plant, harvest by cutting the shoots just above ground level with a pair of scissors.

The best types of seeds to grow on a mat:

• Broccoli • Kale • Rocket • Radish • Chia • Beetroot • Spinach • Cabbage • Coriander • Fenugreek • Basil