Advice on the forum....

Hi,

New to the forum. I've read a few threads now but was looking for some basic pointers so I don't make major mistakes. Small ones are fine for my learning. I wanted a 'how to' section but can't see one...might be me!

I like others have always wanted to do more in the garden but needed a potentially world ending event to gently push me to start!

I have a big garden based in central England, I'm using a raised (4") boarder 18" wide and a run of 60' to plant a few simple veggies. Carrots, peas, beetroot, onion, potato and broccoli. I already have an apple and pear tree plus three gooseberries bushes, bush of raspberries and some early and late strawberries already established in the garden. I have clay type soil and dug over, briefly, the top 6". I've added 1-2" of multi type compost.

I've done the first lot of carrots and peas last week (I was going to plant some more in a week or so), potatoes (in three small tubs type things from fleabay), and strawberries the start of this week. I've added the onion today and doing the rest tomorrow if I feel adventurous.

The plan was to do it with my 4 yr old girl, but I made the mistake of putting the trampoline up first! I have a poly tunnel and some nets, if needed. Anyone with some simple pointers, direction to some straightforward posts or indestructibles?

Thanks, Nic

 

I've added a photo of my exciting dirt, as an example of what I'm doing

 

Thanks cuddly admin, Thomas the tank fan by any chance or an occupational link?

 

My nan was the first female bus driver for West Midland (like think) Red back in the day. My grandad was an inspector, my mom did about two years and my brother is a current driver. You'd think it was the family business

 

Welcome to the forum @beefpotnoodle ! I use raised beds but the minimum depth of mine are 8" and then up to 11". I went for this depth as I thought that would work best for most vegetables and flowers.

Perennial shrubs and flowers work their way down further than the original surface because they inch at it year by year but annuals need some depth because they have to do their production this year and after last frost to first frost. You wouldn't try to grow a 6" long carrot in a 4" deep pot so use that as a bit of a guideline for future plantings. You can "mound" up - create hills within that bed to help create depth.

I put my onions in a bed that is 11" deep however I've never seen them get deep roots.

I am a perennial newbie gardener and obviously my growing conditions are different than yours (we're expecting snow tomorrow) so I can't often offer advice about what is good for your area but I do try to be helpful.

 

I say 4" raised beds, it's more of a raised border. There is no base to the soil, I've just build the soil up 4" from the surroundings

 

Welcome to Gardeners Corner Nic. Sorry I can't help as I'm not really a veg grower, just runner beans and tomatoes.

 

Hi @beefpotnoodle

 

Thanks @shiney I have the potatoes in three material sacks, I was going to top up when needed. I put four seeders in each. It doesn't matter if they don't turn out. It's more a learning curve.

I'd say the clay isn't too bad in the beds, I've had to use lime to condition the soil in other parts of the garden as part of it was a river ta one time!

Next year I'm hoping to be better prepared and have chicken or horse manure seasoned. Or maybe raising my boarders, depends how long we are staying at this house

 

Pretty, and thanks!