Check the recycling numbers on plastic containers any with the number 1,2,4 or 5 should be OK but avoid 3, 6 and 7 as these are more unstable and may contaminate your soil and your plants. The only thing I would advise caution on is using materials which may leech chemicals as they break down. You can use purpose made pots or troughs or re-purpose other containers like old crates, sacks or food tins. Almost anything can be used as a planter provided there are drainage holes at the bottom. What you choose to hold this soil or compost in will depend on the space you have available and the crops you want to grow but we can split up our options into 3 main groups container growing, raised bed growing or growing in open ground.Ĭontainer growing refers to using containers of various sizes to grow your crops, it is well suited to smaller gardens or balconies where space is at a premium. By working out the space required for each you can get a good idea of the size of garden you will need.įor the most part vegetables will need a soil or compost to grow in. For this reason it makes sense to think carefully about the crops you want to grow before you start. Bear in mind that in one square meter you can grow only 1 large summer cabbage but can grow 40 carrots in the same space. If you are happy to buy in your potatoes, cabbage or other crops that need a lot of space you will need a much smaller space, about half that size. As a rule of thumb, to feed a family of four with seasonal vegetables you will need a garden of 200 square meters which takes up a space of 20 x 10 meters. To a certain extent, planning the size of your garden is often dictated by the amount of space you have available. This is not really relevant in Southerly gardens but in Northern gardens like mine (I’m at a latitude of 54˚N) it has been shown to be a benefit. In the Northern hemisphere a south facing garden is preferable as it will get more exposure to the sun, a North facing garden is not impossible to cultivate but the range of crops you can grow will be limited to shade tolerant plants.Īs regards which direction you should place your beds, it is best to grow tall vegetable crops like peas, beans or tall fruit like raspberries or currants orientated North-South so the sun is able reach each side of the plant as it arcs across the sky.Īs we’ve said, a South facing garden gets more sun but it can also help if you angle your beds slightly towards the sun like the top of a cold frame. I would also make the point that although hedges make attractive windbreaks, don’t plant too close to them as, like trees, their roots will compete with your crop for moisture and nutrients. Windbreaks should be semi permeable and allow some air through because solid walls or fences can create damaging turbulence on the lee side of the structure.
It is better to disrupt the flow of wind rather than stop it.
In windy gardens a windbreak is absolutely essential. Shelter from winds is often underestimated but makes a huge difference in the yield of your vegetables, research has shown that even protection from light winds can increase yield by up to 30%. Keep an eye on cold mornings for patches of mist that linger in hollows, this will indicate a possible problem area.Ĭold air also flows downhill like water and will pool if it meets an obstruction, if frost is an issue at a point in a fence or hedge, opening a gap can allow it to drain away. You should also try to avoid frost pockets which are areas where cold air collects and can lead to very hard frosts on cold nights. Tree roots sneak into the well fed soil of your vegetable beds and will take both moisture and nutrients from your crops. As a rule of thumb, tree roots will spread out the same distance from the trunk as the height of the tree so probably a lot further than you think. You should also take into account the spread of tree roots and avoid placing beds within their catchment area. If possible you should avoid shade cast by buildings or trees (though I accept this may not be that easy in urban gardens).
#RAISED GARDEN BED LAYOUT FULL#
Most vegetables will need at least 6 hours sun in a day to do well with a full day of sun being preferable. Your vegetable garden should ideally be in full sun yet sheltered from strong winds. I have had a few emails over the last couple of weeks looking for advice on starting a vegetable garden from scratch so I thought we would have a good look at it today, I hope that some of it will be helpful. No doubt most of you have your gardens all beautifully prepared for the Spring and are raring to go but there may be some of you who are looking at expanding your garden or starting a brand new vegetable plot.
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