THE BIRTH OF A NEW VEGETABLE GARDEN

Finally I believe I have found a new home for my veggies, and even though we have yet to complete on the purchase, I have started work on a plot that has been sadly neglected for many year, but promises much.

A gently sloping south-facing blank canvas

A gently sloping south-facing blank canvas

The plan is to initially create 14 raised beds in an area of approximately 12metres by 10 metres which will be fenced against all four-legged intruders. To the north of the plot in full sun will be two 10 metre x 5 meter polytunnels and one 10 x 5 fruit cage. To the east of the vegetable plot will be one 12ft x 8ft greenhouse and an assortment of cold-frames and propagating beds.

The first raised bed under construction

The first raised bed under construction

As of today I have beans, potatoes, onions, shallots, beetroot, carrots, parsnips and peas growing with about 50% of the garden covered to supress weeds.

The first raised bed awaiting black mulch and planting with beans and a few heirloom potatoes

The first raised bed awaiting black mulch and planting with beans and a few heirloom potatoes

My approach is to use as much of the plot as I can with the minimum of weeding. Some of the land had been covered so that is now growing roots and onions. I plan to work bit by bit on creating new raised beds and plant through black mulch as much as I can through this year.

Already starting to look more like a vegetable garden

Already starting to look more like a vegetable garden