Hi, I’m Sean, I’m a Hafod customer living in Merthyr, I wanted to share a few things I do to grow my own veggies!
Easy tips to start growing now!
As autumn gets cozy, most of the veggies in our gardens are reaching the end of their growing time. But don’t worry! Some cool veggies, like pumpkins, squashes, Brussels sprouts, and lettuce, are still going strong. If you have a polytunnel (a big plastic-covered structure that keeps plants warm), you might be able to grow even more!
This year was my very first year of veggie gardening, and I have to say, it’s been fantastic. Growing your own food is an amazing hobby! Watching plants grow, watering them, keeping bugs away, and then picking your own veggies is so satisfying. If you want to start, here are some easy ideas to help make your garden a success.
Start with potatoes – a super-easy crop
Potatoes are one of the easiest veggies to grow and taste delicious! All you need is a big container like a tub, grow bag, or even a black bin liner with holes in the bottom. Plus, you’ll need some compost and a few small “seed” potatoes.
Here’s how to grow them:
- Put compost in the container until it’s one-third full.
- Place three potatoes on the compost.
- Add more compost until the container is two-thirds full.
- Water the potatoes well.
- Once green leaves poke out, cover them with more compost and repeat until the container is full.
Whn the green leaves start to wilt and turn yellow, your potatoes are ready to harvest! You’ll love how much better homegrown potatoes taste!
Try broad beans and peas – easy for kids and fun to pick
Broad beans and peas are also really easy to grow. You can plant broad beans right into the ground, and they need very little care. Peas are great too, they can grow even in soil that isn’t super rich in nutrients. Kids especially love picking peas fresh from the pod and eating them!
Keep it simple
Some plants do need a bit of care, like watering and protection from bugs. But there are many veggies, like potatoes, beans, and peas, that don’t need much work. Just make sure to check on your plants now and then, and they’ll reward you with tasty food.
Even though it’s late in the year, you can still plant some vegetables and enjoy growing your own food. I can tell you that there’s nothing like eating fresh food you’ve grown yourself, it’s totally worth it.