Now that summer is just around the corner, it’s a great excuse to get out into your garden and start up your very own veg patch. What’s great about a veg patch is that you’ll know exactly where your ingredients are coming from and we guarantee they will taste better coming straight from your garden. We’ve given you the basics on what you need to know for an easy and stress-free veg patch. Remember, you can be as creative as you want, just like cooking in your wood fired oven!
The Ground
Ideally, we want our veggies to grow as quickly as possible, which means that they need as much fuel as possible. We recommend that you position your veg patch in a place that gets lots of sun and is sheltered from the wind. Some fruit and veg require shade- this is easy to create using netting or a fence.
Generally, most ordinary garden soils are fine for growing veg – just be sure to avoid thin or extremely coarse soil.
Pests
Just like in the rest of your garden, your veg patch will attract a lot of pests. Make sure you keep on top of your weeds, remember to pull them out fully and their roots as you dig. It’s also important not to place your veg patch next to dense flower borders or long grass- this will make sure that those pesky slugs don’t invade your crop!
Design
This is where you can let your creativity run wild. Raised beds to flat beds, fencing to brick work or a small patch to an allotment, it is completely up to you. You can find lots of inspiring veg patches on websites such as Pinterest– so go and explore all the possibilities!
Growing
Now it’s time for the really fun bit – deciding what to grow! As we are approaching the summer months, here are a few ideas to get you going:
- Radish
- Beetroot
- Carrots
- Peas
- Turnips
- Spring onions
- Lettuce
- Kale
Psst.. Don’t forget, veg patches aren’t just for summer- you can plant herbs and vegetables all year round. As only certain produce can grow at certain times of the year, this encourages you to use ingredients that are seasonal in your cooking. Always keep an eye on our recipe page to see what dishes include your home-grown veggies.
If you decide to take on this rewarding task, be sure to send us over any photographs of your patches or of you using the veg you have grown in your wood fired oven!
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If you are interested in our residential oven range, visit our Primo, Mezzo, Vento and Gusto pages for prices, information and technical drawings. Please don’t hesitate to contact the team on 01425 204985 should you have any further questions.