Complete Guide to Preparing and Planting a Vegetable Garden

1. Choosing the Right Location

• Select a sunny location with at least 6–8 hours of direct sunlight daily.
• Ensure well-drained soil to prevent root rot.
• Choose an area protected from strong winds but with good air circulation.
• Avoid planting in the same spot every year to reduce disease risk (crop rotation).

2. Preparing the Soil

• Remove all weeds, rocks, and old plant debris.
• Loosen compacted soil to a depth of 30 cm (12 inches) using a spade or garden fork.

• Test soil pH: Most vegetables thrive in a pH of 6.0–7.0.
• Adjust soil if necessary:
  • For acidic soil (below 6.0), add garden lime.
  • For alkaline soil (above 7.0), add sulfur or peat moss.
• Enrich the soil: Mix in compost, aged manure, or organic matter to enhance nutrients.
• If soil is heavy clay, add sand and compost to improve drainage.
• If soil is sandy, mix in compost to retain moisture.

• Leafy greens (lettuce, spinach, kale): Nitrogen-rich compost.
• Root vegetables (carrots, radish, beetroot): Phosphorus and potassium.
• Fruiting plants (tomatoes, peas, cauliflower): Balanced NPK fertilizer (10-10-10).

3. Shaping the Garden Bed

• Form raised beds (30 cm high) for better drainage.
• Keep space between rows for easy access and airflow.
• Water soil deeply before planting and allow it to settle for a few days.

4. Planting Guide for Vegetables

5. Watering & Mulching

• Water seedlings gently after planting.
• Maintain consistent moisture but avoid waterlogging.
• Apply a 2–3 cm layer of mulch (straw, sugarcane, or wood chips) to:
  • Retain moisture
  • Suppress weeds
  • Keep soil temperature stable

6. Pest & Disease Management

• Plant companion plants to naturally repel pests.
• Use row covers for protection against insects.
• Rotate crops each season to prevent soil depletion and reduce diseases.
• Use organic pesticides like neem oil or soap sprays if needed.

7. Harvesting & Maintenance

• Pick vegetables regularly to encourage further growth.
• Remove any dead or diseased plants promptly.
• Keep soil fertilised and watered for healthy crops.

This guide ensures a thriving vegetable garden with healthy plants and abundant harvests! Happy gardening! 🌱😊

Untamed Companion Planting Guide for Vegetables

Tips for Companion Planting

• Pair tall plants with shorter ones – Tall plants provide shade, helping prevent bolting in leafy greens.
• Use strong-scented plants – Onions, garlic, and basil repel pests like aphids and cabbage moths.
• Avoid competing root systems – Some plants, like onions and beans, compete for nutrients and should be kept apart.
• Plant flowers near veggies – Flowers like marigolds deter pests and attract pollinators.

How to Start Growing Vegetables

Start your cool-season veggie garden with this carefully selected heirloom seed pack, designed for growing in the cooler months of autumn and winter. This collection includes a variety of hardy vegetables that thrive in temperate climates and can withstand light frost. You'll get classic cool-weather crops like Beetroot, Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, and Cabbage. For root veggies and leafy greens, there's Carrot, Cauliflower, Celery, Kale and Kohl Rabi. Salad enthusiasts will enjoy Lettuce Heirloom Mix and Spring Onion. Complete the line-up with Silverbeet Heirloom Rainbow Mix and Baby Spinach, for a vibrant, nutritious and cold-hardy garden!

Each packet contains

Beetroot

• Sowing Time: Spring, summer, autumn
• Depth: 15 mm
• Spacing: 10 cm apart
• Germination: 5–10 days at 12–28°C
• Harvest: Ready in 60 days

Growing Tips & Care:

• Keep soil moist but not waterlogged during germination.
• Ensure loose, well-drained soil for uniform root development.
• Avoid excessive nitrogen to prevent leafy growth over root formation.
• Thin seedlings to 5–10 cm apart to allow proper root expansion.

Broccoli

• Sowing Time: Autumn, winter, spring
• Depth: 5 mm
• Spacing: 50 cm apart
• Germination: 4–10 days at 10–30°C
• Harvest: Ready in 75–90 days

Growing Tips & Care:

• Prefers full sun and fertile, well-draining soil.
• Keep soil consistently moist but avoid overwatering.
• Side-dress with compost or organic fertilizer for strong growth.
• Harvest when heads are firm and tight before flowering begins.

Cabbage

• Sowing Time: Early spring, late summer, autumn
• Depth: 5 mm
• Spacing: 35 cm apart
• Germination: 1–2 weeks at 18–24°C
• Harvest: Ready in 80–130 days

Growing Tips & Care:

• Needs consistent moisture and full sun for best growth.
• Apply mulch to retain moisture and prevent weeds.
• Protect from cabbage worms using row covers or organic sprays.
• Harvest heads when firm and full-sized, before they split.

Carrot

• Sowing Time: Spring, summer, autumn
• Depth: 5 mm
• Spacing: 5 cm apart
• Germination: 2–3 weeks at 12–30°C
• Harvest: Ready in 65–75 days

Growing Tips & Care:

• Prefers light, well-drained soil free of rocks for straight roots.
• Thin seedlings to avoid overcrowding for better root growth.
• Keep soil evenly moist during germination.
• Avoid nitrogen-rich fertilizers, which encourage leafy growth instead of roots.

Lettuce (Heirloom Mix)

• Sowing Time: Spring, autumn
• Depth: 3 mm
• Spacing: 30 cm apart
• Germination: 7–14 days at 10–22°C
• Harvest: Ready in 50–80 days

Growing Tips & Care:

• Needs consistent moisture; avoid drying out.
• Best grown in partial shade in hot climates to prevent bolting.
• Harvest outer leaves regularly to encourage new growth.
• Plant successively every 2–3 weeks for continuous harvest.

Spring Onion

• Sowing Time: Autumn, winter, early spring
• Depth: 5 mm
• Spacing: 3 cm apart
• Germination: 7–10 days at 18–25°C
• Harvest: Ready in 60–90 days

Growing Tips & Care:

• Thrives in full sun and well-draining soil.
• Water regularly but avoid overwatering.
• Harvest when green tops reach 30 cm tall or when bulbs form.
• Can be regrown from cut bases in water before transplanting.

Brussels Sprouts

• Sowing Time: Summer, autumn
• Depth: 10 mm
• Spacing: 8 cm apart
• Germination: 1–2 weeks at 10–25°C
• Harvest: Ready in 90–120 days

Growing Tips & Care:

• Prefers cool temperatures for best flavor.
• Remove lower leaves as sprouts form to improve air circulation.
• Stake taller plants for support against wind.
• Harvest from bottom upwards when firm.

Kale

• Sowing Time: Late summer, autumn
• Depth: 10 mm
• Spacing: 50 cm apart
• Germination: 3–7 days at 10–30°C
• Harvest: Ready in 55–85 days

Growing Tips & Care:

• Prefers cool temperatures; best grown in autumn/winter.
• Harvest outer leaves first, allowing continued growth.
• Water deeply but avoid waterlogging.
• Apply compost or liquid fertilizer every few weeks for leafy growth.

Peas

• Sowing Time: Late summer, autumn (Spring in cool climates)
• Depth: 20 mm
• Spacing: 10 cm apart
• Germination: 7–21 days at 8–25°C
• Harvest: Ready in 70–80 days

Growing Tips & Care:

• Provide trellising or support for climbing varieties.
• Water consistently, especially during flowering and pod formation.
• Pick pods regularly to encourage more production.
• Avoid nitrogen-rich fertilizers; peas fix their own nitrogen.

Silverbeet (Heirloom Mix)

• Sowing Time: Summer, spring, autumn
• Depth: 15 mm
• Spacing: 30 cm apart
• Germination: 5–12 days at 12–30°C
• Harvest: Ready in 60 days

Growing Tips & Care:

• Prefers moist, fertile soil with organic matter.
• Harvest outer leaves for a continuous crop.
• Keep well-watered, especially in warmer months.
• Mulch around plants to retain moisture and suppress weeds.

Spinach

• Sowing Time: Autumn, winter, spring
• Depth: 10 mm
• Spacing: 15 cm apart
• Germination: 5–10 days at 8–24°C
• Harvest: Ready in 30–40 days

Growing Tips & Care:

• Thrives in cool weather; will bolt in heat.
• Needs consistent moisture to prevent bitterness.
• Harvest outer leaves frequently for continued growth.
• Grow in partial shade in warmer climates.

Cauliflower

• Sowing Time: Late summer, autumn
• Depth: 5 mm
• Spacing: 50 cm apart
• Germination: 1–2 weeks at 10–28°C
• Harvest: Ready in 80 days

Growing Tips & Care:

• Needs full sun and well-drained, fertile soil.
• Keep soil evenly moist for best head formation.
• Tie leaves over the head to prevent sun damage (blanching).
• Avoid disturbing roots once established.

Kohlrabi

• Sowing Time: Early spring, autumn
• Depth: 1 cm
• Spacing: 30 cm apart
• Germination: 5–10 days at 10–25°C
• Harvest: Ready in 55–70 days

Growing Tips & Care:

• Prefers full sun but tolerates partial shade.
• Grows best in rich, well-drained soil with consistent moisture.
• Harvest bulbs when they reach 5–8 cm in diameter for a tender texture.
• Avoid letting bulbs grow too large, as they can become tough and woody.
• Mulch around plants to retain moisture and suppress weeds.
• Can be grown in containers or raised beds for better soil control.

Celery

• Sowing Time: Late winter, early spring, autumn
• Depth: 2 mm
• Spacing: 25 cm apart
• Germination: 14–21 days at 15–21°C
• Harvest: Ready in 85–120 days

Growing Tips & Care:

• Requires full sun and consistently moist, nutrient-rich soil.
• Soak seeds overnight before sowing to improve germination.
• Thin seedlings to the strongest plants once they are well established.
• Mulch around plants to retain moisture and regulate soil temperature.
• Harvest stalks when they are about 20–30 cm tall for the best flavor.
• For tender, pale celery stalks, blanch by wrapping them with newspaper or soil mound 2–3 weeks before harvesting.