Presenter: Nigel Ruck

One of the most satisfying and enjoyable parts of gardening is the growing of edible plants. They offer not only horticultural challenges and pleasures but also the ultimate prize come harvesting time. You can’t beat being able to cook and eat your very own wonderful, fresh, organic produce, untouched by chemicals or supermarket hands.

In the tree department, you have things like Citrus, lemons, limes oranges, olives, peaches or maybe avocados, to name a few, all of which are excellent. For faster returns though, herbs and veggies are easy to grow, with all sorts of varieties available year round so you will never go hungry!

Most herbs and veggies need a full sun position and a well drained soil full of nutrients for strong, healthy growth.
A raised bed with plenty of well composted organic matter is ideal, digging in cow manure or chicken manure will work wonders and must be done for best results.

Now there is no need to panic, your herbs and veggies won’t taste like that! It is a strange thing that soil contains rather unpalatable flavours, but the plants grown in them can taste incredible.

If you don’t have the luxury of a garden, herbs and veggies can be grown in pots and containers with relatively good results, certainly good enough to make it worthwhile. Be sure to use a premium potting mix and some fertilizer to promote fast growth.

Slow grown plants can taste very average so speed and vigour is the key. Remember that pots dry out very quickly, so consider adding water saving crystals to the mix. Glazed pots hold moisture better than porous materials like concrete or terracotta, making them a better choice and the bigger the pot the better.

If you are wondering what to grow, then why not try the tastiest seedlings from The Garden Gurus range of seedlings.

The range includes Branching Broccolette, Redback Spring Onion, Honeysnap Pea, Baby Butter Lettuce, Gourmet Baby Mini Cauliflower and more offering the ability to make 5 star chefs out of anyone.

Featured Products

Yates Dynamic Lifter Organic Plant Food

• This is a versatile feed for all garden, potted and Australian native plants.
• Slow release nutrients improving structure and retention of the soil.
• It also encourages earthworms and is beneficial to soil micro-organisms

Yates Waterwise Water Storage Crystals

• When added to potting mix or garden soil, the crystals absorb up to 500 times their own weight in water.
• The water is released over a period of time as the plants require it.
• Reduce water usage and increase the times between watering.
• Effective for up to five years and biodegrade harmlessly.
• Prevents the soil from drying out, improves soil aeration and drainage.
• Potassium based.

www.yates.com.au