There are lots of benefits to you and your family if you grow your own fruit and vegetables.

• Gardening is a healthy and enjoyable activity providing exercise and relaxation
• It encourages parents and children to spend time together.
  
• It helps children learn about environmental sustainability, science, health and teaches them many practical skills.
• It has been shown that children who are involved with the growing process are more likely to try new fruit and vegetables.
• Home grown fruit and vegetables can be picked fresh when ripe, generally giving a superior taste than bought varieties.
• Many vegetables and fruits can be successfully grown without the use of synthetic pesticides.

You don't need a farm to grow your own food

Many vegetables grow well in pots, containers or styrofoam boxes. All you need is a containers with holes in the bottom for drainage, quality soil or potting mix and some seeds. You can propogate seeds easily in a margarine container with drainage holes. Simply fill with soil, plant seeds, put in a sunny spot like a windowsill and keep the soil moist. You can grow and harvest smaller plants like herbs or lettuce in the container and move larger plants to a bigger pot or outside in the garden.

It is important to be safe in the garden

• Always follow instructions on potting mixes, fertilisers, other organic materials and pesticides if used.
• Cover open cuts or skin wounds.
• Ensure tetanus immunisations are up to date.
• Use gardening gloves.
• Wash hands when finished gardening.
• Make sure children and adults are protected in the sun by wearing a hat, sunscreen, sunglasses, long sleeved t-shirt and seeking the shade where possbile.

Grow your own vegetables with ease

• When choosing a site, keep in mind that vegetables require sunlight for approximately six hours per day. Shade cloth may be required in hot conditions.
• Where space is limited, vegetables can be grown in pots and hanging baskets using a good quality potting mix.
• Most vegetables can be grown from seeds planted directly into the soil, however some are grown in small pots and then transplanted.
• Do not crowd vegetables when planting.
• Vegetables generally require watering every one to three days depending on the season and rainfall.
• Remove weeds regularly.

It's rewarding to grow your own fruit trees

• Fruit trees can grow successfully in pots if garden space is limited.
• There are several miniature fruit trees available that suit smaller areas and pots.
  
• When planting new trees, a good quality pre-plant fertiliser mix should be used.
• Established trees require regular fertilising.

What and when to plant in Western Australia

It is important that fruit and vegetables are grown in the correct season.
For an extensive list, go to the Department of Agriculture and Food Western Australia website.

For more information visit your local garden centre to find out what will grow well in your area and for plant specific information.