direction needed

[Bungee]

Dear all,
this is my first post and I hope you can forgive any blaring errors in my text or forum protocol

I have decided to try to start a veg patch and was wondering if anyone can direct me to info on preparing the ground ready for planting. I have a reasonably large plot 20ft x 10ft which was previously part a flower bed (although it has been neglected for the past 15 years or so) and part I will be digging up some turf. the old bed has had ash from garden bonfires and compost dumped on it in recent years. it is also full of old bits of turf, weeds and roots.

Any info including timings of when I need to get things done by will be most appreciated.

PS I have never grown anything in my life!

[TEB]

Hi Bungee welcome to the vine.
Are you planning on putting any paths through it for easier access, I would do a soil PH test to test whether its alkaline or acid, this will let you know on how to enhance the soil for the veg you intend.
Have you got a list of veg that you want to grow!
The bonfire ash and the compost shouldn't be an issue and as long as the compost is rotted down will benefit the soil.
Depending on your soil type, i.e. clay or sandy, free draining, marshy etc you may need to double dig (google on that if you are not sure) and incorporate soil enhancer (compost, well rotted manure etc), obviously remove as much weed and roots, rocks as you can, the turf can be resued by placing green side down. You may not want to do the entire bed in one go as this can be pretty soul destroying and it may be easier to cover some of the bed with say cardboard to block out the light and reduce/kill weeds.
You also need a list of vegetables that you want to grow, some can be sown now either for a late crop this year or for harvesting next spring. There is quite a few veg calendars online which offer rough guides off what you can sow and when, just google on veg planners etc.

Doesnt matter if you have never grown anything before, most of it is common sense and very few rules, hope you enjoy it all.

[HeyWayne]

PS I have never grown anything in my life!

I bet you've grown impatient before now!

Welcome aboard.

YOu mentioned roots being dumped on there - if they look like spaghetti get rid of them, don't put them on the compost heap, they could be bindweed and you don't want that (have a quick search on here for bindweed and you'll see).

There's no better motivation than getting stuck in, dig plenty of organic matter (compost, manure) into the area you are going to use and start ordering seed catalogues - have a look through and start making a list of the things you fancy.

Like you I had never grown anything (aside from plants in pots bought from B&Q and alike) before I started on my allotment, and it can be quite daunting with all the knowledge you think ytou need to know.

Rest assured, you'll never learn it all at once - but that's half the fun. You'll grow stuff you've never heard of before, you'll fail with stuff you think should be easy but as long as you keep trying you should enjoy it.

I've only been doing this a few years now, and I joined this forum at pretty much the same time and have to say that the advice, support and encouragement (needed in great swaithes with the current weather) I've received on these pages has been invaluable.

Good luck, and be sure to keep posting.

[Bungee]

Cheers Folks,

Thanks for all the advice I agree I will keep searching for all info and will just have to crack on with the fun stuff like double digging the bed..... ooohhh I cant wait! many thanks for all the help and I will post as I progress. I am sure a million more questions will arise over the next few months.

[ginger ninger]

Hi Bungee, a big welcome to the vine...xxx

[Snadger]

And remember that burying upturned turves is a good way of adding organic matter!

[BumbleB]

Hi Bungee and welcome aboard. You will get lots of advice here and learn so much (well I did). If you put your location in your profile that can be helpful for getting advice regarding your likely weather etc.

[Bungee]

Hi again, compost is not a worry as i have a three bay compost heap where I can spread one then move the other two along one bay giving the compost two full turn overs before spreading, I will double dig, thoroughly weed and add compost to the bottom of each trench before starting next double dig line, then spread compost over top and rake in. I see from the veg planner that realistically I do not start planting until Feb Mar next year, this is fine by me but how do I stop the boarder being overgrown with weds before then? The garden is E Cambs I will update profile. Cheers

[Two_Sheds]

how do I stop the boarder being overgrown with weds before then?

Weeds need light to germinate. Block the light, with a mulch of cardboard/weed suppressant fabric/old carpet etc (have a search on old threads where there is much discussion of pros and cons)

[salilah]

If the soil looks roughly OK why not start with a few things now - they may not work, but they might?
(my first year was tumbler toms in containers - too late now, but they inspired me! the radish didn't work...)
How about mustard leaves (start off in modules), perhaps a few salad or radish, other oriental leaves, spinach???
Just have a go - you have nothing to lose but the cost of the seeds - your time is not lost but learning!!
cheers
S

[TEB]

Hi again, compost is not a worry as i have a three bay compost heap where I can spread one then move the other two along one bay giving the compost two full turn overs before spreading, I will double dig, thoroughly weed and add compost to the bottom of each trench before starting next double dig line, then spread compost over top and rake in. I see from the veg planner that realistically I do not start planting until Feb Mar next year, this is fine by me but how do I stop the boarder being overgrown with weds before then? The garden is E Cambs I will update profile. Cheers

There are a few things that you sow now if its a food group you like, spring greens are okay to sow now as are senshyu onions, plus winter lettuce, also you can forwared plan for a bit later on in the year for garlic, broad bean and peas to name a few.

[seasprout]

Welcome to the vine.

[Florence Fennel]

Welcome Bungee and Happy Growing!

[Bungee]

This is great, Loads of feed back and fantastic ideas. Unfortunately they will have to wait as I am having my annual break in Cornwall where my girls call me dude and I spend all the rainy (Sunshine is a thing of the past) days surfing and acting like I was 20 again!! I hope to get all the prep on the garden done by end of August and maybe if its not too late sow a few seeds, As my bank manager ....the wife (She Who Must Be Obeyed) has all the purse strings I need to spend little to no money so closh enclosures are probably out. Will this cause a problem or is it too late to grow from seed in the open?

[TEB]

The ones I mentioned in my last post will be winter hardy, depending on the veg but plastic pop bottles cut in half make a handy mini cloche