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3:00 AM 7th May 2022
nature

Start Growing This Spring For The Best Summer Veggie Patch

 
There is no better time to start growing vegetables than now. So why not plan your vegetable patch early and have crops ready to eat for the summer.

It’s important to sow vegetables at the correct time of year so that when they’re ready to harvest, they’re as tasty as possible.

For the first time gardener, tomatoes and beans can be started inside on the window sill and are relatively easy plants to grow.

More advanced individuals might want to challenge themselves by growing onions or carrots – which are notoriously particular regarding soil type and sunlight exposure.

A spokesperson for GardenBuildingsDirect.co.uk said:
“As the warmer weather slowly starts to creep in, there is no better time for Brits to get their hands dirty and get sowing ready for a summer harvest.

“If it’s your first time having a go at gardening, there are plenty of easy vegetables you can grow this spring with minimal time and attention – some can even be grown indoors on the window sill.

“There are plenty of vegetables that are best planted during April and May that will grow just in time for the BBQ season.”


Some suggestions of vegetables to grow:

Beetroot
A relatively easy vegetable to grow, the beetroot is the perfect summer vegetable. Before you sow your beetroot seeds, ensure that you’ve picked a spot that gets a lot of sunlight. They can be planted through to July, so plenty of time to get started.

Courgette
Courgettes are a large crop, so they need a reasonable amount of space to grow. Start sowing the seeds indoors in May and slowly move outside from the end of May to early June when the cold weather has subsided.

Onions
Renowned for their versatility, onions can come in all shapes and sizes to suit any dish. The best time to plant onions is mid-spring, and they love to be in the sun. Provided there are no disturbances in the growing phase. The onions should be ready for harvest at the end of summer.

Garlic
Similarly to onions, garlic can be used as the base for hundreds of dishes and is a staple in many kitchens. Using the cloves from a garlic bulb, you can push each one individually into the soil during the spring, ready for harvest late in the summer.

Beans
Both French and Runner beans produce plenty of crops in sunny summer. If you’re looking for value and volume for money, this is the vegetable to grow. This plant will need plenty of rich and moist soil and plenty of sunlight. These varieties can continue to be grown right the way through until July.

Lettuce
Lettuces can be grown until August, ready for harvest until October. They prefer a sunny position, although they can tolerate some light shade. Sow the seeds in moist soil, cover them very lightly with compost and don’t let the soil get too dry over time.

Radish
Spicy, sweet, and peppery radishes are the perfect addition to a crisp summer salad. They only take around a month from when you first sow the seeds until they’re ready for harvesting, and seeds can be planted right through to September. Pop into a gro-bag, window box, or container and place in a position that gets a moderate amount of light.

Tomatoes
Tomatoes can be grown in any space, no matter how big or small. They’re perfect if you live in a flat or somewhere with limited green space. Start by growing the seeds indoors for the first few weeks and then transfer them outside, either in a container or straight to the soil. There are plenty of tomato varieties so that you won’t be short on options.