what to grow?

**forestdale** · 03-26-2005, 07:11 PM

If you're a first time vegetable gardener this year, here are a few tips for working out what to grow.

First, before you look at any catalogues, work out what vegetables you eat every day or every 2 days. For me this is potatoes, onions, tomatoes, cucumbers, salad leaves, parsley, chives, basil. When you make up your list, that is your Category one.

Next, what do you buy every week and eat a couple of times a week? We eat carrots, silverbeet, cauliflower, beans, peas, zuchinni. Make up your list and that is your Category 2.

Your Category 3 is everything that you like ultra fresh - like corn and strawberries, or veg that you want to experiment with or try growing. It might be artichokes, garlic, asparagus or avocardos.

Now you have all your categories. Category 1 is your most important because that's what you eat every day or every second day. You'll save the most money by planting your category 1 vegetables. Divide your garden up and give 50% of the space to your Category 1 vegies. Of the 50% space remaining divide that into a 30% slice for your Category 2 vegies and 20% slice for your Category 3 vegies.

Don't plant all your seeds or seediings at once. You're aiming at a continuous supply throughout your growing season, so plant lettuce, raddish, green onion seeds or seedlings every three weeks. If your growing season is long enough, get a new batch of seedlings ready, like zuchinnis, beans and peas - which often get taken over by mildew, about 6 weeks after you plant the first ones.

**Mom23boys** · 03-26-2005, 08:52 PM

Thank you Rhonda. I just learned something new again from you.

I didn't even think about planting some and then some more 6 weeks later if the planting season allows it.

In category #1 it would be tomatoes, onions, lettuce, and cucumbers. We also eat potatoes alot, but I am worried about planting them.

In category #2 it would be squash, corn, bell peppers.

In category #3 it woud be watermelon, canteloupe, and strawberries.

I like the way you broke it down by 50%, 30% and 20%.