It’s the ideal time to head outside and begin creating the Spring garden of your dreams now that the dark, gloomy winter days are behind us and the sun is beginning to shine. Now that the dismal, dark winter days are (almost) behind us and the sun is starting to shine, it’s the perfect time to go outside and start constructing the Spring garden of your dreams.

There is nothing quite like the taste and texture of home-grown tomatoes. Roasting them in the oven, adding to a salad or serving with bacon and eggs for breakfast, tomatoes are the perfect addition for your meals. This guide will assist you to be on our way to enjoying those homegrown tomatoes and other Spring veg in no time.

Soil

The first thing you need to successfully grow tomatoes is the right soil – Jeffries Veggie & Garden Soil. It is a free draining mix which resists compaction so works perfectly in wicking beds and raised garden beds. It provides your plants with vital organic nutrients through a blend of slow release proteins, Jeffries Organic Compost and other essential trace elements. Jeffries Veggie and Garden Soil promotes healthy root establishment and growth to give your plants the best fighting chance.

Sunlight and Watering

Locating your veggie garden in a sunny yet sheltered position is best as the hot days could see your veggies not looking the best and could burn their leaves. If you can’t find that perfect spot, look at trying to plant in pots on wheels so you can easily move them around to chase or escape the sun.

The roots of tomatoes planted directly in the ground can reach far into the surrounding soil in search of water. To ensure that the soil is moist and suitable for growing, water newly planted tomatoes well. Plants should be watered regularly in the morning early in the growth season. You might need to water tomato plants twice a day when the weather rises. Typically, garden tomatoes need 1-2 inches of water per week.

Keeping the Nasties Away

As you watch your tomatoes grow, you may notice some nasties coming to eat the delicate leaves, destroying your hard work . Applying Brunnings 3 in 1 Tomato Spray helps fights against insects, fungus and mites. Although Spring has perfect growing conditions it is also perfect weather for all those creepy crawlies we don’t want in our gardens to come out. To use, simply spray entire plant including undersides of leaves to the point of runoff and leave. You can reapply in 7-14 days if necessary.

Support

Once your tomatoes are beginning to develop length stems, you will need to ensure they have sufficient support or they won’t grow upwards towards the sun.  You can use a garden stake placed firmly in the ground as support, then gently tie your plant to it using the Gardman Soft Protector Tie.

It is made from soft fabric so can stretch as your plant grows making it perfect for securing all types of plants and shrubs in your garden. As the plant grows you will need to continuously tie the new stems to the stake so make sure you have plenty of ties ready!

Fertilising

As your garden begins to come to life, promoting strong growth and development of your vegetables is key. Plants much like humans, need food not just water to survive and thrive.

Here at Jeffries we have a great liquid solution, Liquid Blood N Bone Plus Seaweed Plant Food. Liquid fertilisers can increase nutrient uptake as the trace elements are most easily accessible to the plants. This 1L is easy to use and the addition of seaweed assists in stimulating excellent root growth.

Blood n Bone is a slow release protein which means you will see the benefits of using it over a longer period of time compared to other liquid fertilisers. It does have an interesting smell though so don’t let your pets roll in it!

If you want to grow more than just tomatoes this Spring, there are an abundance of vegetables you can add to your garden that thrive in the warmer conditions. From carrots and capsicums to beetroots and lettuces, the list just goes on. There is nothing quite like being able to make a fresh leafy green salad on a warm summer’s night with all produce being grown in your own backyard.

As we settle into the warmer months, we wanted to help you kick start your veggie garden. We have put together a bundle to bring together our top performing products at a discounted price so you have everything you need to grow the tastiest veggie patch on your block. Check out the bundle here or shop our huge range of garden supplies here.