4 row vegetable patch.

[zemon]

Hey guys,

So i have my garden and my list of things that i want to grow. My vegtable plot is going to have 4 rows. I would like to grow the following: grapes, berries (black berries and straw berries), cucumber, carrot, mushroom, potatoes, sweetcorn, runner beans, peas, lettuce, onion, corrguette, califlower, brocoli, Pasley, Chives, tyme, origamo and rosemary.

Showing my garden (each green line representing a row, hopefully straighter than the ones i have draw)



This is the plan at the moment:

Free standing (usuing potatoe growing bags):
Potates x2bags, Parsnips x1bags

1st Row(back row nearest shed):
Grapes, red berries, blueberries, blackberries, strawberreies

2nd Row:
Cucumber, carrot, corrguette, brocoli, cauliflower, Sweetcorn,

3rd Row:
peppers, Runner Beans, Peas, Lettuce, Onion, beetroot

4th Row:
Parsley, Chives, Tyme, Origamo, Rosemary.


Ok so a few questions.
Does this sounds ok, everything in the right postion?
What do i need to do with the soil?
when can i expect to begin planting?
What shall i start doing now???

Please remeber i have no idea what im doing so if you have anything to add that will help, no matter how small, please say so


Thanks for reading,


Dave

[rustyroots]

Hi Dave,

Im new to growing my own veg aswell. I have built a raised bed and will be growing in a similar way, and also using pots. The only advice i can give you at the moment is to dig the plot out asap and get some organic material in it i.e well rotted horse manure or compost and let the elements get to it over the winter. As for what to grow this year i am growing:

Spring onions
Beetroot
French beans
Peas
Carrots
Letuce
Radish
Peppers
Toms
Courgettes

I may add to this though and also grow some

Cabbage and Spuds.

Most of the info on the seeds i have say start planting in March. I am sure other people will be able to give you better advice but i hope this helps.

Rusty

[zemon]

Hi Rusty,

I was looking to get the plot ready today or tomorow depending on weather but its gale force 9 winds out there today lol, not going my way.

Peppers, how could i forget peppers, ill add them now so i dont forget.

Cheers

Dave

[solway cropper]

With such a small space as you have I'd be inclined to go for block planting (square foot planting) rather than rows. You can get much more in a small space that way.

If you google 'square foot gardening' you'll see what I mean. I've used it for the last few years on part of my plot and it really works.

I'd forget grapes as the vine will take over the entire garden if you let it. I had one in a 10 x 18 foot greenhouse and had to hack back the foliage every week to keep it under control.

[solway cropper]

I forgot to add that you can grow loads of stuff in containers which can be placed around the garden where you want.

see my blog for details
the recycled gardener: container growing

[johntheeng]

I agree with Solway Cropper. Your space is not very big and pots and bags will increase your growing space as well as your crop.
Hope you enjoy growing veg its a great hobby.

[rustyroots]

Has anyone grow potatoes in bags? I have just found an article on internet snd was thinking of giving it ago. What are the best variety and what is the yield like?

Rusty

[solway cropper]

I grow my earlies in bags/pots and start them off in the greenhouse in Feb/March depending on the weather. You don't need to buy those expensive planters...potatoes will grow in anything as long as they have the space to spread their roots. I've used old fish boxes, flower tubs and compost sacks. Just make sure you put adequate drain holes in the bottom.

I put one seed potato to one of those black flower buckets the supermarkets use. Yields are typically around 1kg but you'll get more if you use a bigger pot and leave them longer.

A lot of growers use the 17 litre polypots and it's possible to get 2-3 kg per seed if you feed them well.

[brown thumb]

dont for get your runner beans will shade anything from the sun thats planted behind why dont you train your fruit bushes around the fencing you have you can get white also pink and white runner beans which could be allowed to cover the fence just by attaching a net alittle away from the fence ,which becomes a nice feature init selfalso have you throught about doing a border around the fence and planting that up in stead of a patch or as well as . best of luck enjoy

[Paul Sill]

Sweet corn doesnt do will in single rows because of the way it pollenates, for the amount of space you have there I wouldnt grow any, i had the best results when i planted 32 plants in a block.

[klevelyn]

Plant your berries along your fence separate from the vegetable garden. You'll have years of berries from these.

Plant at least two to three vegetables per row. You'll have less of each vegetable, but a greater variety.

Plant your taller vegetables on the north side of the garden. Prepare your soil by tilling and adding compost and more soil if needed. Follow the instruction on the seed packets.

The best way to learn is to do. You'll learn something every year. If you get stuck come back and post your questions.

Good Luck and happy gardening.

Growing Vegetables, Fresh Healthy Food for the Family