THERE is something particularly satisfying about walking into the backyard, picking a handful of herbs, pulling up a few carrots or grabbing a ripe tomato and knowing dinner has travelled only a few metres from garden to plate.
The good news is that growing your own vegetables does not require a sprawling backyard, expensive equipment or even a traditional garden bed.
From raised beds and pots to no-dig gardens and hydroponics, there are options to suit almost every home, including balconies, courtyards and smaller suburban blocks.
The first decision is simply working out where your vegetables are going to grow.
RAISE THE STAKES
Raised garden beds have become a familiar sight in Australian backyards, and for good reason.
They provide excellent access around the garden and can be particularly useful for older gardeners or people with limited mobility, especially when positioned so they can be reached comfortably from all sides.
Whatever material you choose, think about accessibility as well as appearance. Being able to comfortably reach the middle of the bed will make planting, weeding and harvesting much easier.
DIGGING ISN’T COMPULSORY
For those who would rather avoid breaking their back with a shovel, a no-dig garden offers another solution.
These gardens can be created over an existing garden bed, lawn or even a hard surface such as concrete. Instead of digging into the ground, layers of organic material are built upwards to create rich growing conditions.
PICK THE BEST PLANTS
Choosing what to plant can be the most enjoyable part, but a little restraint can pay off.
Herbs including basil, parsley, marjoram and thyme are excellent candidates for pots and have the added advantage of being useful in small quantities. Keeping them near the kitchen means fresh herbs can be picked whenever they are needed.
Zucchinis and squash can be grown successfully in containers at least 40 centimetres deep, while larger vegetables such as broccoli and cabbage will need more room.
