GROW, VEG, GROW!

The best time to start a veggie patch is today! Horticulturist Theresa Assad shares practical advice on preparing a garden for your vegetables to thrive in.

- KAUTHAR BOOLEY

"Growing your own food has a feel-good factor; a delicious reward for your efforts," says horticulturalist Theresa Assad." My happiest memories are of helping my father in his vegetable garden. Wherever we lived, he would plant a veggie garden and share his surplus. As a child, and adult, I love picking fresh fruit or vegetables and eating them right there in the garden.

Theresa has shared this passion and her expertise with garden lovers for more than 26 years, assisting them in setting up their own gardens with water-wise, indigenous plants - with sustainability at the forefront of it all. She's generously shared her wealth of knowledge to help you feel more assured when starting this incredibly rewarding activity. But before you put a shovel in the soil, it's time to put pen to paper...

PICK A PLAN

It's important to map out the kinds of vegetables you'd like to see grown from the get-go. “Decide which vegetables and herbs you like, then decide whether you want to grow directly from seeds or young seedlings,” Theresa advises. She adds that radish is the fastest and most satisfying vegetable to plant - perfect for those wanting to get a quick result that brings a vibrancy to your garden. Once you have a clear idea of the kinds of veg you're intending to grow, then the real planning can begin.

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