Converting a rasied flower bed into a veg patch!

[AndyShaw]

Hi, I have recently bought our first home and would like some advise on how to convert a raised flower bed (70cm rasied from the ground, 5m width 1m deep). the soil looks good after taking all the dead plants out but really keen to grow my own veg, I have two kids (age 6 & 3) who won't touch anything healthy but I think if we can grow veg from seed it might change their attitude whilst teaching them that food is not grown in ASDA!

My gardening experience is nil, I keep the garden and grass tidy but growing anything from seed is a first so help on what to grow and how would be really helpfull.

The plot is in a great position and well drained, the sun hits it 6-8 hrs a day.

Thanks in advance for your tips
Cheers
Andy

[Husker]

Hi Andy. Is your soil nice and loose, not compacted? If it's compacted you should spade it up to loosen it and then rake it smooth. If you do have to spade it up you may want to consider adding some compost and a bit of manure at the same time for fertilization. As for seeds to plant, radishes and lettice are quick growers and keep the kids' attention. You may also want to try peas, bush green beans (unless you have a trellis for runner beans), and carrots. There are also bush and semi-bush varieties of cucumbers, squash and melons that are made for raised beds. Onions, from sets or plants are fairly easy too. If you have room don't be afraid to go to a local nursery and get a couple of tomatoe plants for your garden one slicing type and one cherry type (kids seem to love cherry toms) and a couple of bell pepper plants, unless you like the hot kind. Most seed packs have directions on planting depth and spacing and are easy to follow. Things like radishes, carrots, and lettice will need to be thinned after they've been up for a couple of week so there's 1-2" between the plants, otherwise they'll crowd each other and the vegs won't be very big. The last thing I would add, and I'm guessing you're already planning this, let the kids get their hands dirty by helping plant . They might find they like veggies they've help grow. Good luck, and if you have more "?" please ask.

[Nicola_D]

two of the best and easiest things I grew last year (which was my 1st year growing veg) was lettuces and cucumbers, I grew mixed 'cut and come again' lettuces and marketmore cucumbers. the lettuces were great cos they are just leaves like the expensive stuff you buy in bags from the supermarket and one pack of seeds kept us in salads all summer, also great for just picking a few leaves for a sanwich and the cucumbers got the kids (mine are 3 and 20 months) eating cucumber! If you do lettuce don't plant it all at once, do one smallish row of seeds and wait til they come up then start off some more, wait a feew weks and then do some more this'll keep you in salad all season.

[Thomas W]

Originally Posted by Husker

... As for seeds to plant, radishes and lettice are quick growers and keep the kids' attention. ...

Good choice.
Just watch out for slugs, they have been very hard on my lettuce, and they eat fast It pays to collect them at night and boil them, muhahaha!

[AndyShaw]

Thanks, off to the garden center with the kids on my day off, got my shopping list so will try and plant this afternoon - I will keep you posted!

[GMB27]

As above dont forget to folk it through well, its probably good soil anyhow but just to be sure. Id love a patch that got so much sunlight! Your little ones will love growing no doubt!

[AndyShaw]

Hi,

We planted the following on Monday afternoon;

Juliette Salad poatoes (about 5 bulbs / plants in a row 40cm apart)
White lisbon spring onions (1.5m strip in a line)
Amsterdam Forcing 3 carrots (2 x 1.5m strips 50cm apart from each other both in straight lines)

We followed the instructions on the three packs. The onions and carrots were easy as we bought the tape with the seeds within, seemed like cheating but for the first go thought this might be best so not to overcrowd!

I forked it really well before seeding, dug out the right depth and width for the rows then covered back the soil mixing in a lot of multi compost then watered.

My next questions are around looking after the patch whilst growing. Do I need to watch out for slugs / carrot flies or cats !?! If so what are the best deterents? Also should I be watering the patch on dry days or just let nature take its course? I still have lots of compost left should I apply more as they pop through the soil?

I hope this works out as the kids loved helping in the garden. We have never done anything like this before but if they grow I think the kids will continue to muck in and more importantly eat the food they have grown!

Thanks again
Andy

[Thomas W]

Originally Posted by AndyShaw

... The onions and carrots were easy as we bought the tape with the seeds within, seemed like cheating but for the first go thought this might be best so not to overcrowd! ...

Nice - thinning is a pain anyway

Originally Posted by AndyShaw

... Do I need to watch out for slugs / carrot flies or cats !?! If so what are the best deterents?...

The most efficient way to keep slugs out is probably to use this construction:

Hanover Slug Fence - Slug control without chemicals

It's neither pretty nor practical, and it's expensive, unless you can make it yourself, or know somebody who can make it for you.
I've tried pellets against slugs, but they didn't work for me.

Check out this post if you have problems with cats:

Keeping cats out of the veg plot???

Originally Posted by AndyShaw

Also should I be watering the patch on dry days or just let nature take its course? ...

A little water first thing in the morning wouldn't hurt Plus it's very satisfying to follow the progress each day.