Aspect
This is the direction your plot faces, North/South/East/West.
A vegetable patch likes a sunny spot, so if you can, put it somewhere that is not shaded, facing south so it gets as much sun as possible. If you plant in rows, should your row go north/south or east/west? This is less important than you might think, it is the height of your plants you should consider. You do not want tall plants to shade short plants. So, a row of
beans/peas should be planted and staked in a north/south line, so plants each side of the stake will get sun.
Shorter plants can go east/west or north/south, but if the bed is behind
beans, make your rows of smaller veg run in the opposite direction to taller.
Asteraceae
(Lettuce, Chicory, Endive, Globe, Jerusalem artichoke)The
lettuce family - includes
Lettuce, Chicory, Endive, Globe and Jerusalem artichoke.
Lettuce has a short growing time so can be grown anywhere, but this group counts as ‘other’ in the
crop rotation cycle. Artichokes usually have a permanent place in the plot.
Beans
Beans prefer to grow in moist, fertile
soil in a sunny, sheltered spot away from strong winds. Prepare the
soil for planting by digging over and adding plenty of
organic material, such as well-rotted
manure or leaf mould - this will help to improve the
soil's moisture-retaining ability and fertility.
Many gardeners swear by preparing a bean
trench in the winter and filling it with the rotted contents of the
compost bin. Once covered with
soil in late spring, the seeds can then be sown on top of the
trench.