Page 20 - Silver Lakes January Issue 2023

GARDENING

FIVE TIPS TO PLANTING YOUR OWN

VEGETABLE GARDEN THIS SUMMER

ith the high cost of living and rising food prices, 3. Sunshine is important
many South Africans are struggling to put food on Too much or too little, and your veggies won’t grow. It’s important
Wtheir plates. There is a solution for garden lovers: to find the correct balance for what you plant. Or perhaps make
What better way to enjoy the warmer and longer days than two smaller patches, one in the shade and one in the sun. Be sure
by planting your very own vegetable garden? You will have to plant where your vegetables will be protected and safe from
lots of fresh vegetables to add to your meals, giving you the strong winds.
nutrients you need for a healthy diet. This is both affordable
and worthwhile for the South African family, as not only will you
be saving money, but there is also something rewarding about
eating fresh food that you’ve grown yourself. The onset of our
summer rains means now is the ideal time to get planting.

With good preparation, growing your own veggie patch can
be simple. Here are some top tips on how to plant your own
vegetables this summer.

1. Size matters
It’s important to plan how much space you need. Ask yourself
how many vegetables you would like to grow. A few square
metres are usually enough to grow the basics at home. However,
if you’re thinking big and want enough to feed your family
completely, working together with other members of your
community to plant more vegetables together is a great idea.

2. Soil quality
Good, fertile soil is rich in nutrients and dark in colour. If your Photo by Jennifer Schmidt - Unsplash
soil is dry, sandy or very tight, consider buying some topsoil,
compost and fertiliser. You could even start your very own
compost heap.

Photo by Alisa Golovinska - Unsplash Photo by Rodion Kutsaiev - Unsplash Photo by Maja Vujic - Unsplash

18 | INTRAMUROS JANUARY 2023