As we always do, we are excited about growing our own veggies. Whether it be local or native or it be tropical do the following:
Ground Prep..
Picture: Bed prepared with some (raspberry plants ) for tomatoes and radish/spinach planting.
- Check the zone , where you live to see if your favorite would grow.
- Check the pH level of your soil for the type of veggie you are trying to grow.
- Prep the soil by adding ph Adjustment - either sweet lime if the soil is acidic or other supplements.
- Try to stay organic - by using steer manure, chicken manure, organic mulch etc..
- Till the soil well, and then add the manure mixture (of the above mentioned manure(S).
- Cover the soil with 1+ inches of bark mulch or garden soil to avoid dryness during summer.
Seeds / Starters
If you decide to start your garden from seeds, then follow this method:
1.Buy a healthy collection of seeds - whether it be tomatoes, chilies, etc..
2. Alternatively you can take the seeds of dry red peepers when you cook (before you cook) and save them (I prefer atleast 6 months of dormancy for the seeds).
3. When you cut tomatoes, you can collect some seeds from the pulp, dry and save them (in winter) for the following summer/spring).
4. You can smear ashes on the wet seeds to keep them dry _ to avoid insects (age old technique from India)
5. Soak the seeds in water atleast for 24-48 hours.
6. For seeds like okra, beans, etc.. they will start sprouting while in water.
7. Seeds like coriander, tomato/pepper(s) may not sprout so soon (while in water).
8. It's always good to soak the seeds in (Luke warm) water sot hat once in soil they try to grow (almost) immediately).
1. Seeds Pads could be used (even in winter in-house) or in a greenhouse.
2. Or the seeds could be directly sown in the soil after it's warm (usually after Mothers day in places there's a fear of frost/freeze).
3. Either sow the seeds evenly and cover it with soil ( and them mulch) or poke them into the soil (in ace of beans or okra).
4. For tomatoes / other vines like beans , pumpkins, cucumbers etc.. make arrangements for support.
5. Miracle grow can be used to boost the growth (sparingly) in addition to natural compost, steer manure etc.. periodically.
Picture: Radish, Fenugreek, Beans/Pumpkin, Cilantro, okra seeds soaked in water for planting in ground.
Cilantro Seed Prep: take a bottle or a steel cup. spread the cilantro seeds on a countertop (or hard surface). Gently sractch / grind the cilantro . it should break the seeds into two (but not damage the seeds). each ciantro seed contains 2 seeds so, we need to separate it before soaking to be sown int he ground.
Picture: Cilantro seed prep.
Bug Control
1. Try to place some yellow colored flowers/plants i the vegetable garden to attract pests away from the vegetables.
2. Get some lady bugs to avoid pests.
3. Good sun-light is always a good thing.
4. Use nets to avoid bad pests.
5. frogs, ducks, chicken etc..a re all good as they eat snails, sliugs, insects etc..
6. thro some (from bbq) ashed on the plants to divert away the pests.
