Basic Guidelines for Growing Vegetables
Received Wisdom
As well as choosing vegetables that are easier to grow, there are a few other guidelines that are worth following to improve successful growing and crop yields. As in any walk of life, rules are made to be broken but only by those who know what they are doing and who are in a position to assess the likely consequences. For most of us, these are guidelines that are well worth observing.
Crop Rotation
Much of what you grow in the garden can be grown in the same plot of land year after year as long as you ensure the right balance of nutrients and a few trace elements (see soil fertility). In the case of most vegetables, however, this is not always wise.
Vegetable crops are susceptible to a variety of pests and diseases, which tend to build up in the soil if the same crop is grown repeatedly. In addition, each kind of vegetable has its own specific demands on the nutrients in the soil so it is easy for these to get out of balance.
The solution to this problem is to grow different vegetables each year in the same plot of land – a practice referred to as 'crop rotation'. For gardeners this is usually operated on a three year cycle, typically consisting of:
- Root vegetables, such as potatoes, beetroot, parsnips or carrots
- Brassicas (or cabbage family), such as cabbage, kale, cauliflower, sprouts, broccoli or Swedes
- Other vegetables that don't belong to either of the above two groups, such as beans, celery, cucumber, lettuce, onions, peas or cucumber.
If you only have a small plot your only option may be to select different vegetables to grow each year. If you have more space you can establish a number of plots and rotate the vegetables between the plots in successive years.
There are a few plants, such as rhubarb, that don't fit with this plan for the simple reason that they need to remain permanently in the same place. If you wish to grow these, you will need to have another plot in addition to the land used for crop rotation.
Quality Seed
Considering the amount of investment you will need to make in terms of garden space, time and energy, it simply isn't worth skimping on the quality of seed you buy. That means selecting carefully the varieties you want to grow, buying from reputable suppliers, buying in good time for when you need to sow them and storing them in an air tight container in a relatively cool place until you are ready to sow them.
Clearly in this respect you need to do a little forward planning, such as what do you fancy eating, how do you want to use the space available to you as well as timings for sowing and harvesting. You can glean a great deal of information to help you with these decisions from the seed catalogues that are available from seed merchants or published on the Internet. You'll find a few good UK suppliers listed on our Links page.
You can usually obtain seeds for more popular vegetables from your local garden centre or nursery. If you fancy more exotic varieties then you may have to resort to specialist seed suppliers. Bear in mind that you can often save by getting together with a few other gardeners in your vicinity to buy seed in larger quantities at a discount. Alternatively you may be able to buy all that you need from a local allotment society.
Preparing the Ground
A good crop of anything is only possible from fertile soil that has been well prepared.
If you plan to use neglected land then it will require digging over, the removal of perennial weeds and any debris that has accumulated (see advice on digging). The best time to start this work is at the end of the growing season in preparation for the following year's growth – that means late autumn to early winter. At this stage, the aim should not be to produce the final seed beds but to open up the ground so that winter frosts can get in to eliminate some of the pests and to naturally break down the larger clumps of earth. Unless you are planning to grow root vegetables, you also need to incorporate a layer of compost or manure to help improve the texture of the soil.
As the ground begins to warm up at the start of spring, you can start preparing the actual seed beds. Finish the work left behind by the winter frosts of breaking down the clumps of soil until you have a fine tilth. At this stage you should rake in a layer of balanced fertilizer. Depending on the crop you intend to sow, you may also need to add a little lime if your soil tends to be acidic. You can check this yourself using one of the readily available, soil testing kits.
Sowing at the proper time
The right time for sowing depends on what you are planning to grow, where you are in the world and your local conditions. There are usually plenty of sources of information and advice, as mentioned above, such as allotment growers, other enthusiastic gardeners, local nurseries, garden centres or seed catalogues.
Even when you know the appropriate time of year to sow, you should take account of the weather conditions. Ideally the soil needs to be moist but not waterlogged and you want the ground to be easily workable.
Some crops can be sown over an extended period of time which can be helpful for those vegetables that don't store well such as lettuce. The idea is to sow seed a little at a time throughout the recommended sowing season. Thereby, you should also be able to harvest the crop over an extended period and always at just the right time when the plants are at their peak condition for eating and most succulent.
Dealing with pests
There are all kinds of enemies in your garden that are intent on ruining your crops or on consuming them before you have the opportunity to harvest them. The answer is to be vigilant and act quickly at the first signs of attack by disease, insects or animals.
You can take pre-emptive action to protect from some pests. So, for example, if rabbits are a problem you might try installing physical barriers to keep them out or you might try discouraging them with plants that they dislike such as geraniums or daffodils (see repelling rabbits).
Other pests, such as slugs and snails, present something of an unending battle. You can never eradicate them completely from your garden because they will always invade again from neighbouring gardens. However there are measures you can take to control their numbers and thereby minimise the damage they cause to your crops (see dealing with slugs and snails).
In the case of disease and insects, you will have much less trouble if your plants are strong and healthy, which means the best seeds in well prepared soil combined with generally good husbandry. Beyond that, any action you take will depend on your gardening philosophy – that is primarily your attitude towards using chemicals in your garden. Whatever your preferences, you will find a range of treatments available at your local garden centre. The important rule is to recognise each problem early and then act quickly. Thereby you minimise any damage, save yourself effort and usually save cost as well.
Harvesting
Commercial growers invariably harvest their crops at the stage that they command highest prices from the markets, but this does not necessarily correspond with when the vegetables are at their most tender or have most flavour. From this point of view, vegetables are often at their best when they are still young and therefore small. If you are growing your own, there is no reason why you shouldn't harvest them at this stage and enjoy the best of quality and taste.
As mentioned earlier, some crops can be sown over an extended period so that they can be harvested and their freshness enjoyed over an extended period.
There are also some vegetables such as peas and beans that need to be harvested as soon as they mature on the plant. If this is done conscientiously the plants will continue to crop time and again, whereas cropping will quickly end if a few mature pods are left on the plants.
Keeping Records
Conditions vary considerably from place to place, including for example climate and soil. Add to these such variables as quality of seeds, times of sowing, level of care and types of pests. The result is that some vegetables will do much better than others and it is worth making a note of as many variables and results as possible. These records do not need to be extensive or complicated but simply keeping a brief diary of what you do when you do it and any significant notes about how you do it will be of tremendous help when you consider how successful or otherwise you have been.
In effect, simple records are one of the best ways of building your expertise. They will help you to identify and address any problems. They will also help you to build on your successes and do even better in future.
Learn from the Experts
If you want to learn more about growing vegetables from someone with plenty of success and experience behind him, then check out
"Successful Home Gardening" by E Gordon Wells.
He promotes it as an E-Book but it is more like a full gardening course for vegetable growers, including training modules and video demonstrations.
On top of that, it comes with a 100% 60 day guaranteed refund if you are not completely satisfied, so you really can't lose.
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