Turn your outdoor space into an edible oasis
Thanks to today’s designs of contained garden beds, you can turn any outdoor space (think lawn, deck, balcony, driveway or rooftop) into an edible oasis. With a range of helpful features available such as wicking systems, canopies, stands and various sizes to choose from, you can grow your food anywhere, no matter your green thumb ability!
Location, Location, Location
From acreage to a small balcony space, you no longer need to dig up your ground to produce a veggie patch. When selecting a suitable spot for your contained garden, the most important factor is sun. We suggest a minimum of four to five hours of direct sunlight for vegetable growing. If you’re feeling a little less lucky with sunlight, try shade-loving plants like mint, parsley and some other hardy culinary herbs. Also, keep you edible garden as close to your kitchen as possible for easy access.
Raised beds all the way
Avoid setting up a bed where you must fill a ridiculous amount of soil to raise the surface. All you need is about one foot depth of soil. Find a container bed that is raised to true waist height with a sturdy stand, like the Vegepod. No more bending or getting on your knees. You can also find stands with trolley wheels to transform your garden into a portable one.
Install a wicking bed
Wicking beds are an age-old technology but are now becoming popular in mainstream gardening. It’s the perfect system for busy people! A wicking bed waters from below, rather than just above. Like the wicking reservoir in a Vegepod, soil soaks up water from the below reservoirs to dry areas, allowing the plants to self-water. With a wicking bed, you only need to water once every few weeks when your plants are established.
Get the right mix
With any food growing, the type of soil used is one of the most crucial elements to a successful edible garden. Thanks to a contained and wicking garden bed, the nutrients of your soil don’t flush out as quickly compared to an inground garden. We suggest certified premium-grade bagged potting mix. The cheap soil is cheap for a reason — there’s nothing actually in it! Think of the potting mix as the food source of your plants. Fertilise each year with a bag of well-aged cow manure mixed through or a good-quality liquid fertiliser.
Protect from pests
If anyone has ever tried to grow food, they know that pests can be a constant pain. Avoid using harsh chemicals and stick to organic growing by sourcing a mesh canopy. Ideally, a tightly knit but permeable mesh like the Vegepod commercial-grade canopy is very effective in excluding big and small pests, and has a high sun rate.
What to grow?
Grow what you love to eat! Try one or two plants first if you’re a beginner to get used to the process. Otherwise there are your easy and crowd favourites like tommies, spinach, rocket, chillies and lettuce.
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