Grow Your Own

Starting your patch from scratch

Fresh herbs and vegetables can transform any meal into a masterpiece and no matter where you live, there are loads of seeds or seedlings to help get you started.

Before you rush out and buy your veggies or herbs, you'll need to prepare your patch for planting. Luckily, it's as easy as saying one, two, three!

See our 5 steps to grow great produce at home:

Choose the right spot
Prepare the soil
Grow for your climate
Sow seeds
Plant seedlings

Of course if you don't have room for a backyard veggie patch, don't despair, because you can grow your own herbs and vegetables in pots too!

Let's prepare for planting

If you give your vegetables the best possible start, you’ll be rewarded with loads of produce and very few pests or problems.

Quick soil fixes

Clay soil	Add gypsum to help open up the soil and organic matter to improve the soil structure.
Wet soil	Vegetables need free draining soil. If the garden stays wet, consider building raised beds up to 15cm above the surrounding soil to improve drainage.
Sandy soil	Sandy soils should be improved with organic matter like compost to improve water retention and soil texture.
Soil pH	The pH of the soil dictates which nutrients will be available to crops. Vegetables prefer a pH around 6. If in doubt, buy a pH test kit and improve as necessary.

Let's get planting

With your soil prepared and your garden ready, it’s time to plant. Here's what you will need:

Step 1

How to sow seed:

Form a shallow row or channel in your garden bed. It should run north-south and be the depth that it's recommended your seeds be sown at (follow the directions on the packet).
Space seeds along the row as best you can. It can help to mix fine seeds like carrot seed with sand to help spread the seed more evenly.
Mark your row with a label and backfill the soil.
Water gently with a fine mist.
Allow seeds to germinate before starting a regular watering regime.
Thin seedlings out to the recommended spacings. The seedlings removed may be transplanted or used fresh in salads.
Do not sow an entire crop at once. Sow seeds at fortnightly intervals to spread your harvest so you enjoy your crops when they are at their tasty best.
If growing climbing plants, insert the climbing frame before sowing seeds to avoid damaging the roots later.
Apply snail and slug pellets to protect the young tender seedlings.

Note: Some seed types require soaking prior to planting (like beetroot). Always read the packet before sowing.

Seed can be started in seedlings trays or sown directly into the garden. If starting in trays, use Scotts Osmocote Seed Raising & Cutting Mix

Step 2

How to plant seedlings:

Choose a place in the garden with at least 6 hours of sunlight per day, preferably protected from the wind.
Plant in rows running north-south.
Make a hole in the prepared garden bed large enough for the seedling plus its root ball.
Carefully tap the seedling out of the pot, trying to keep as much of the potting mix around the roots as possible.
Carefully place the plant in the hole. Make sure the seedling is at the same depth as it was in the pot.
Backfill around the seedling, pressing the soil down firmly to hold it in place.
Water generously and pour and capful of Scotts Osmocote All Purpose Pour+Feed to settle it in.
Insert a stake or climbing frame if required.
Apply snail and slug pellets to protect the young tender seedlings.

NOTE: always follow suggested spacings provided on the labels.