Want to shun the supermarkets and start growing your own tasty veg at home? A vegetable patch is the way forward.
If you’re wondering where to start, Compost Direct is here with our ultimate guide to creating a vegetable patch. Read on to find out more about the location, size and essential preparations you’ll need to enjoy bountiful veg all year round.
Location
The location of your vegetable patch is crucial, although often overlooked. Like most plants, vegetables grow best in sunny conditions—so choosing a shady spot for your vegetable patch is a big no-no.
Ideally, your patch will be in an area that receives a minimum of five hours of sunlight per day to aid the growth of your vegetables. Making sure your patch is away from other plants will also help protect your crops from pests like slugs and snails.
Depending on your garden, you may need to protect your vegetable patch from wind. Try to choose an area that’s sheltered, although don’t worry too much if this isn’t possible. A slatted fence or windbreak around your patch will be enough to protect your plants from breaking.
Size
Again, the size of your vegetable patch will depend on the overall size of your garden. The size you choose should be proportional to your garden – a large patch in a smaller garden will overwhelm the space, while limiting yourself to a small area in a larger garden will mean you can grow less.
However, you should also factor in the time demands and experience needed to care for a larger vegetable patch. Even the most experienced gardeners can struggle to maintain a larger space, so always consider what you can realistically achieve. If your space is too large, you may find yourself demotivated.
Preparing your patch
Once you have decided on a location and size, you’re ready to start setting up your patch.
The first step is to loosen the soil to make it easier to plant your seeds or plants. Using a spade, dig over the entire area, digging down at least the depth of the spade. Where possible, dig further — this will allow more room for the roots of the plants to grow.
As you dig, pick out any weeds, making sure to remove the roots and stem too. Try to remove any stones or rocks you may find, as these could hamper the growth of your veg.
Improve soil quality
It’s very rare to find that you have the perfect quality soil in your vegetable patch. In the vast majority of cases, the soil will need to be improved in order to provide all of the nutrients your crops require.
To get the best results for your veg, you’ll need to improve your soil by adding a compost that’s specially formulated to support vegetable growth or well-rotted manure.
Always consider the vegetables you want to grow when improving the quality of your soil. Keep in mind that some plants grow best in more alkaline or acidic soil conditions. Alter how you treat your soil to reflect your plants’ needs.
Plan & plant
Once your soil is prepped and ready to go, you’ll need to start planning where to place your plants within the patch. You should already have a good idea of the vegetables you’d like to grow, so now you’ll just need to consider where to grow them.
Don’t overfill your patch, as this can stunt the growth of your vegetables. Follow the directions for spacing as outlined on the vegetable plant label or seed packet to enjoy maximum return from your labour.
As well as considering their position, you’ll need to pay attention to how your plants will grow. For example, green beans will be best placed next to a wall or fence, as they usually wrap around objects as they grow. Alternatively, you could just make sure they have a stake or trellis to climb.
After you’ve considered the above, you can start planting. Remember to plant vegetables in groups, rather than sowing the seeds randomly. This will make it easier when it comes to digging up your veg, as you’ll know where each different type of vegetable has been planted.
Order your vegetable patch essentials with Compost Direct today.