[Vickie & Richard]

We've just decided to use the top part of our garden for veggies.  Now we are only going to be basics like, pots, leeks, onion, salad etc.,.  My question is, where do we start. Should i turn over the soil, prep it with some off my lovely compose and throw in some pots for Christmas?  Or should i just turn it over for now?  Some advice would be good.  This is virgin soil so i'm not sure would it will be like underneath?

[compostqueen]

the best bit is just under the surface so make sure when you skim off the top layer of turf to compost it. You can do that on the heap, in a dalek or just stack it upside down and cover it, where it will rot down

Then you can fork it over, hand pulling weeds as you go, and then incorporate some manure, and homemade compost, sand, leaf mould (I save all my fallen leaves in a chicken wire enclosure on the lotty or you can bag them up with a bit of soil in a black bag with a few holes punched in it). all these materials improve the soil. You have to replenish lost nutrients with regular top dressings of manure and compost which will reward you with good crops.  

You will get some weed regrowth, you always will, but as long as you get the thugs out that's the main thing     This year you have time for winter lettuces, Winter type W Lisbon onions, spinach Bordeaux, kales, caulis and cabbages, onion sets and garlic. So lots of things you can be thinking about for when your bed or beds are clear

[Vickie & Richard]

the best bit is just under the surface so make sure when you skim off the top layer of turf to compost it. You can do that on the heap, in a dalek or just stack it upside down and cover it, where it will rot down

Then you can fork it over, hand pulling weeds as you go, and then incorporate some manure, and homemade compost, sand, leaf mould (I save all my fallen leaves in a chicken wire enclosure on the lotty or you can bag them up with a bit of soil in a black bag with a few holes punched in it). all these materials improve the soil. You have to replenish lost nutrients with regular top dressings of manure and compost which will reward you with good crops.  

You will get some weed regrowth, you always will, but as long as you get the thugs out that's the main thing     This year you have time for winter lettuces, Winter type W Lisbon onions, spinach Bordeaux, kales, caulis and cabbages, onion sets and garlic. So lots of things you can be thinking about for when your bed or beds are clear

Thanks for that CQ

[Lenmad]

the best bit is just under the surface so make sure when you skim off the top layer of turf to compost it. You can do that on the heap, in a dalek or just stack it upside down and cover it, where it will rot down

Then you can fork it over, hand pulling weeds as you go, and then incorporate some manure, and homemade compost, sand, leaf mould (I save all my fallen leaves in a chicken wire enclosure on the lotty or you can bag them up with a bit of soil in a black bag with a few holes punched in it). all these materials improve the soil. You have to replenish lost nutrients with regular top dressings of manure and compost which will reward you with good crops.  

You will get some weed regrowth, you always will, but as long as you get the thugs out that's the main thing     This year you have time for winter lettuces, Winter type W Lisbon onions, spinach Bordeaux, kales, caulis and cabbages, onion sets and garlic. So lots of things you can be thinking about for when your bed or beds are clear

Thanks for that CQ

And thanks from me to CQ

[Kate and her Ducks]

I made a little raised bed at the bottom of my garden which was pretty easy. Made the raised wall bit first and then turned over the turf and then bunged a load of compost and soil on the top. Didn't fill the raised bit but each year the compost from the garden, grow bags (and the soil when I dug a pond) etc have gone into the bed and are gradually filling it up.

[Ice]

Get a soil testing kit from a garden centre and check the ph.  Then ascertain whether your soil is sandy or clay etc.  What direction does it face?  Is it shady or sunny?

Then throw on a load of compost, dig in and plant spuds for Christmas.  Then relax and enjoy it.  Once you start growing veg you just can't stop.

[Vickie & Richard]

Get a soil testing kit from a garden centre and check the ph.  Then ascertain whether your soil is sandy or clay etc.  What direction does it face?  Is it shady or sunny?

Then throw on a load of compost, dig in and plant spuds for Christmas.  Then relax and enjoy it.  Once you start growing veg you just can't stop.

Its quite a shady spot, but we are only wanting to grow pots, onions and leeks.  Trouble is i know wot its like growing your own, so i'm sure next year we will have a few more on the list.