Growing Vegetables at Home
Want to grow you own vegetables but don’t happen to have an acre of spare land to start a vegetable plot on? Don’t let that put you off, choose the right container, fill it with the right soil and choose the right vegetable and you’ll be on your way. Growing vegetables at home couldn't be any easier.
There is a whole range of crops that can be grown in containers, start with our recommendations below and you’ll soon get the hang of it.
Soil Preparation
Choosing the right soil is a vital step to growing vegetables and will get your vegetables off to the best possible start. Whether your current soil is clay based or sandy, the addition of organic matter will help. Compost, manure or mushroom compost will help bulk up your soil and provide it will all the essential nutrients that your vegetables will need. It will also help to improve the water retention of your soil and get them off to a good start.
Once your soil is prepared you are ready to go. The best advice is to grow the vegetables that you like to eat, there is no point growing something that you can’t enjoy after all your hard work! To get you started though, we have put together a list of some good and easy vegetables to give a go.
Carrots
Carrots are more than happy to grow in containers, and will grow in containers just as well as they will grow in the ground. Choose small varieties of carrot such as ‘Mini Finger’ or ‘Nantes 2’and make sure your container is at least 20cm deep. They grow big enough to harvest around 12-16 weeks after planting, and you can judge your hard work in the taste.
When to Plant: Between March and July When to Harvest: Summer/Autumn
Potatoes
Nothing beats a potato that has come straight from the ground and onto your plate, especially when you have grown it yourself. An easy way to grow them when space is an issue, is in growing bags. First Early Potatoes are the best ones to go for when planting in bags, and they take around 10 to 12 weeks to grow. Plant them with their sprouts pointing upwards, keep them well watered and look forward to your home-grown tats! If you are particularly keen to grow potatoes, check out our blogs dedicated to growing new potatoes and sweet potatoes for more tips.
When to Plant: March When to Harvest: May-July
Broad Beans
Broad beans have long roots so require a deep container, at least 30cm deep. When growing in a container, a dwarf variety will thrive the best, such as ‘The Sutton’. They like to be in a sunny, sheltered spot with well drained soil. Once harvested, they can be enjoyed straight away, or they are ideal for freezing to be saved for a later date.
When to Plant: Autumn
When to Harvest: May-June
Tomatoes
With tomatoes, the bigger the container the better! We recommend starting with a cherry tomato variety as these ripen more easily. These require a six litre container at least. It is important to keep the soil moist, but not too wet as this will cause the roots to rot. Ideally tomato plants need 8+ hours of sunshine a day, so pick the best, sunniest spot in your garden to give them the best chance. They can also be grown very successfully in hanging baskets.
When to Plant: Spring/ Early Summer
When to Harvest: Late Summer
The main problem with growing vegetables in containers is the soil drying out. Keep it well watered though and you can’t go far wrong. Get you vegetables off to the best start using our specially designed Vegeblend soil packed with all the nutrients you will need to grow tasty produce.
