The Summer veggie garden with Garden Master

It’s an exciting time for gardeners as we move into spring and then summer, with the rain arriving (in most of the country) and the soil warming up. 

As a result, things really start to happen in the veggie garden – but it doesn’t all happen without a little help and hard work on the gardener’s part. When looking at a veggie garden, it’s useful to break everything down into a few key areas, as we have done here, so that things don’t get overwhelming.

Soil

We say it over and over again – plant health starts with soil health. If your veggie garden is in raised beds or containers, you need to ensure you’re giving your plants the best possible chance at success, which means starting with a solid base. We recommend a premium potting soil, which will drain well but still retain enough water for your plants to thrive in hot weather. You can also improve this with the addition of compost, especially if you’re using the soil for a second season. 

If you’re gardening in the ground, it still pays to make your soil as good as possible by adding organic matter in the form of compost. Kraal manure improves the structure and texture of the soil and is also a wonderful addition for vegetables that require nitrogen-rich soil. 

Finally, use an organic fertiliser such as Garden Master Bio Fertiliser when establishing your veggie garden and then again when planting. This slow-release fertiliser contains worm castings as well as carbon, calcium and carefully selected micronutrients that your plants need. The high levels of carbon actually make the soil healthier too, by promoting the growth of healthy microorganisms. 

Watering

While it’s nice to see the back of the winter chill, it won’t be long before we’re saying, “Hot enough for you?” to each other. If they could, your veggies would be saying it too – instead, they show you by wilting. Obviously, regular watering is crucial. Use a hosepipe and a sprinkler in the garden, and try to water the entire bed and not just each plant. When you water just the soil immediately around a plant, the water is sucked away by the dry soil surrounding it, so give your garden bed a good soaking when there hasn’t been rain for a few days, and carry a watering can too give the thirstier veg some extra attention. 

Also remember that pots and containers dry out more quickly than garden beds, so you might have to water more than once a day on scorchers. 

Mulching

One crucial mistake that new gardeners make is to leave soil bare. This is a real no-no – it dries out quickly and is carried away by heavy rain or strong wind. Another certainty is that weeds will pop up whenever there’s space. 

One way to address these issues is to mulch around your plants. You can use a decorative mulch or a more functional one, but try to make sure it is organic like Bark Chip Mulch or Decorative Bark Chips. Both of these will do the mulching job (suppressing weeds, cooling the soil, preventing it from drying out) and will also break down over time, adding nutrients to the soil.

Pest and disease control

Unfortunately, just like our seeds sprout and our seedlings grow, so do pests and diseases. The snails will be back, aphids will start multiplying, weeds will pop up everywhere, and there’s always a chance that mildew will rear its fuzzy head. 

The key here is your regular, preferably daily, walk around your veggie garden. Take the time to check your plants for tell-tale holes, check under leaves for aphids, and pull up any weeds before they get established and start seeding. Carrying a tool like a cultivator or hand fork with your secateurs is a good habit to get into— you can use it to get rid of weeds, rake mulch into place, pick up snails, and do an endless number of other odd jobs.

If you do find traces of a disease or an infestation, the trick is to get on top of it quickly! While many gardeners don’t like spraying in the veggie garden, there are some non-toxic, eco-friendly products that we recommend using. Make sure you’ve got a dedicated pressure sprayer for these products – you don’t want to use one with traces of something more potent! 

All products featured here are available at selected stores.

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