Grow your own at Home

22 Jan Grow your own at Home

There are so many amazing health benefits to be had by growing your own fresh produce at home. Indeed many of these benefits can be gained long before the produce grown even hits your plate.

It has been proven that cultivation of plants can be attributed with increased levels of both mental and physical health. Interaction with plants reduces stress, increases sense of wellbeing and can also provide a good source of physical exercise (for more info on the many benefits of plants see www.plantlifebalance.com.au ).

It is also comforting to know exactly where you food has come from, what it has been treated with (if anything) and how long ago it was harvested. All this comes before the obvious benefits of consuming tasty fresh, vitamin-rich produce free from any nasty chemicals. Add to this the benefits of reduced food miles and you will be wondering why you did not start growing your own earlier.

Now don’t be put off growing your own fresh produce thinking that somehow you’ll need to grow everything you could ever possibly need (You are not being locked away in a Bio- Dome after all ) The aim is to supplement your fruit and vegetable needs, at least in the beginning. As with most things it is best to start small and work up as your skill and knowledge develops. Here are some tips for those looking to making a start at homegrown produce:

Sprouts

Growing your own fresh sprouts can be a great introduction to growing your own fresh produce. Not only will they add extra crunch to salads, stir-fries and sandwiches, but they also only take up a minimal amount of space and can be grown easily and quickly on your kitchen bench or sink. There are several suitable seed varieties to sprout. Some of my favourites are alfalfa, mung bean, radish, adzuki, and broccoli. All that most sprouts really need to survive is a daily rinsing under the tap. Some sprouts such as snow pea shoots can be grown in shallow seed trays or pots and harvested once they reach around 10cm (3″) in height. Another reason why sprouts are an ideal introduction is the fact that you will be eating within days, not weeks or months growing – servicing even those with the shortest of attention spans.

Herbs

Almost everyone has space to grow at least a few herbs at their place. They can be grown on windowsills or out on balconies and gardens with relative ease. For those with limited space look to grow them in combinations in pots such as strawberry pots with their various planting holes in the side. Growing them in pots also gives you the benefit of being able to move them around to find that ‘perfect spot’, hopefully not too far from the kitchen where they will be of most use. Growing in pots also means varieties such as mint which can run away in garden beds can be easily contained. Common, easily cultivated herbs include mint, oregano, chives thyme, rosemary and parsley. Flowering annuals can also be planted amongst them to add a bit of colour (some flowers such as the yellow violas pictured are also edible). There are so many great herbs to choose from. Check them out at your local garden centre.

Salad Greens

If you are anything like me you love the crunch of fresh greens and despise limp, yellowing offerings sometimes found at your local store or at the bottom of your fridge. Growing your own salad greens means you can harvest them as you require, leaf by leaf in some instances. These can be used to either make a whole salad, or supplement and improve last nights leftover or store bought salad. Look for repeat harvesting varieties of lettuce (typically the ones that do not form tight balls) as well as other greens such as rocket, endive and baby spinach that can also be harvested as required. These can all be grown in broad and relatively shallow pots or in garden beds. Keep an eye out for slugs and snails who also love to feast on your crop.

There are a multitude of smaller-growing fruit and vegetables which I think are the ideal introduction to growing your own produce at home. These plants are both high yielding whilst requiring a minimal space footprint.

Some varieties are small either due to either their genetics or by utilising clever grafting techniques which keep them at a smaller size whilst still producing full-sized fruit. Ask for smaller growing varieties of both fruit and vegetables from your local garden centre.

Other tips for starting out:

• Only grow things that you actually eat.
• Don’t plant too much of any one crop. The fastest way to turn you off a food (and growing it) is having to eat it day and night to make your way through a surplus.
• Try to plant a few seeds/seedlings at regular time intervals to create a succession of manageable veggie crops.
• Don’t try to grow everything, especially things outside of your climatic range. Look instead to grow your own common staples.
• Grow organically without all those harmful chemicals we are trying to avoid.
• Share your excess produce (and knowledge) with friends and family in hope that they will reciprocate.
• Ask questions. Your local garden centre is there to help or jump online.

Most of all have fun! You may make a few mistakes along the way but don’t be disheartened, it’s all part of learning.