What next??? -pictures added

Hello All,

Well my other half has finished building me a small section of raised bed in one corner of our garden.  Not a huge area but enough for a start.  I have cleared all the weeds from the bottom and now filled it with soil that we got delivered (top soil),  I have ordered the book many of you recommend but while waiting (any while the weather is dry) I was wondering if there is anything else i can/ should be doing.

I am not sure if i need to put anything in the soil to improve it,  or if there is anything i can maybe make a start on growing.  (have 4 garden centres near by that i can pop to)

Any help would be great while I'm waiting on my new book that i'm hoping with guide me through all the what now questions I am sure i will have.

Edited to add, we are in south east,  not sure if that makes any difference as to planting etc.

Will try and add a picture of the beds if i can figure out how it works

Thanks Very Much Gemma

Fellow Essex person:

I'd recommend tring to grow things that are not readily available in shops . Choose things that you love to eat. Choose a balance between crops that are sure fire and a bit experimental.

If you've put lots of nice new clean soil down and it's all loose - cover it with twigs or the cats in the whole neighbourhood will find out about the nice new toilet. If you've no cats in the area then keep an eye on it and if weeds start to grow hoik them out or hoe them in.

If your area is large enough bear in mind crop rotation for the future but don't let it worry you.

Other then that read as much as you can talk to other and read this forum (which btw weleome to :-) )

I find it's more foolproof to spread netting over the bed to keep the cats off. I tried the sticks/twigs, but the cat still managed to squeeze in between them, and then dug them up!

Ohh I have some netting in the garage (dont know where it came from may of been off a football net or something)

Will pop that over the top for now,  see how we get on.
Thanks for the tip  

be careful with netting, If it's not taught, Birds can get trapped in it!

Ill pop some twigs over the top and find a new way to keep the cats away.  

How are you with a water pistol?  

we found the sleepers on ebay,   from a farm about 10miles away.  Picked up a load and still have a few left not sure what to do with them,  although have cleared another corner of garden that am thinking of have a 2nd salad and herb patch in lol

On my first attempt at running a lottie I tried to grow stuff I couldn't get in the shops but this time around I have started with the things we eat the most of, and it's really nice not to have to go to the shops for the basics. With such a small area though I think you would be best to grow the stuff that is best really fresh, like saladings, sweetcorn and beans.

Sorry that I'm not answering your Q's     But I just got to say your raised beds look great & they'll look better next year when full of growing plants!

You NEED to cover the bare earth as cats will think you've built them a giant litter tray!  We had that problem but hubby built panels from wood that are knee high and have black pea netting stapled to them.  They hook on to corner posts and can have netting thrown over them too.  (& fleece I guess?)  Because of the height they allow plants to grow (although too short for peas/beans and sweetcorn).  They also served as a useful temporary pen for our chickens whilst we built their enclosed run.  (Although I think the onions complained!!!)