Your Questions About Gardening

GardenersCardiff answers:

We’re growing plenty this year. We’ve planted almost 100 tomato plants, 80 peppers, eggplant, squash, corn, green beans, and more is still to be put out. We’re going to sell extras beyond what we use, and give to family and friends.

Ours has been pretty easy to maintain, but mainly because much of it is on black plastic, so we don’t have to weed. I didn’t realize my husband wanted to plant so much, though–when I think of a garden, I think of a few tomatoes and some small things–he thinks of a truck farm! Still, as I was planting all those tomatoes (by myself), I just kept muttering, “fresh home-grown tomatoes” to myself, and it kept me going.

GardenersCardiff answers:

Great question! I believe the way to go is not to stop buying, but to choose what you buy carefully, then you are still contributing to the economy and others livelihoods, but you are supporting the businesses that are benefiting the planet and operating ethically. Eg. Buying solar panels and locally grown organic food. In this way ‘good’ businesses will grow, employ more people, and businesses that exploit the earth or people will phase out. I think part of what needs to be phased out is the incredibly inefficient ‘global’ way food is consumed so that people can have consumer choice and eat out of season produce all year round.

I agree that the one of the BEST things that you can do IS to grow your own vegetables, because no tractors, transport, chemicals etc has to be used, straight from the garden to you.

The low consumption, grow your own and environmentally friendly life is also CHEAPER. You are focusing on only buying what you need, buying long lasting products rather than cheap and nasty products, riding a bike instead of using a car, vegetable seeds are very cheap, solar hot water heaters pay for themselves after 4 years then after that you have free hot water etc.

The money you save from living like this can be put towards helping the people of impoverished nations in a meaningful way, such as donating to a charity like Oxfam that works with communities to become self-sustaining, grow their own food, promote fair trade and human and workers’ rights. Find good charities/organistions that work effectively and don’t waste all their money in administration. Or you don’t need to work as much so with your spare time become an active member of an organisation that works to promote the values you care about. I believe this would have to be a more effective way of helping the world’s poor than buying food they have been paid a few cents to harvest that has contaminated their local rivers.

GardenersCardiff answers:

The answer is NO!
Good for you wanting to grow your own!
I’ts not too late to start, as many of the plants like Runner Beans like to be started off in the greenhouse until they can give the slugs a run for their money!

Then there’s your cucumber,,,,, perfect for your little greenhouse.
Keep him well watered though.

We’ve put in some carrots into long pots so as to keep the carrot fly away (they fly at low level and nestle on the carrots at the ground level) Ours are in compost on our tiered rack to keep them safe.
Dont use manure on the root veg or you’ll have funny shaped carrots etc as they tend to fork. Pest to peel!

Pop along to the garden centre as they are probably selling off small veg plants at a low price. Give yourself a head start.

Oh and Sweetcorn too!

The list goes on!
Have fun, you’ll love it.