[matt80]

Hi all,

I've four empty raised beds,as follows:

6' x 4' (sunny)
6' x 4' (sunny)
4' x 4' (fairly sunny)
4' x 4' (partial shade)

Can anyone offer any advice as to what I could grow in each (I'm not sure what to plant together, are there any rules?).

I was thinking of perhaps putting a seedbed in the partially shady bed for things waiting to be moved into position - does this sound sensible?

[noshed]

The shadier bed will be useful for lettuce, which tend to bolt in full sun. But I have also grown broad beans and purple sprouting in mine. Not sure about using it as a seedbed I would have thought germnation would be better in full sun.
Others may know better though.

[compostqueen]

I'm making four raised beds at the moment  

Try growing some shade tolerant vegetables (shade for more than half a day) like beetroot, 'Bolthardy', calabrese, kale, kohl rabi, lettuce – little gem. Also radish, spinach and herbs - chives, mint and parsley are all shade tolerant.  

Make sure the soil is in good nick by adding organic matter and you could plant your veggies in it rather than growing direct from seed that way they'd be more robust to start with.

Could you provide more light by pruning some trees or hedges a bit. Don't go mad though cos they'll provide shelter from strong winds

[Earl Grey]

If possible it is recommended to put seperate groups of veg in each bed and rotate them each year to, so with 4 beds you could do;
1 for early new potatoes (followed by leeks)
1 for peas/ beans (followed by winter/spring cabbage)
1 for onions/ roots
1 for brassicas

I think Potatoes, onions and roots like a sunny spot, and peas and beans like it reasonably sunny, I had a shady spot in the garden of my previous house and the only things that did well there were the leafier veg like Kale, cabbage and lettuce.