KITCHEN GARDENS With Norina Jane From Whitpro

From little things big things grow!
No, I am not protesting with Paul Kelly, I’m suggesting you grow from seed!
It is not as challenging as most people seem to think.
I still have so many people ask me for vegetable seedlings, even for vegies that do not transplant well, so let’s talk seeds and how to get it right.

As long as you chose the right month to get started with your seeds and as long as they have enough water and sunlight, you will succeed!

The month of July is a perfect month to plant from seed for most vegetables that grow well in the Whitsundays, with low soil temperatures and warm sunny days.

If you are new to growing vegetables then why not start a small plot in a pot.

IMPORTANT NOTE:
The two main reasons I see people struggle to get results are:

1: Burying their seeds
If you plant your seeds too deep, the first shoot will not have enough stored energy to push its way through to the surface. A general rule of thumb is to plant the seed at twice the depth of the seed’s width. For very small seeds like lettuce and many herb seeds, they are literally sprinkled on the surface and then sprinkle the finest layer of soil on top (with a sieve is perfect). Larger seeds like peas and corn must be pushed into the soil but remember, not too deep! You would be better off planting too shallow, then too deep.

2: Not watering daily, allowing the soil to dry out
It is essential for germination that the soil remains moist. This means watering every morning without fail. The soil must not dry out in this crucial period of a seed’s transition.
I sow all my vegetable seeds directly into the ground and as I am not at home during the day (due to work commitments) I water my seeds in the morning and then cover the soil until the green shoots pop out of the ground. Your vegetable seeds do not need the sun to germinate, they need the correct soil temperature and moisture, so covering them from direct sunlight is not an issue.  

Note: Don’t forget to label your seeds. You think you’ll remember what you have planted and three weeks later you’ll regret you didn’t label.

It pays to keep in mind that different vegetables take a different length of time to be ready for picking. Here is a bit of a guide of what takes how long before you are harvesting, and these are all things you can be planting this month from seed:

Vegetable Days to Maturity

Lettuce / Rocket 30-60
Kale / Spinach 50-70
Capsicums 70-110
Zucchini 50-100
Tomatoes 80-120
Cabbage 60-120
Carrots 70-120
Corn 80-120
Cucumbers 60-90
Chilli 60-110
Eggplant 90-120
Pea 65-90
Pumpkin 100-140
Radish 40 – 60
Parsnips 120-140
Rhubarb 100-140

And that’s just to name a few! From the end of July your options start to decrease so get your seeds in the ground this month so that in a few months’ time you will be eating from your garden and there is nothing more rewarding than that!

And don’t forget your herbs!
Now’s a great time to plant your seeds for an abundance of:
Basil, Coriander, Dill, Mint, Sage, Thyme, Lemon Balm, Borage, Nasturtium and Parsley.
And I mean abundance! Not only am I NOT paying between $5.00 - $8.00 for a bunch of fresh basil (that I know a lot of people use half of and the rest wilts in the fridge before you throw it out – into the compost I hope), I also have so much growing that it’s time to start making pesto! It is easy to make and is a family favourite in pasta.

There is nothing better than nicking out to the vegetable patch and picking what you need.
There is nothing fresher, you know they are chemical free and best of all they are at your door step.

Did you know?
That bees love herbs too!  If you leave some of your herbs to go to flower, your bees will thank you.  Basil has anti-inflammatory properties; it is a diuretic and helps prevent acne.

‍