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GROW
YOUR OWN
THERE ’ S NO DENYING THAT GROWING YOUR OWN FRUIT AND VEG IS EXTREMELY REWARDING ; THERE ’ S NOTHING QUITE LIKE COOKING UP TASTY SEASONAL PRODUCE THAT YOU ' VE PLANTED AND CAREFULLY TENDED TO FOR YOUR FAMILY OR GUESTS . MORE AND MORE PEOPLE ARE JOINING THE GROW-YOUR-OWN RENAISSANCE ; FOR EVERYONE FROM FIRST TIME GARDENERS TO GREEN-FINGERED FANATICS IT ’ S NEVER TOO LATE TO START , AND WE ’ VE PUT TOGETHER SOME TOP TIPS AND TRICKS THAT ARE SURE TO GET YOUR VEGGIE PATCHES OFF TO A FLYING START … FROM PLANNING AND SOIL TO WATERING AND HARVEST , WE ’ VE GOT YOU COVERED … AND IT ’ S A LOT EASIER THAN YOU MAY THINK !
Planning and positioning
Like with anything , planning is key when it comes to growing your own ; you should always begin with finding your veggies a suitable , lasting home . Allotment gardening has seen a promising surge in popularity in recent years ; great for those that don ’ t have the pleasure of a large garden space and growing facilities , allotments are surprisingly inexpensive , and a great space for green fingers to get busy . For allotments or bigger garden spaces , you may choose to build raised beds for planting , or simply stick to growing your crops directly in the ground ; whatever the size , shape or way , growing veg is very much about what you put in and if you stick to the rules , you ’ ll reap the rewards .
It ’ s a general rule that most vegetables prefer a position that gets the sun . That said , sun isn ’ t always guaranteed and if you have a garden that ’ s predominantly shady or gets very little sun , there are still some vegetables that will thrive , such as lettuce , peas and spinach , so don ’ t immediately write it off . Picking a spot that is sheltered from the wind will also benefit your plants ; cold , strong winds will write off most attempts , especially the tall growers like peas and beans . The most important aspect to remember though is to make the most of the space . Being selective about what it is you want to have a go at growing is important - lots of people may start thinking they want to try it all , but start with what you love . Start with veggies that you ’ re likely to cook with and those that will stay fresher for longer . Knowing your soil type is also very important - this is crucial to knowing what plants will grow and how you can help them to become established . This is why soil preparation is also vital when you are planning on planting your crop .
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