Vegetable Guide M-Z
Marrow
(Cucurbitaceae)
• Grow in seed trays, and plant out in 4-6 weeks. Sow seed at a depth approximately three times the diameter of the seed.
Best planted at soil temperatures between 20°C and 35°C.
• Space plants: 90 - 120 cm apart
• Harvest in 12-17 weeks.
• Compatible with: Peas, Beans, Onions, Sweet corn
• Avoid growing with: Potatoes
This looks like a large version of courgette. Skin is light yellow or white. Grow on raised mounds of earth/compost. Mulch, to retain moisture and reduce weed growth. Frost tender.
Powdery mildew can be a problem especially in humid weather.
Spinach
(Tetragonia expansa)
• Grow in seed trays, and plant out in 4-6 weeks. Sow seed at a depth approximately three times the diameter of the seed.
Plant at soil temperatures between 18°C and 35°C.
• Space plants: 45 - 60 cm apart
• Harvest in 8-10 weeks. Pick the tips.
• Compatible with: Does better if alone.
Spinach has green, triangulated leaves and a spreading habit.
This is a coastal plant which natively grows on dune edges. It survives salt-spray in coastal gardens. It tolerates light frost.
It can withstand hot, dry summer weather when real spinach tends to die off. Will self-sow and become widespread.
Soak seeds for one or two hours before sowing as the outer skin is hard.
Onion
(Allium cepa)
• Easy to grow. Grow in seed trays, and plant out in 4-6 weeks. Sow seed at a depth approximately three times the
diameter of the seed. Plant at soil temperatures between 8°C and 30°C.
• Space plants: 5 - 10 cm apart
• Harvest in 25-34 weeks. Allow onions to dry before storing.
• Compatible with: Lemon Balm, Borage, Carrots, Beets, Lettuce
• Avoid growing with: Peas, Beans
Onions come in a range of colours and shapes and sizes. Brown :- strong flavour and pungent. Usually good keepers for storage. White :- milder but still flavoursome. Keep fairly well. Red :- Mild, suitable to use raw in salads and sandwiches. The seedlings should be allowed to gain a bit of strength before planting out - usually 4 to 6 weeks will be enough. When they are big enough to handle, you can plant out. They start off looking like blades of grass.
They don't have to be in a greenhouse (though that would be ideal), any sheltered spot will do. The idea is to guard against rapid changes of temperature, especially at night.
Onions can be bought as young plants (sets) from garden shops/nurseries to plant straight into garden beds. Choose your variety according to your climate and the time of year as some onions will grow better in the cooler months .
Onion bulbs should sit on the surface of the soil. Do not cover. They will take six to eight months to mature. Onions are ready when the tops start to dry and fall over. Pull them and leave to dry for a few days, Store in a cool, dry airy place. Use a net bag or make a string by weaving the tops together.
Pak Choy
(Brassica campestris var. pekinensis)
• Easy to grow. Sow in the ground. Sow seed at a depth approximately three times the diameter of the seed. Best planted
at soil temperatures between 21°C and 30°C.
• Space plants: 30 - 40 cm apart
• Harvest in 6-11 weeks.
• Compatible with: Dwarf (bush) beans, beets, celery, cucumber, onions, marigold, nasturtium, rhubarb, aromatic herbs
(sage, dill, chamomile, coriander), lettuce, potatoes
• Avoid growing with: Climbing (pole) beans, tomato, peppers (chilli, capsicum), eggplant (aubergine), strawberry, mustard
Similar to Chinese cabbage but the leaves are smoother and the stalks are longer and thicker. Grows quickly and will also go to seed quickly in hot weather.
Needs plenty of water.
Parsnip
(Pastinaca sativa)
• Sow in the ground. Sow seed at a depth approximately three times the diameter of the seed. Best planted at soil
temperatures between 6°C and 21°C.
• Space plants: 8 - 10 cm apart
• Harvest in 17-20 weeks. Best flavour if harvested after a frost.
• Compatible with: Swiss Chard, Capsicum, Peas, Potatoes, Beans, Radishes, Garlic
• Avoid growing with: Carrot, Celery, Brassica
Best grown in deep sandy,loamy soil. After planting keep seeds moist - can cover with a wooden plank or mulch - until seeds germinate. Difficult to grow in summer as the seed dries out fast and won't germinate. Leave in the ground until after frost or at least a couple of weeks of really cold weather. The cold results in the starch in the roots being converted into sugars which give the parsnip its sweet taste. Use a spade to dig the parsnip out of the ground.
Germination rates of parsnip seed are not great so sow about 3 seeds per inch and at a depth of around half an inch. Germination may take up to 20 days. Thin the seedlings down so they are about 8cm (4in) apart. If you are planting in rows then space the rows about 50cm (20in) apart.
Peas
(Pisum sativum)
• Easy to grow. Sow in the ground. Sow seed at a depth approximately three times the diameter of the seed. Best planted
at soil temperatures between 8°C and 24°C.
• Space plants: 5 - 8 cm apart
• Harvest in 9-11 weeks. Pick the pods every day to increase production.
• Compatible with: Potatoes
Peas are best grown in cooler seasons. Peas need some support when growing, tree sticks with lots of small twigs are a cheap and handy source. If you can’t come by these strings between posts or wire netting. the peas need tying in the early stages, until they start producing tendrils and clinging to the support.
Some pea varieties are called 'dwarf' but to make harvesting easier it is a good idea to support the plants.
Pick pea pods while young and pick them often to keep them producing.
Radish
(Raphanus stivas)
• Easy to grow. Sow in garden. Sow seed at a depth approximately three times the diameter of the seed. Best planted at
soil temperatures between 8C and 30°C.
• Space plants: 3 - 5 cm apart
• Harvest in 5-7 weeks.
• Compatible with: Chervil, cress, lettuce, leeks, spinach, strawberries, tomatoes
• Avoid growing with: Hyssop, gherkins
Small, spicy tasting root vegetable usually round but some longer varieties. Available in a range of colours between red and white.
Very easy to grow. Good for a child's first garden as seedlings appear in two or three days. Sow between other vegetables as they will mark the rows until the slower germinating plants appear.
Gardenate, 2011 Vegitable Guide M-Z. Available on line at: www.gardenate.com.
(Cucurbitaceae)
• Grow in seed trays, and plant out in 4-6 weeks. Sow seed at a depth approximately three times the diameter of the seed.
Best planted at soil temperatures between 20°C and 35°C.
• Space plants: 90 - 120 cm apart
• Harvest in 12-17 weeks.
• Compatible with: Peas, Beans, Onions, Sweet corn
• Avoid growing with: Potatoes
This looks like a large version of courgette. Skin is light yellow or white. Grow on raised mounds of earth/compost. Mulch, to retain moisture and reduce weed growth. Frost tender.
Powdery mildew can be a problem especially in humid weather.
Spinach
(Tetragonia expansa)
• Grow in seed trays, and plant out in 4-6 weeks. Sow seed at a depth approximately three times the diameter of the seed.
Plant at soil temperatures between 18°C and 35°C.
• Space plants: 45 - 60 cm apart
• Harvest in 8-10 weeks. Pick the tips.
• Compatible with: Does better if alone.
Spinach has green, triangulated leaves and a spreading habit.
This is a coastal plant which natively grows on dune edges. It survives salt-spray in coastal gardens. It tolerates light frost.
It can withstand hot, dry summer weather when real spinach tends to die off. Will self-sow and become widespread.
Soak seeds for one or two hours before sowing as the outer skin is hard.
Onion
(Allium cepa)
• Easy to grow. Grow in seed trays, and plant out in 4-6 weeks. Sow seed at a depth approximately three times the
diameter of the seed. Plant at soil temperatures between 8°C and 30°C.
• Space plants: 5 - 10 cm apart
• Harvest in 25-34 weeks. Allow onions to dry before storing.
• Compatible with: Lemon Balm, Borage, Carrots, Beets, Lettuce
• Avoid growing with: Peas, Beans
Onions come in a range of colours and shapes and sizes. Brown :- strong flavour and pungent. Usually good keepers for storage. White :- milder but still flavoursome. Keep fairly well. Red :- Mild, suitable to use raw in salads and sandwiches. The seedlings should be allowed to gain a bit of strength before planting out - usually 4 to 6 weeks will be enough. When they are big enough to handle, you can plant out. They start off looking like blades of grass.
They don't have to be in a greenhouse (though that would be ideal), any sheltered spot will do. The idea is to guard against rapid changes of temperature, especially at night.
Onions can be bought as young plants (sets) from garden shops/nurseries to plant straight into garden beds. Choose your variety according to your climate and the time of year as some onions will grow better in the cooler months .
Onion bulbs should sit on the surface of the soil. Do not cover. They will take six to eight months to mature. Onions are ready when the tops start to dry and fall over. Pull them and leave to dry for a few days, Store in a cool, dry airy place. Use a net bag or make a string by weaving the tops together.
Pak Choy
(Brassica campestris var. pekinensis)
• Easy to grow. Sow in the ground. Sow seed at a depth approximately three times the diameter of the seed. Best planted
at soil temperatures between 21°C and 30°C.
• Space plants: 30 - 40 cm apart
• Harvest in 6-11 weeks.
• Compatible with: Dwarf (bush) beans, beets, celery, cucumber, onions, marigold, nasturtium, rhubarb, aromatic herbs
(sage, dill, chamomile, coriander), lettuce, potatoes
• Avoid growing with: Climbing (pole) beans, tomato, peppers (chilli, capsicum), eggplant (aubergine), strawberry, mustard
Similar to Chinese cabbage but the leaves are smoother and the stalks are longer and thicker. Grows quickly and will also go to seed quickly in hot weather.
Needs plenty of water.
Parsnip
(Pastinaca sativa)
• Sow in the ground. Sow seed at a depth approximately three times the diameter of the seed. Best planted at soil
temperatures between 6°C and 21°C.
• Space plants: 8 - 10 cm apart
• Harvest in 17-20 weeks. Best flavour if harvested after a frost.
• Compatible with: Swiss Chard, Capsicum, Peas, Potatoes, Beans, Radishes, Garlic
• Avoid growing with: Carrot, Celery, Brassica
Best grown in deep sandy,loamy soil. After planting keep seeds moist - can cover with a wooden plank or mulch - until seeds germinate. Difficult to grow in summer as the seed dries out fast and won't germinate. Leave in the ground until after frost or at least a couple of weeks of really cold weather. The cold results in the starch in the roots being converted into sugars which give the parsnip its sweet taste. Use a spade to dig the parsnip out of the ground.
Germination rates of parsnip seed are not great so sow about 3 seeds per inch and at a depth of around half an inch. Germination may take up to 20 days. Thin the seedlings down so they are about 8cm (4in) apart. If you are planting in rows then space the rows about 50cm (20in) apart.
Peas
(Pisum sativum)
• Easy to grow. Sow in the ground. Sow seed at a depth approximately three times the diameter of the seed. Best planted
at soil temperatures between 8°C and 24°C.
• Space plants: 5 - 8 cm apart
• Harvest in 9-11 weeks. Pick the pods every day to increase production.
• Compatible with: Potatoes
Peas are best grown in cooler seasons. Peas need some support when growing, tree sticks with lots of small twigs are a cheap and handy source. If you can’t come by these strings between posts or wire netting. the peas need tying in the early stages, until they start producing tendrils and clinging to the support.
Some pea varieties are called 'dwarf' but to make harvesting easier it is a good idea to support the plants.
Pick pea pods while young and pick them often to keep them producing.
Radish
(Raphanus stivas)
• Easy to grow. Sow in garden. Sow seed at a depth approximately three times the diameter of the seed. Best planted at
soil temperatures between 8C and 30°C.
• Space plants: 3 - 5 cm apart
• Harvest in 5-7 weeks.
• Compatible with: Chervil, cress, lettuce, leeks, spinach, strawberries, tomatoes
• Avoid growing with: Hyssop, gherkins
Small, spicy tasting root vegetable usually round but some longer varieties. Available in a range of colours between red and white.
Very easy to grow. Good for a child's first garden as seedlings appear in two or three days. Sow between other vegetables as they will mark the rows until the slower germinating plants appear.
Gardenate, 2011 Vegitable Guide M-Z. Available on line at: www.gardenate.com.
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