Get Planning And Start A Vegetable Patch In Your Garden With This 12 Step Guide

There are few things more satisfying than enjoying a plateful of your very own homegrown vegetables.

Vegetable patches have become increasingly popular over the last decade with more people wanting to be more self-sufficient.

There is simply no comparison to the taste of a fresh potato or runner bean that you picked the same day; it is a wonderful reward for your hard work.

That said, starting a vegetable patch can feel overwhelming for some, but it’s actually a lot easier than you imagine.

“I know so many people who are absolutely terrified about putting seeds in the ground,” says Kate Cotterill, Co-Director of She Grows Veg.

“Even with the best will in the world, it is trial and error. I think the message is to just try it.”

So if you are struggling to know where to begin, we’ve put together the best ideas for starting a vegetable patch.

Get Planning

Now that you have decided that you are ready to take on the challenge of starting your very own vegetable patch, then it’s time to start planning.

Organisation is one of the critical aspects of growing a happy vegetable patch.

A disorganised patch can lead to a whole bunch of problems, and you really want to give yourself the best possible chance right from the start.

1) Choose The Right Spot

Most veggies need the sun to thrive, although some do well in dappled shade.

Try to find a sunny spot where the ground is level and an area that is well protected from strong winds.

Make sure you do not choose a space that’s under a tree as your crops will not grow if they are in full shade.

“For those plants which have a preference for warmer conditions such as melons, cucumbers, cucamelons and peppers, we have a polytunnel and two greenhouses which keeps them happy,” shares Joe Harrison, Garden Blogger & Horticulturist.

You may also want to try to choose a location close to a tap or water butt so you can avoid traipsing back and forth with your watering can.

“If your chosen spot is not already sheltered, consider planting a low hedge, such as hornbeam,” says Master Horticulturist Peter Lickorish.

“This will filter drying winds, which can also erode soil.”

2) Decide What You Want To Grow

When it comes to choosing what to grow in your first vegetable patch, we recommend that you start small.

For beginners, consider growing veg like potatoes, runner beans, carrots, strawberries, tomatoes, courgettes and similar.

Choose plants that are both easy and rewarding and also consider your location and what works well there.

“I live in an area prone to drought most of the growing season, so unless you want to be constantly watering, there will be some crops that are just better suited to be grown in the environment where I live,” says Kate.

“If you live further north in the UK where there is a bit more rain and the conditions are different, there will be stuff that works better up there.”

You should also consider how many people are going to be eating your crops – you don’t want to grow too much and end up letting it go to waste.

It’s also a great idea to draw up a growing calendar, so you know when and what to plant.

3) Start Designing

Make sure you sit down and draw out a plan of how you want your veggie patch to look.

Ideally, you want to make sure you get the most out of the space, but that said you must avoid overcrowding.

Make sure you consider the size of the veg you are hoping to plant and allow space for that too.

Start Prepping

Once you’ve designed your dream vegetable patch, it is time to start prepping the area so you can get planting as well as getting everything you will need to maintain it once it has been established.

4) Must-Have Tools

There are few items that you will absolutely need when it comes to caring for your vegetable patch, and they are as follows:

• Garden rake
• Fork
• Wheelbarrow
• Gloves
• Pruning shears
• Trowel
• Hose or watering can
• Kneeling pad
• Stakes to support climbing plants

5) Prepare The Soil

Give your patch a thorough digging over, as this will help to break up the soil.

We recommend digging down to a minimum of one spade depth, but if you can go deeper then do!

Make sure you are continuously weeding throughout this process.

We highly recommend that you also dig in some compost to help you achieve the highest quality of soil.

“Homemade compost or compost donated from someone who already has a plot is bulkier and preferable to bagged compost,’ says Peter.

Manure is also extremely beneficial to your vegetable patch, just ensure it’s already rotted; otherwise, it will be too overbearing for the plants.

If you have shallow soil, then adding compost and manure on top will help provide the depth needed to grow your veggies.

Once you have finished preparing the soil, rake it level and tamp it down firmly with the back of the rake to consolidate it.

Start Planting!

Now that your soil is ready, it is finally time to start planting.

“Don’t be afraid if stuff fails, get some seeds and start sowing them,” Kate says.

Obviously, all plant needs vary, but we’ve put together a little guide to help you on your way.

6) Arranging Your Plants

Plants despise overcrowding, and they will not thrive if they are all bunched up close together.

Instead of growing your plants in rows or squares, we recommend that you instead opt for triangles so that you stagger the plants.¹

This will help prevent the plants from being too close together, but it is also much more efficient as you will be able to plant up to 15% more plants in each bed.

“I’m a bit of a rebel when it comes to vegetables and like to space them a little closer than what the books and packets generally recommend so that I can harvest plants a little younger when they’re more tender,” says Peter.

“Doing this to excess will crowd out your crops, but as an example, I prefer harvesting loose cabbage leaves than giving space for plants to form a large head.”

7) Choose Climbing Plants To Save Space

If you have a more modest-sized garden, you can utilise your space by growing vertically.

Runner beans, peas, squash and melons are all great vertical growers.

Use stakes, fences and trellises to support them, and you will be rewarded with a bountiful harvest.

8) Consider Companion Planting

Some veggies grow particularly well when planted together, and choosing compatible crops will also help you make better use of your space.

The strong stems of corn will help support runner beans, while squash will grow at ground level helping to prevent the growth of weeds.

9) Make Use Of Pots & Containers

If you are restricted by the size of your garden, using pots and containers will give you greater flexibility without taking up too much room.

If you are really struggling when it comes to space, then you could grow some of your veggies inside to help boost your harvest and allow for more variety in what you grow.

This is especially effective for harvesting baby vegetables.

10) Time Your Crops

By applying succession planting, you can then grow more than one crop throughout the growing season.

If applied successfully, you will be able to harvest up to four crops from one single spot.

By choosing plants that mature quickly, you can really get the most out of your harvest and will end up with a much more rounded variety of veggies.

Caring For Your Vegetable Patch

Once your vegetable patch is established, you must take good care of it to help it thrive.

The more love you give, the more vegetables you will get in return, so it’s essential to be attentive and diligent in caring for your crops.

11) Pesky Pests

Sadly, it is pretty much impossible to avoid pests in a vegetable patch.

That said, we don’t advise you to douse your plot with pesticides and chemicals.

12) Fertilise

Take care not to over-fertilise your vegetable patch.

We recommend opting for a good organic fertiliser (something like comfrey tea) and use appropriately according to the instructions.

“Allocating a small area to the less invasive comfrey ‘Bocking 14’ allows you to harvest your own comfrey tea,” says Peter.

References

1. Smiling Gardener. (2015, August 29). Biointensive planting – The Triangle Method