Hey Gemma, so great that you are wanting to utilise your space to grow some food (this always makes me so happy!)
For starters, it’s fantastic that you have a spot with plenty of sun. Most plants require a minimum of 6hrs sunlight a day to thrive.
Once you have a spot, the next step is to build the Bed: Use untreated wood or other durable materials to create a frame, and then just make sure it’s level and has good drainage.
Next, fill the bed with GOOD quality soil. If you have read my beginners guide to vegetable gardening (https://thepotagerproject.com/how-to-start-a-vegetable-garden/) you’ll know how much I stress the importance of this step! Buy the BEST quality soil you can afford – a mix of high-quality garden soil and compost (a good rule of thumb is about 60% topsoil, 30% compost, 10% potting soil). But if you can afford more compost and/or potting soil then go for it, your plants will thank you for it late!
Then, plan and plant: Arrange plants based on their height and sun needs— e.g.taller ones in the back. Consider companion planting (like tomatoes with basil). You can either start with seedlings or direct-sow seeds; I always recommend seedlings for beginners as its one less step in the process.
It’s important to choose seedlings that are in season though or they won’t thrive. Garden centres sell most seedlings all year around which can be confusing. As a general guide, think salad veggies in summer and brassicas (cauli, broccoli, cabbage) in winter.
The last step is watering and maintenance. You could install a simple drip irrigation system when you first setup your bed (so handy!) or use a soaker hose for consistent watering, but watering with a hose is equally as good as long as you remember. Mulch is helpful to retain moisture in the soil as well as to suppress weeds. Other than that, regularly check for pests and add compost and fertiliser as needed.
Can’t wait to hear how you get on! Would you please keep us up to date?
