Top Tips
Planning
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Getting Started - Planning.
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Gardens can be too small and you may not have enough time to grow everything you whould like.
Think carefully about which fruit and vegetables to grow
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Size of plot.
It's unlikely that you will have enough room or time to grow everything you might like or need - but even those of you
with an allotment or large vegetable plot will need to plan what sorts of fruit and vegetable crop you would like to grow.
But even the smallest plot can produce useful, costeffective and satisfying results.
What to plant.
Obviously you'll want to grow your favourite vegetables but don't forget those where freshness is vital.
Potatoes, Onions and carrots: - Can be cheap to buy in supermarkets.
Potatoes and Onions: - Can take up a lot of room in your plot.
Early Potatoes, Spring Onions and Baby Carrots: - Can deteriorate in flavour and texture with every passing hour after picking.
Containers.
Containers can always be used to make the most of limited space.
Cost.
Its make more sense to grow costly vegetables, for example leeks, rather than say carrots which can be obtained cheaply from supermarkets.
Time and effort.
Consider how much time and effort you want to devote. Tomatoes, for example are popular plants,
but they need staking and training, protecting from blight and only crop outdoors for a
few weeks in late summer. Therefore just a few plants giving fruits of the best flavour might be enough.
In contrast runner beans crop abundantly over a long period and asparagus almost looks after itself,
once you have established a bed there is only some routine maintenance to do each year in exchange
for up to 10 years harvest of this sumptuous vegetable.
Harvest time.
Finally, consider the timing of harvest - late summer crops like peppers, aubergines,
courgettes and tomatoes are deservedly popular, but you reuse the space for a succession of
crops through the year, so aim for spring, summer, autumn and winter crops.
With some careful planning you can intercrop (growing another crop in the space between the rows)
and catch crop (a fast-growing crop that is grown
simultaneously with, or between successive plantings of a main crop.
Planning on graph paper can help avoid overcrowding later.
Once you have listed what you like, decide how much of each you need,
Remember you're putting your own time and money into this so don't grow too much - unless of course you have a ready outlet.
Position
Sunny, Shady, Windy - choosing the right position can make a huge difference to your yeald.
Find out more about planting position here
Soil Type
Light and Sandy, Heavy Clay...?
Find out more about soil preparation here
Soil Preparation
Manure, Compost, Leafmould, Composted Bark, Mushroom Compost.
Find out more about soil preparation here