Learn the basics for starting your own veggie patch wherever you live.
Whether you're a green thumb or serial plant killer, there is an option for everyone. It doesn't need to be expensive and you don't need to have a lot of gear. In this blog we'll show you how.
Start simple
If you don't have a lot of time or money, or just want something fun to do with the kids, why not grow some yummy chia sprouts to add to your next salad? All you need to do is sprinkle some chia seeds (the regular supermarket variety) onto some potting mix in a little pot or you could recycle something like an egg carton. Keep the soil moist and place your pot in a sunny position indoors (such as a window sill) or out and you'll have little chia sprouts in no time. Your little ones will delight in seeing those tiny little seeds grow quickly into lovely fresh shoots.
Enjoy fresh herbs
Mint for you mojito? Fresh oregano for your pizza? Heck yes! If you're ready to graduate from chia sprout growing why not try your hand at a bespoke herb garden? Herb varieties do really well in pots, so they're great if you're renting or don't have a garden bed. Simply choose your favourites, plant them into a large pot and water regularly.
Fresh herbs deliver so much extra flavour to your cooking and look so pretty. Some herbs like rosemary and tarragon also flower and their blooms look really sweet cut in little bud vases.
Go all out with a vege patch
If you'd love to create a true kitchen garden why not jump into the deep end like me and plant yourself a full-blown vege patch. You could try a raised bed, or simply add some top soil to an existing garden in your yard.
Don't be afraid to plant anything and everything. Seedlings are inexpensive and if your crop fails it's really no biggy. You'll soon learn what does and doesn't like your climate and soil. Things that are generally easy to grow include zucchinis, tomatos, strawberries, lettuce, and citrus fruits.
Planted at the right time and with plenty of water you'll be amazed at how well they grow with little intervention. The kids will love getting involved with planting and harvesting too.
It doesn't take a lot to get started. My gardening kit includes gloves, secatuers, garden stakes and cloth/ties. We buy our seedlings from the local produce markets, so we can be confident that what we're planting will be in season, and it's cheaper.
I highly recommend investing in an irrigation system to make regular watering easier. Our go-to, budget method is to install sprinklers in the garden bed with a simple hose attachment.
For more great, reliable advice visit the Gardening Australia website.