Tony Fawcett’s beginner’s guide to growing vegies from seed
Growing vegetables from seed might be a more expensive initially but they taste better and are more nutritious. Here are all the tips to get you started.
IT WAS standing in front of the vegetable seedling shelves of the local large green box store that I met her.
A 30-ish mum, she was clearly having problems.
With befuddled embarrassment, she turned to me, patiently standing the prescribed distance away, and babbled an apology: “I’m sorry I’m holding you up ... I don’t know what I’m doing. I’m new to gardening and want to grow something my kids will eat but there are no vegetable plants here.
“The sign says ‘vegetables’ but there are only flowers. I don’t know what to do.
“I want to start a garden but I don’t know where to start. I don’t even know what I can grow now. Can I grow tomatoes? What about brussels sprouts? My kids like them but there are no vegetable plants here.”
After relating my amazement that her kids actually liked brussels sprouts, I did my best to put my new acquaintance straight, stressing that tomatoes are definitely not for autumn planting, suggesting that with the current dearth of vegie seedlings she and her school holidaying kids might grow from seed.
When I departed she was heading for the — sadly — already ravaged seed racks.
Hers is a quandary facing all the non-gardeners in these uncertain, self-isolating, lockdown days.
In troubling times like these many are prompted to get back to basics, to take control of their food supply. It happened during the global financial crisis, during wars and stockmarket crashes.
As an aid to this concerned mum and many like her, and with apologies to already knowledgeable gardeners, here is a beginner’s guide to growing vegies. Because seedlings are scarce, it concentrates on growing from seed.
WHY GROW YOUR OWN?
THEY are generally healthier, more nutritious and taste better. They might not be cheaper initially but down the track they can be, especially if you grow most from seed — plus you have more variety choices.
HOW TO START
START small. Sow a few seeds in large pots now. Get the hang of how they grow before moving to open-bed growing. Good starters now are Asian greens, beetroot, broccoli, broad beans, brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrots, kale, parsnip, radish and silverbeet. Plant a few herbs, too.
WHAT’S NEEDED
SEEDS can be sown into pots, planters, seedling trays or even egg cartons, filled with potting mix, or seed-raising mix (even better). Ordinary soil is not potting mix or seed-raising mix. Choose the best of these (generally they are the most expensive).
And read labels. All seeds need different conditions to germinate. Not following directions is just not on.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
SEEDS of root vegies such as carrots and turnips are best sown in situ where they are to grow; others need to be carefully transplanted into larger containers, or garden beds, once mature enough and with well-established roots.
CONTAINER-RAISED seedlings demand more attention to watering, although containers can be moved around according to weather conditions. Weeding is easier with container-grown seedlings and plants.
SPREADING out sowings of the same vegie extends the harvesting period.
SITE seed-raising containers in a warm, sheltered, frost-protected spot such as on a veranda.
USING a plastic propagating kit comprising a plastic tray and hood with a vent can benefit germination, or you can slip the container into a plastic bag (with a few holes) to create a humid microclimate.
KEEPING seed-raising containers close to one another makes for easier tending.
ONCE sown, most seeds need to be lightly covered with potting mix/seed-raising mix and carefully and regularly watered with a fine rose watering can, or misted with an atomiser (with a propagating kit, less watering is needed).
SEEDLINGS grown in compostable jiffy pots (from garden centres) can be planted out with the pot.
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