GrowingNews

Creating my own simple kitchen garden – part one

Editor

If, like me, you’ve decided that 2024 is the year you’re going eat more healthy then a having your own kitchen garden may well be the answer.

Where to start? Firstly, no matter what size your garden (or kitchen for that matter), anyone can have their own kitchen garden. I started by think about what herbs and vegetables my family and I enjoy eating. After all, there is little point in taking the time grow something that no one is going to eat. With two small children, this is not the easiest list to make. However hopefully after watching their own plants grow, it might encourage them to try other things. ( I live in perpetual hope!)

Next thing to consider is space, I previously said that anyone can do it, however what space you have will determine what you can grow and how much. If you have the room, raised beds are a great solution. These can be used for growing potatoes, carrots, leaks, onions, pumpkins and so much more. You can separate vegetables and rotate them every season.

Raised beds can easily be made using railway sleeps or if you’re handy with power tools, you can make your own using wooden pallets. There are also ‘off-the-shelf solutions made from wood or for longevity, consider one made from galvanised steel. However, they are more expensive it just depends on your budget.

Understandably, not everyone has room for a raised bed, in which case, standard plant pots and containers will work just as well. These should to be large enough to take the soil required and be able to support the vegetables you’re growing. These types of pots and containers are perfect growing tomatoes, chillies, salads, cucumbers and much more. Smaller containers can be used to grow cut-and-come-again lettuces and are perfect for growing herbs.

Kitchen garden project jobs for this month

  1. Make a list of vegetables you and you’re family like. Perhaps buy some different ones from your local supermarket and see who likes what.
  2. Research when your favourite vegetable seeds can be sown and they will be ready to harvest.
  3. Decide how much space you want use for this project. Do you have room for a raised bed or will you use standard garden pots/planters?
  4. Either – prepare the ground space in your garden (clear weeds, install a raised bed, mulch your chosen vegetable plot etc) or go out and buy some suitable pots and containers for your plants.