Life Hack: What you need to know about growing your own vegetables this spring
Thinking of developing a kitchen garden? Here are some tips for sowing seeds
Between combatting the increasing cost of living and trying to be more sustainable, many people are choosing to have more control over the food they consume by growing their own vegetables.
According to GIY founder Michael Kelly, an average Irish household can grow over 50% of their annual WHO-recommended vegetable intake as well as save up to €500 a year. He believes growing their own food can also help to ease climate anxiety in children.
“Research from Cambridge University notes that ‘climate crisis is imposing a heavy psychological burden on children and youth, both from experiencing climate-related disasters and from the knowledge that worse is to come’,” Kelly said.
“They identify the solution as supporting their capacity to take action, raising awareness about the impact of the climate crisis on youth mental and physical health, and taking action themselves to work for a secure climate future.” With that in mind, here are the key times you need to know in spring if you plan to sow seeds for some popular foods. Further information and planting tips can be found at giy.ie.
CLIMATE & SUSTAINABILITY HUB
This is the earliest you can sow seeds. February is the month to sow celery, globe artichokes, celeriac, leeks, onions, lettuce, tomatoes, peas, aubergines, and peppers/chilli-peppers on a sunny windowsill indoors. Outdoors you can plant out broad beans, spinach, kohlrabi, onion and shallot sets, Jerusalem artichokes, parsnip and early pea varieties.
On your windowsill, March is the month to sow lettuce, aubergine, pepper, chilli-pepper, cucumbers, celery, celeriac, fennel, sweet corn, basil, leeks, summer cabbage, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, parsley, courgette, and French beans. Outdoors, sow broad beans, red cabbage, carrots cauliflower, spinach, kale, Brussels sprouts, onions, leeks, turnip, peas, radishes, early lettuce, and asparagus. In addition, your early seed potatoes can be planted when the soil is warm and the weather has improved — traditionally this is started on St Patrick’s Day.
Lettuce, tomato, pepper, chilli pepper, cucumber, celery, celeriac, fennel, basil, leeks, cabbage, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, parsley, courgette, marrow, and globe artichoke can be sown on your windowsill. Outdoors, sow broad beans, peas, beetroot, cabbage, spinach, Brussels sprouts, parsnip, spring onion, leek, carrot, radish, broccoli, and turnip.
April is also the time to start bringing some indoor vegetables outside to acclimatise before planting out. Give them less heat and water and more light and air, plus bring them outside during daylight hours on fine days for at least a week. Plant your cabbage plants when they are 15cm to 20cm tall into well-prepared manured soil that has been manured.
