Vegetable Planting

Posts Tagged ‘growing your own vegetables’

Material

There are many ways to construct the edges of a vegetable bed and many materials that can be utilised. These include lumber, brick, stone, metal and plastic My preference is to use lumber in the form of railway sleepers (or ties).

Construction

The big advantage of my chosen material is that the job is simple and easy to complete quickly, although you may need a friend to assist as the sleepers are heavy. It is the weight that keeps the sleepers basically in place.

Steps to take

Firstly see what sizes of sleeper, or similar lumber, are available from your local supplier. It is much easier to adjust the size of your vegetable bed than to cut the sleepers to length, although some cutting may be required. A standard size is 8ft x 8in x 2in but there are many variations. Some of my beds are two sleepers long and one sleeper wide while others are one sleeper by one half sleeper. It all depends upon fitting the bed to your available space.

Layout

Lay out string lines to mark the outside edges of your vegetable bed remember that the thickness of the sleeper will add to one of the edges.

Now simply lay the sleepers on edge to match the string lines. While the weight of the sleepers will generally keep them in place they can topple if grandchildren climb on them.

Securing the sleepers

Again there a different ways to secure the sleepers, using pegs hammered into the ground, nailing or screwing the corners or using metal brackets.

Completed bed

My preferred method utilizes galvanised metal brackets place around the corners and across any lengthwise joins. The sleepers are drilled with clearance holes to suit the brackets and galvanised bolts fitted and tightened.

Corner joint

This gives a secure construction while still allowing some movement for final position adjustment if required.

Sleeper to sleeper join

Vegetable garden design does not need to be difficult. Follow these tips and your garden can be productive, practical and beautiful.

Size

Consider what space you have available for planting the types of vegetables you wish to grow. Read the rest of this entry »

Fall is a bounteous time for harvesting vegetables. But what fall vegetables are the top 10 from the viewpoint of the home gardener?

1. Pumpkins

These are the most impressive. Not only are pumpkins relatively easy to grow (as long as they receive enough water) but the large varieties like “Hundredweight” are great for carving Haloween lanterns. The fruits themselves keep for weeks if stored in a cool, dry place, and could encourage small children to each healthily. Read the rest of this entry »

Growing radishes is ideal way to introduce new or impatient gardeners to the hobby. Some radishes are ready within six weeks of planting – possibly sooner if you have good weather.

Apart from taking such a short amount of time to grow, the other great thing about radishes is that they are not too fussy about where you put them in your garden. The ideal spot is somewhere that receives partial sun. If you give them too much light they will go to seed quickly. Too much shade, and they will not flourish.

If your soil is not enriched with composted organic matter do not worry Read the rest of this entry »

Many more people are now turning to a Home Vegetable Garden, as a means of saving some money on their weekly grocery bill.

Vegetable planting can be really easy and simple to do, and it does not matter whereabouts you live or what size garden you have available to you, you can grow lovely fresh vegetables.   Working a home vegetable garden is becoming more popular, especially as the credit crunch really bites hard – we are all looking for ways to save money. With vegetable planting you can not only save money, you can eat more healthily,  get out into the fresh air and also get more exercise. Read the rest of this entry »