MES receives a new vegetable and herb garden for Mandela Day

JET Park company, C&N Petroleum Equipment, spent their 67 minutes for Mandela Day at MES Homeless Shelter, planting fresh vegetables and herbs.

The industrial equipment supplying company added some nutritious value to those who are less fortunate by planting carrots, tomatoes, cabbage, lettuce, green beans, beetroots, squash, pumpkins and herbs, on Friday.

“The reason we chose to spend our 67 minutes this way, as a company, is because vegetables are part of a person’s necessary daily diet, and we believe this will definitely go a long way in helping the less fortunate,” said Paul Hopane, PR and communications student at C&N Petroleum Equipment.

Below are some tips from the company on how to grow a healthy vegetable and herb garden:

Carrots

Make sure your soil is free of stones; carrots need deeply tilled soil that they can push through. Plant seeds three to four inches apart in rows. Rows should be at least a foot apart. Water at least one inch per week. Fertilize five to six weeks after sowing.

Tomatoes

Select a site with full sun and well-drained soil. Plant seedlings two feet apart. Water well to reduce shock to the roots. Fertilize two weeks prior to first picking and again two weeks after first picking.

Cabbage

Plant 12 to 24 inches apart in rows, depending on size of head desired. The closer you plant, the smaller the heads. Cabbage can be grown near beans and cucumbers. Fertilize three weeks after transplanting. Keep soil moist with mulch and water two inches per week.

Lettuce

Cover the seeds with 1/4 to 1/2 inch of soil. Water thoroughly at time of transplant. Make sure soil remains moist but is well drained. Lettuce will tell you when it needs water. Just look at it. Lettuce should be harvested when full size, but just before maturity. You want it young and tender.

Green Beans

Minimum soil temperature is 48 degrees F. Plant one inch deep, a little deeper for sandier soils. Cover soil to warm if necessary. Mulch soil to retain moisture; make sure that it is well drained. Water regularly, from start of pod to set. Water on sunny days so foliage will not remain soaked. Beans are picked at an immature stage, when the seeds inside have not yet fully developed.

Beetroot

Plant seeds ½ inch deep and one to two inches apart. Make sure soil remains moist for germination. Mulch and water well. Beets need to maintain plenty of moisture.

Any necessary cultivation should be gentle; beets have shallow roots which are easily disturbed. If you like larger bulbs, wait longer, but understand they will be tougher and woody. Do not let greens grow above six inches before harvesting.

Squash

Squash plants are heavy feeders. Work compost and plenty of organic matter into the soil before planting for a rich soil base. Plant seeds about one-inch deep and two to three feet apart in a traditional garden bed. For all type of squash, frequent and consistent watering is recommended. Harvest summer squash when small and tender for best flavor. Check plants everyday for new produce. Cut the gourds off the vine rather than breaking them off.

Pumpkins

Pumpkins do best when the seeds are directly planted in the ground. Pumpkins are very thirsty plants and need lots of water. Water one inch per week. Your best bet is to harvest pumpkins when they are mature.