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| ints:vegetable_growing [2025/12/01 19:22] – external edit 127.0.0.1 | ints:vegetable_growing [2025/12/17 04:30] (current) – external edit 127.0.0.1 | ||
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| With recent food scandals, health concerns and the rise of media food culture coverage there’s also a growing interest in where food comes from, and how seasonal and local it is. You can’t get more seasonal, local and sure of your supply chain than producing it yourself. | With recent food scandals, health concerns and the rise of media food culture coverage there’s also a growing interest in where food comes from, and how seasonal and local it is. You can’t get more seasonal, local and sure of your supply chain than producing it yourself. | ||
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| Stats vary, but many sources say it’s possible to be self-sufficient on 1-2 acres. Most people will be growing on a [much smaller](http:// | Stats vary, but many sources say it’s possible to be self-sufficient on 1-2 acres. Most people will be growing on a [much smaller](http:// | ||
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| Chemical fertilisers are water soluble, which means that rain leaches them from the soil into groundwater or water courses, causing problems further down the line (excess algal growth, starving other organisms of oxygen). This water solubility also means they’re taken up by the plants as they drink, whether they need them or not. They grow faster than they would naturally, so become large, but more watery and tasteless. Finished [compost](http:// | Chemical fertilisers are water soluble, which means that rain leaches them from the soil into groundwater or water courses, causing problems further down the line (excess algal growth, starving other organisms of oxygen). This water solubility also means they’re taken up by the plants as they drink, whether they need them or not. They grow faster than they would naturally, so become large, but more watery and tasteless. Finished [compost](http:// | ||
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| By contrast, organic gardening makes much use of natural systems such as liquid feeds (nettles, comfrey) green manures (clover, mustard) and particularly compost (preferably created on-site in a closed-loop system) which builds soil structure, stops leaching of nutrients and soil erosion. Instead of waving goodbye to a precious resource and relocating it off-site, [composting](http:// | By contrast, organic gardening makes much use of natural systems such as liquid feeds (nettles, comfrey) green manures (clover, mustard) and particularly compost (preferably created on-site in a closed-loop system) which builds soil structure, stops leaching of nutrients and soil erosion. Instead of waving goodbye to a precious resource and relocating it off-site, [composting](http:// | ||
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| If you’re not much of a chatter you can start by reading a few books (see resources) – but not too much before you give it a go, as there is so much information out there (some of it conflicting) that it can be a bit bewildering. Start your vegetable growing with something easy – onions or potatoes - and just do it, while gradually increasing your knowledge and range. Decide what you want to grow (what you like to eat, in other words). Start a compost heap from kitchen and garden waste and borrow or buy some garden tools. Car boot sales are an excellent and low-cost source. | If you’re not much of a chatter you can start by reading a few books (see resources) – but not too much before you give it a go, as there is so much information out there (some of it conflicting) that it can be a bit bewildering. Start your vegetable growing with something easy – onions or potatoes - and just do it, while gradually increasing your knowledge and range. Decide what you want to grow (what you like to eat, in other words). Start a compost heap from kitchen and garden waste and borrow or buy some garden tools. Car boot sales are an excellent and low-cost source. | ||
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| A quicker solution for vegetable growing would be the raised bed approach, where top soil or compost is put on top of pre-existing grass / weeds and typically contained in a wooden structure. This is a good way to go if you have wood and basic carpentry skills. | A quicker solution for vegetable growing would be the raised bed approach, where top soil or compost is put on top of pre-existing grass / weeds and typically contained in a wooden structure. This is a good way to go if you have wood and basic carpentry skills. | ||
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| Buy organic seeds for vegetable growing and if possible, open-pollinated or heirloom varieties. Open pollination means the parents have been pollinated in a natural way by wind, insects, birds etc. If you allow resulting plants to complete their full life-cycle by flowering and going to seed, the [seeds you harvest](http:// | Buy organic seeds for vegetable growing and if possible, open-pollinated or heirloom varieties. Open pollination means the parents have been pollinated in a natural way by wind, insects, birds etc. If you allow resulting plants to complete their full life-cycle by flowering and going to seed, the [seeds you harvest](http:// | ||
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| There are lots of jobs at different times of the year for each type of plant when it comes to vegetable growing. Books will give more details, as well as exactly how to grow all sorts of veg – when to sow, plant out, harvest etc. - and what protection they need. Beans need poles to climb, young brassicas need fleeces to protect them from birds and cabbage white butterflies, | There are lots of jobs at different times of the year for each type of plant when it comes to vegetable growing. Books will give more details, as well as exactly how to grow all sorts of veg – when to sow, plant out, harvest etc. - and what protection they need. Beans need poles to climb, young brassicas need fleeces to protect them from birds and cabbage white butterflies, | ||
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| Watering is a skill in itself because if you water too lightly, you will encourage new roots to look upwards for their water supply; deep roots will make the plant more resilient in times of drought so make sure you give the soil a good drenching so the water sinks deep. Many think watering is best done in the evening, to lessen evaporation and so you don’t risk droplets acting like a magnifying glass on tender leaves and burning in sunshine; but you do then have a higher [slug](http:// | Watering is a skill in itself because if you water too lightly, you will encourage new roots to look upwards for their water supply; deep roots will make the plant more resilient in times of drought so make sure you give the soil a good drenching so the water sinks deep. Many think watering is best done in the evening, to lessen evaporation and so you don’t risk droplets acting like a magnifying glass on tender leaves and burning in sunshine; but you do then have a higher [slug](http:// | ||
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