The Totally Overgrown 'veg' patch - need some help please

cootambear

I would start with a small number of raise beds then gradually expand over the years to suit your needs.

Smoffi

Only clear what you will use at that time.. Try tomatoes, sweetcorn, Celery, Cucumbers, Corgettes, Beans and peas.. and good old spuds.. all are pretty easy and low maintenance

Root vegs are harder..

trial and error.. do not worry about not having a bumper crop straight away.. its not the value of what you get its the fun!! Eventually you will get some good crops..

Make notes on everything you grow,,.when, where, how many, and remember crop rotation each year

mk_wotsit

I'd agree with the 'start small' advice. It's easy to get disheartened with all the weeds. It doesn't matter how well you clear it, those pesky weeds have been dropping seeds everywhere and you WILL get loads of weeds to start with. Hoe! Hoe! Hoe!

For the brambles and stuff you don't want to compost, you could pile them up in the middle of your plot to dry out and have a bonfire?

Roundup is quite strong stuff - nettles and other stubborn blighters might need two applications!

oldsam

I have been looking at a cartoon book about gardening -one cartoon caught my eye , the husband sitting at a table making out his last will and testament before tackling the veg garden , We know your the man for the job , Take the time to put plan of action in place of what is going where . do not try and do it one hit . ! If you hire a brushcutter to help clear the patch. Make heap of the cut stuff if you can , Mark the area out with line marker for beds , If you work this out how many are required this WILL cut down on the digging . also Cover the bed with cardboard put compost and/or manure on top . this should black out the weeds - Best of luck Ben W

RuthG

Well havent been keeping to any sort of plan yet, but did get a billhook and some seeds of stuff we like (went to Aldi - only 39p a packet, WOW; and Lidl (49p) and onion sets. So if I dont actually do the garden now, it will all be wasted.

Ruth