The Zimbabwean Gardener Issue 19 Summer 2016/17 | Page 36

The veggie Garden
snippets from the
Veggie garden
Make sure you get into a good routine this summer so that you
are rewarded with veggies daily.
It’s all about routine
I was away for just a couple of weeks and
was unable to focus on my veggie garden,
and as a result, in the October heat my
lettuces bolted, my seedlings wilted and I
am now kicking myself. What happened
to my routine? Routine is so important
in the garden. Plants flourish when there
is a routine in place, except for my
gooseberry bushes, who happily survive
on neglect! Make sure you put these
ten important pointers into your routine
every week and your veggie garden will
become more productive than ever.
1. Keep to your spraying routine; I use a
biological three-in-one mix of Levo, Kobe
and Silwet, which keeps all the nasties
away. Especially with the rains on the
way, spraying is a must. With snails being
out on parade in the rains, make sure you
get them under control with snail pellets,
or I like to crush broken eggshells around
my new seedlings.
2. Weeds love this time of year. It is
crucial to get rid of them before they steal
precious water and nutrients, and then set
seed, which in turn doubles your work.
3. The veggie patch is an on-going cycle
and if you skip one planting, you will be
buying carrots from the supermarket for
another three months instead of eating
your own juicy ones. Set up a good
planting routine and stick to it!
4. Make sure you know what days your
beds should be watered. Your veggies
thrive more on regular watering than
irregular watering. Water the garden
during the cooler hours of the day to
prevent evaporation.
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Georgie, my Mum’s scarecrow, is a fun feature in her veggie garden.