[Finally!]

Hi,

I've finally got myself a decent-sized garden and want to start growing veg but I don't really have a clue where to start. I plan to create 2 raised beds about 3mx2m each, the soil is reasonable, slightly on the clay side, and the garden is sheltered but doesn't get much direct sunlight. What can I plant in March and April to get myself started?

Thanks in advance for your help!

[johnnyboy]

Hello and welcome.
Try not to make your beds any wider than 1.2 meters.
Incorperate as much well rotted organic matter as possible and maybe some sand.
As for planting, try a little of everything and see whats grows well

[sunshineband]

Welcome to the forums Finally!

Would you mind adding your location into your profile please, as then other members will be able to provide advice more closely linked to local conditions, and you might find a 'neighbour' or two as a bonus 

Best of luck with the new plot 

[Fisherman]

The reason johnnyboy suggests 1.2 mts wide is that if your beds are any wider it is difficult to reach to the middle. If you have space create 3 beds then you can rotate crops to minimise disease. To start with grow things that you like to eat and are easy to grow. Early potatoes are good planted in late March / early April as not only do you get a crop of spuds they also break the soil down. Other crops you might want to try are onions and shallots from sets, broad beans (the Sutton is a dwarf variety), beetroot, radish, courgettes, runner beans, leeks etc.

Search the site for composting as that will help over time.

If in doubt ask these guys for advice as someone will always help you out.

Enjoy

[Finally!]

Oh, thanks everyone! That's really useful and I'll definitely take it on board. Now to work out how to show my location...

[madcat]

London clay and not too much sun .....  I would think about potatoes to help break the ground up in your first year, brassicas 'cos they dont mind the partial shade and love firm ground, salads because they are encouraging and quick and also don't mind the shade.  Onions will probably be okay, but if you are tight for space I'd give them a miss, but shallots are expensive in the shops and dead easy to grow.  Ditto leeks.

For this year at least I would give french beans, courgettes,sweetcorn and tomatoes a miss - they do need the sunshine and until you figure out the best places to put them, they wont do well.

And most important, grow things you enjoy!!

[Pompey Spud]

Hi.
Early spuds and its the cultivation not the spuds that breaks the soil.

As soon as they crop...plant something else in like a variety of Leek that holds well over winter.

French and runners will happily grow in large pots. But most of all grow what u like and have fun with it.

And buy John's book. You wont find any better read to help you get started.

[digalotty]

 yes try and do three raised beds, as mentioned it will help with rotation and save your back bending over to reach the centre.   go for some early potatoes in one bed and   and a salad bed and then a bed with peas and beans maybe even sweetcorn,  most people do there carrots in pots you might like to consider this as well .
personally we dont use a lot of  onions other than the spring onoins so as we only have a small space to grow in we dont grow them, i grow swiss chard and beetroot spring onions wich all cope well in a small space ,  so consider what you eat and some crops taste very different to shop products so always worth doing