As well as being a great way to incorporate organic vegetables into your diet, the process of planting and growing vegetables is very rewarding. With summer fast approaching and the weather warming up, now is a great time to start planting vegetables.
Whether you have a balcony, a small patio or a large garden, there are many vegetables which can be grown in planters. Calum Maddock, gardening expert at HomeHow.co.uk, has shared just a few you can plant now.
1. Kale
The expert said: “Kale has enjoyed a huge rise in popularity over recent years due to its superfood status. Tasty, nutritious, and easy to grow, kale is a member of the cabbage family and works wonderfully both as mini salad leaves and tasty greens for cooking or adding to smoothies.
“Smaller varieties of kale can be easily grown in containers, and you can even grow one or two kale plants in a pot along with your annual flowers or perennials.
“Kale likes to germinate in cooler temperatures, so it is best planted either in early spring or autumn, and you can expect a harvest 30 to 40 days later. Grow in a pot that is at least 12 inches in diameter, and use a well-draining potting mix.”
2. Potatoes
Potatoes are one of the most versatile and beloved vegetables that can be prepped and cooked in many different ways.
For planting potatoes, you will need a large pot at least 15 inches deep, making sure it has drainage holes. They are best planted in March for an early harvest, but you can plant them at any time.
Simply tip the pot upside down when the plants start to flower and retrieve the homegrown potatoes from the soil.
3. Lettuce
The expert said: “Lettuce is a cool season crop, so it is best sown during early spring for a harvest six to eight weeks after germination.
“These plants ideally need around eight hours of sunlight every day, but make sure to put them in the shade during the hottest parts of the day if you are growing them in the summer.”
4. Tomatoes
There’s nothing more rewarding than growing your own juicy red tomatoes, and compact cherry tomatoes are the easiest to grow, looking decorative, trailing over the edge of a pot.
Despite being a fruit, the savoury flavour makes them great for all kinds of dishes. They are best planted once the last frost has passed and should provide a mid-late summer harvest.
Place them in a warm, sheltered spot and fill about an inch of the rim with moist, compact soil. The expert added: “Cut out holes in growing bags to accommodate the plants and make slits in the base for drainage.
“Water regularly to keep the compost moist, and as soon as the tomatoes start to form, feed them regularly with a liquid tomato feed.”
