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Sometimes we look out at our gardens and just think it looks a bit average, starting a vegetable patch can really change that mindset. Using growing guides to help start your gardening journey can make the process a lot less daunting for beginners.It is something which will get you out into the garden more, something your children can enjoy, it is perfect to grow your own food and be more sustainable and it will help you appreciate nature.
Here are some top tips for creating and growing your own veggie patch!
- Location: Have your vegetable patch in the sun as it will need at least 5 hours of sunlight per day to flourish. The location also needs to be sheltered from the wind as more fragile vegetables will not be able to grow. Ensure it is away from other plants as to discourage slugs who will eat your yummy veg!
- Soil: You will need to dig over your soil, removing all stones and weeds, roots and stems to stop them from regrowing. If your soil is mostly clay that is good because it is fertile but it is also heavy and wet, so try adding some ‘horticultural grit’ from the garden centre to break it up. If your soil is sandy it will be less fertile as it doesn’t hold as much water, try adding plenty of compost or manure (which is already rotting) to improve the soil. Another great addition is soil conditioner.
- Depth: Dig deep at least a spade of depth but more if possible. If your soil is shallow you can add soil on top or deepen it by creating a raised bed.
- Space: Your vegetables need space to grow and get big so don’t overcrowd them.
- Indoor Planting: If you don’t have a garden or want to begin your journey as a vegetable grower more slowly try potting indoors. Some plants are happier to be grown indoors especially during the harsh winters. Try herbs!
- Companion Flowers: If you want to get technical and feel like you’ve aced everything so far you can plant companion flowers alongside your vegetables to encourage growth and discourage pests.
- What To Grow: Below is a list of the easiest vegetables to grow for beginners:
- Salad leaves
- Herbs
- Leafy greens such as spinach and kale
- Courgettes
- Carrots
- Cherry tomatoes
- Cucumber
- Peas
- Broad beans
- Potatoes
- Beetroot
If you’d like more information on this visit Sarah Raven’s website here as she details about how to grow these and which varieties are best.
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