Going green with a sustainable kitchen garden

Why you should grow your own produce

Growing your own fruit, herbs and vegetables is much more sustainable than buying them from the supermarket as it means less food waste, no packaging and zero transport emissions.

Your produce can also be organic as you control the amount of pesticides you use (if any at all).

Growing in larger spaces

If you have a large outdoor space, you can use an existing garden bed for your herb or vegetable patch. You can also build a raised garden bed or planter box to create an edible feature.

Another option is to build your own greenhouse. Greenhouses are ideal for growing produce in a warm environment all year round. They’re also perfect for keeping bugs, insects and other outdoor elements away from your plants.

Fruit trees are also great for a large outdoor space and are rewarding when the first fruits start to grow.

Growing in smaller spaces

For those wanting to grow fresh produce in a smaller space, making your own hanging baskets or vertical gardens are ideal and they also create a beautiful feature for your home.

Indoor greenery

There are plenty of ways to add greenery to your home and grow your own food even if you don’t have an outdoor space.

One option is to place pots on your windowsills and plant your own herb seeds and vegetables seeds. Keeping these near the kitchen means fresh herbs will be readily available to add to any meal.

Seasonal herbs and vegetables

Each season brings different climates, so it’s important to know what herbs, fruit and vegetables to grow during different times of the year.

Different regions in Australia also have different climates, so it’s good to know what will grow best where you live.

You can brush up on this using our planting and growing section.

Watering your kitchen garden

Once you’ve set up your kitchen garden, big or small, it’s important to ensure it remains healthy and continues to flourish over time. You’ll need to think about ways you can keep your garden hydrated without using too much water.

To keep your garden moist, you can build your own compost or buy some mulch to cover the soil around your plants which will reduce the need to water the garden and save you money.

Organic fertilisers are also ideal for gardens and controlled release fertilisers are best for pots. Regular applications of seaweed solution and liquid fertilisers will also ensure your kitchen garden remains healthy.

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