As the days grow longer and the weather starts to warm up, that familiar gardening itch begins. Spring is just around the corner, and now is the perfect time to get your veggie patch ready for a season of delicious, home-grown produce.
For both seasoned growers and enthusiastic beginners, good preparation is the key to success. A little effort now will pay off with healthier plants and a bigger harvest down the track.
Here are four simple steps to get your edible garden ready for spring.
Step 1: The Big Clean-Up
Start by removing any winter weeds, old vegetable plants that have finished producing, and any fallen leaves or debris. This clears the way for new growth and helps prevent pests and diseases from carrying over into the new season.
Step 2: Feed Your Soil
This is the most important step! Your soil has been working hard, so it’s time to replenish its nutrients. Add a generous layer of organic matter like compost, well-rotted manure, and a handful of a balanced, slow-release fertiliser. Gently dig it into the top layer of your soil with a garden fork. Healthy soil means healthy plants.
Step 3: Plan Your Planting
Before you rush to the nursery, take a moment to think about what you want to grow and where it will go. Consider crop rotation—try not to plant the same type of vegetable in the same spot you did last year. Think about companion planting, too. For our Perth Hills climate, spring is the ideal time to plant tomatoes, cucumbers, capsicums, beans, and leafy greens like lettuce and silverbeet.
Step 4: A Note on Watering
Check your irrigation system to make sure it’s working correctly after the winter break. A simple drip-line or soaker hose is a fantastic, water-wise way to deliver water directly to the roots of your plants where it’s needed most.
We can’t wait to see what you grow this season! Tending a backyard veggie patch is one of the great joys of gardening, and it’s a topic we love to share tips on. Happy planting!
“Don’t judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds that you plant.” – Robert Louis Stevenson
