Help me plan my veg garden!

is76

Finally after 5 years I have am overhauling my garden, it now has 4 raised beds (1.2m by 1.4m) ready to go.

I am very excited but a complete novice when it comes to creating a veggie plot.

So any advice to get stated:

I like leeks, carrots, spinach, cauliflowers, cabbage, tomatoes, etc - well all veg really! I have just planted a plum and apple tree to train up the back wall.

So how to I start, shall I just pop down to the garden centre and get some plugs (not sure I could cope with seeds just yet) and pop into the ground towards the start of April.

So, ehm what else do I need to know?

See what I mean about clueless...all help welcome.

gillian62

It's certainly worth popping into your local library and getting out a variety of vegetable gardening books. They will give you some ideas of when and what to sow/plant.
If you want to buy a book, look at some of Alan Titchmarsh's or one of the 'Expert' series - vegetable and herb gardening will be a good choice. You may be able to reserve these to your library instead of buying, so you can see if they will be useful to you.

charliee_3

the novice thread is really handy as we are all in the same boat.. i am going for the 'hope for the best and see what grows' this year.. if anything grows big enough to harvest i will be pleased!

musicmam

Firstly get yourself a note book so you can write out a plan and keep notes on when you sew seeds and how they turn out; you'll find the first year is a bit of trial and error.

Secondly I would recommend buying The Kitchen Garden monthly magazine; great for both novices and experienced fruit and veg growers.

As you've got 4 raised beds then you're already sorted to rotate your crops each year; very important to keep pests and diseases at bay.

Year 1
Raised bed 1 is for:

Potato family, cuecumber family and winter onions

Raised bed 2 is for:

Carrot family, beetroot family, lettuce family

Raised bed 3 is for:

Cabbage family and winter brassicas

Raised bed 4 is for:

Onion family, peas and beans family

Year 2 you move everything round one raised bed ie. what is in raised bed 1 moves to raised bed 2 and so on.

Apart from onions, garlic, shallots which are easier bought as sets (mini versions of the end products) I would buy seeds. Cheap brands are fine to try so check out what discount shops or garden centres have got and read the back of the packet as it will explain when to sew, if to start off in pots and plant out or whether you can sew direct in the final position.

I would suggest that you try just a handful of things that you can keep on top off rather than try too much and not succeed and then give up.

Tomatoes,lettuces and runner beans are good to start with. I would say try potatoes as they're easy to grow but you may struggle to find seed potatoes now (these are usually available Jan / Feb in local shops). I picked some up from Wilkis this year.

Just remember you won't succeed at everything as alot depends on the position of your garden, where you are in the UK and of course the weather. Just start experimenting and enjoy the results; there's nothing more satisfying than eating something you have grown from scratch.

Sorry if I've run on but I hope it helps.

is76

ok, thanks will give it a go and see how it pans out.

I will check out this crop rotation idea. I am excited.

ventureuk

Lots of useful tips here.

http://www.thegrowyourownchannel.tv/index.aspx

WestonDave

Just to prove gardening isn't an exact science - I wouldn't personally put onions with peas or beans (bed 4 in the above rotation) as it is believed onions somehow stunt the growth of legumes. On the other hand similar folk science suggests that if you plant onions with carrots the smell of the onions deters the carrot root fly!

I guess the truth is - just have fun working out what works for you!

misstrella

My best advise is:
1) Get a good book, something that has a bit of info about each veg (when to grow, how to look after, problems/pests and how to store. It should also give you some info about prepairing your plot/planters.
2) Start with easier things e.g. Carrots, fairly easy to grow, runner beans do their own thing (must be grown up a frame), tomatoes especially hanging basket type such as tumbling tom.
3) Make a plan of what you want to grow, when it needs to be started, transplanted and harvested.
4) Keep a diary, note down periods of bad weather and the effect it has on your plants (lots of rain - plants drowning, no rain for weeks - very dry leaves, very windy - broken stems etc), Also note what variety of plants you are using and notes on how well it does(eg broccoli - Ironman), note down when you planted what, how many you planted etc etc etc you get the idea, basically anything that could be useful next year!
5) Plugs are ok but more expensive, seeds are cheaper slightly more difficult but not a great deal more difficult. With seed always plant at least twice as much as you think you will need, some will die!
6) And finally Don't give up! as we always say about all off our plants and veg... "They've got two chances!"

Enjoy your new garden!

gollygosh

Can anyone please tell me if allotments have a standard sized plot? been offered a half plot and was so excited I forgot to ask exactly how big that is!

Primrose

Don't get frightened by sowing seeds, even if you just sow a couple of varieties like leeks, tomatoes or runner beans which are easy to start off on your window sills indoors. It's really too early to plant small plugs outside - wait until mid April. You will save lots of money by sowing your own seeds and even if you sow just three or four tomato seeds in individual pots now, you will learn a lot more about how to rear your vegetables than buying them from a garden centre, in terms of how early to sow, etc. If you get it wrong, you still won't be too late to buy plants later.

Dave101t

my attitude last year was:
plant a bit of everything and see what happens! yes its messy, long winded and stuff may not mature properly but it isnt half fun!
this year i plan to not let all my cabbages and lettuce go to seed!