Beans
If you are looking for an easy vegie to grow, beans are an ideal choice.
If there’s one vegie worth investing your time in, Asparagus is it – literally! It can take up to 2 years for your crop to be productive, but the wait is well worth it. All you need to do is to prep the soil well, give it basic care and this will ensure it will produce delicious and crunchy spears for fifteen years or more! Asparagus can be grown from seed, but it is typically grown bare rooted crowns (aka bunch of fleshy roots) in winter.
How to grow asparagus in a garden
Growing from seed
- Prepare the soil by adding in Yates Dynamic Lifter Soil Improver & Plant Fertiliser.
- Seedlings should be two years old before planting out in their permanent position.
- Asparagus has male and female plants – males grow bigger and produce better spears so female plants, which grow red berries, should be discarded.
How to grow asparagus in a garden
Growing from crown
- Prepare the soil by adding in Yates Dynamic Lifter Soil Improver & Plant Fertiliser.
- Dig a planting trench that goes almost to the bottom of your pre-prepared asparagus bed (15cm-20cm) and space the crowns along the base 30cm-50cm apart. Spread each clump over its own little mound of soil, and cover lightly.
- Backfill trench with soil as the shoots grow.
- When the trench is full, mulch with a thick layer of organic matter (e.g. compost mixed with dried grass clippings).
- Water and feed regularly with Yates Thrive Natural Vegie and Herb Liquid Plant Food.
Growing tips
As plants grow, they develop leafy fronds, which capture energy from the sun for the spears to grow. They will naturally die down in winter, but don’t worry, they will unfailingly re-appear each spring. Remove and compost the dead ferns in autumn and feed in late winter or early spring with Yates Dynamic Lifter Soil Improver & Plant Fertiliser. Renew the layer of mulch each year.
Small spears will appear in the first year, but we recommend pruning them so the plant doesn’t waste energy into producing them. Your first proper harvest will be the second growing season. Feed regularly during the warmer months with Yates Thrive Vegie and Herb Liquid Plant Food.
Alfalfa
Alfalfa sprouts grow quickly, sprouting in just 3 to 5 days. You can grow them in a glass jar or a small tray & are great fun for kids.
Artichokes
It's a 'tops and bottoms' tale when it comes to artichokes. There are 2 different varieties to choose from - Jerusalem or Globe artichokes.
Yates Dynamic Lifter Soil Improver & Plant Fertiliser
Create organic nutrient rich soil with Yates Dynamic Lifter for better root growth, stronger plants and more flowers and fruit.
Yates Thrive Vegie & Herb Liquid Plant Food
Yates Thrive Vegie and Herb Concentrate is a complete liquid plant food that provides balanced nutrition.
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