Top 5 Tips for new veg plot?

Newbird

Want to get a new veg plot going for this year. It is south facing and sunny.

Just wondering what the top tips would be to prepare the area. I will read up the allotment threads when I get time soon, just some quick pointers required first pls?

To dig or not to dig? Conflicting advice out there, on deep digging and turning soil over, I am inclined to try leaving the layers of soil as they are, not double digging but incorporating compost.

I can get horse muck and I hope to get some hens this year, but I am only just getting new compost heaps built and started. The plot has been covered with old carpet since last Autumn. I would like some kind of raised edging around it as it is close to the house, so I want it to look tidy.

I want to grow a variety of easy things, that crop though the year and stay as organic as possible. I'm a bit put off anything that requires a lot of faffing with nets and cages etc. while I get going, preferring companion planting and home made bird scarers!

Any tips gratefully received!

Primrose

I'd recommend starting off with a good deep dig, especially if you have heavy soil and incorporate lots of well rotted manure. Once you've done this well, in subsequent years you shouldn't need to deep dig again.
On a south facing site, you can grow virtually anything so think about what you eat a lot of, especially vegetables which are expensive to buy. Tomatos should thrive in this sunny site. If you won't want the bother of staking and side-shooting the tall varieties, grow tumbling varieties (Red Tumbler, Yellow Tumbler, which will need hardly any attention at all, except regular watering.
Leeks virtually look after themselves once planted. Swiss Chard is another easy plant to grow (similar to spinach but doesn't bolt and you can use the small leaves in salads.).
Runner beans/climbing French beans can be grown up single poles in a straight line - you don't have to make elaborate structures for them. Mixed lettuces sown at regular intervals will look after themselves - Frizzy endive is particularly hardly and you can grow it for most of the year.

The important thing is to prepare you soil well first, digging in lots of manure and hummus. On a south facing site it could dry out quickly in hot weather so even digging in shredded newspaper as well as the other stuff will ensure the roots of your plants remain most.

If you're planning on getting hens, their manure will be great for your compost heap, but keep your vegetable patch fenced off while anything is growing there or they will trample all your seedlings to death, or eat them.

Newbird

Thanks Primrose!

I have had a go at Toms and Peppers in my son's greenhouse last year, which did OK even though the neighbour got blight on their Toms. I did some tumbling Toms in a tub outside, tried yellow and red, but was disappointed with the lack of flavour.

I am going with Runner beans and Leeks and I like the colourful chards too.
I will grow some herbs and easy salad crops, I love Rocket.

I won't be letting the hens near the veg plot, they will get the waste, outside leaves etc from it taken to them and then their muck will go into the compost heap.

I've not tested the soil yet, but it doesn't look too sandy or too clayey, I will get a testing kit and see what we have there.

As everyone is raving about growing potatoes in deep bags I may try that to save room for other stuff on the plot.