When you first start your garden, it is important to know what you want to eat as well as what you can grow. Tomatoes are great, especially home grown ones but trying to grow them in a cold climate over winter is not going to work! Like-wise, setting out to grow giant Queensland Blue pumpkins on a small unit balcony wont work either. Finally Brussels Sprouts are the ideal winter crop, and easy to grow but unless you like eating them why grow them? So let's start at the beginning. Sit down as a family and write a list of everything veggie / fruit wise your family enjoys eating. You may forget some things, but add them to your list later.
Once you have that list consult your gardening calendar for your climate zone. Make note that as well as climatic restrictions there may be legal restrictions on some crops such as bananas and grapes that you may need to be aware of.
It's temping to rush in to your nearest supplier and purchase all the seedlings that look good. But some of these suppliers are stocking seedlings that don't grow at that time or in your area. This is mostly true of larger chain stores. Just because they have them ready, doesn't mean it's a good time to plant in your area. Also beware of buying more plants than you have space for! So reasearching your garden needs first is a great idea before you start.
When starting out you can buy healthy well established seedlings, provided they really do fit into your climate zone. Long term, sprouting your own will be much better as they will be acclimatised to where you live. You will find that hot house grown seedling struggle on cool nights.
Look carefully at their time till harvesting. You will get deterred pretty quickly if you plant a crop that fills the entire space and takes near 12 months to matures. Look at some simple quick turn over crops, especially for the kids to get you started.
Space, yes space, remember the pumpkins on the unit balcony idea? Plants need room. It is better to have 6 healthy crisp lettuce that 99 failed corn plants!
Look for the preserving qualities of produce you eat and grow. Things like beans, broccoli, cauliflower, carrots and tomatos all freeze well. If you have room in a freezer grow plenty of these vegetables to last you well past their growing season. Other produce can be bottled, pickled, made into jams or shared with others. Yes! Go ahead and share with neighbours. If it's a good year for tomatoes, swap them for plums or spuds.... Create an urban gardening community. Someone may be happy to let the pumpkins take over the whole yard!
Finally think outside the square, read cookbooks, learn new ways to create and enjoy food. A simple garlic and olive oil base pizza with Boccioni, prosciutto topped with fresh grown rocket after cooking is amazing. Huge zucchini hollowed out and filled with spiced mince topped with melted cheese. Home made salsa is also amazing - fresher and far more flavoursome than store bought.
Hmmm. Time to check the fire, pizza time!
