With shopping bills soaring, many of us are looking for more creative and cheaper alternatives to get the food we need. And if you have a garden with some space to spare, it might be easier than you think to start your own vegetable plot. 

So let’s explore the essential tips for starting a vegetable garden. 

How to start a vegetable garden

• Start small: If you’re completely new to maintaining a vegetable garden, then it’s best to first start small to make sure you don’t overwhelm yourself. So, make sure to select a couple of easy-to-grow vegetables and begin with a smaller plot. This way, you can get into the swing of things and learn how to successfully grow from seed to plant before moving on to more ambitious plots. It will also help you establish how much time you have to spare for maintenance of your garden and whether you can realistically take on more. 

• Location: Placement plays a big part in how successfully your vegetables grow and thrive. Consider which areas of your garden receive the most sunlight as these spots are the ideal location for the plot. Areas that are too shaded or obscured could make it harder to grow healthy vegetables, so pick the sunniest area possible. 

• Raised beds: Separate the vegetables from the rest of your garden with raised beds, which are a little easier to look after when compared to ordinary veg beds. Some further benefits of raised beds include fewer weeds, less soil compaction from foot traffic, better drainage, warmer soil and the ability to control the soil quality and pH more easily, as you will be the one filling it. 

• Soil choice: Selecting the right soil is an important choice, and one that will have a big bearing on the output of your vegetable garden. Depending on the vegetables you choose to grow, they may have slightly different soil and fertiliser needs, so it’s important to do your research beforehand. It’s also important to purchase your soil from a quality supplier to ensure the best results. Here at Chargrace Soils, we supply a wide range of soils for any purpose, which can be delivered directly to your door. 

• Deal with pests: Once you’ve planted your vegetables, you’ll then need to keep the pests at bay to guarantee healthy produce. To protect the biodiversity of your garden and the surrounding environment, it’s recommended to always try natural pest control methods first, such as introducing repellent plants into your garden or putting down repellent foodstuffs. Each different pest will likely respond to different repellents, too. 

Easy Vegetables to Grow 

You’re now ready to get started with your vegetable garden. So, what are the easiest vegetables to grow for a beginner? 

• Salad leaves
• Courgettes
• Onions & Shallots 
• Radishes 
• Beans 
• Tomatoes 
• Potatoes 
• Beetroots 
• Broccoli
• Carrots

All you need to do is pick a few plants to get going and before you know it, you’ll be enjoying freshly grown veggies straight from your garden. 

Here at Chargrace Soils, we’re a leading supplier of landscaping and gardening products to homes and businesses across the UK. With our easy service, you can buy your chosen volume of soil online and we’ll get it delivered straight to your door. Simply browse our products online or get in touch with our friendly team today. 

Most gardeners dream of nurturing, harvesting, and enjoying their own fresh produce. Not only is it economical, sustainable, and healthy, tending a fruit and veg patch is scientifically proven to benefit our mental health and emotional wellbeing too! Here is a handy, practical guide to cultivating abundant, delicious, and diverse fruits and vegetables in your own back garden!

Preparation 

Mindful planning and planting is the best way to ensure abundant, healthy, and even year-round harvests. In spring, decide which fruits and vegetables you want to grow, what their requirements are, and where you want to grow them. It seems obvious, but the very best crops to grow are those which you and your family enjoy eating!

Space and Place 

When planning out your crops, consider the space and light conditions in your garden. If your space is small, select crops that grow, or can be trained to grow, vertically, such as runner beans, tomatoes, cucumbers, courgettes, strawberries, raspberries, and even melons. You may need to cane and restrain some crops to prevent them from spreading.

Although most fruits and vegetables need a fair amount of sunlight to flourish, don’t despair if your garden is shady. Shade-tolerant crops such as gooseberries, raspberries, rhubarb, beetroot, kale, or lettuce will do well so long as they receive a little midday sun. Most salad crops are heat averse so flourish in cool, shady conditions. 

Soil 

Matching your crops to your soil type will improve your harvest! Brassicas such as cabbage, sprouts, and broccoli all enjoy clay soil, whereas root vegetables like carrot, parsnip, and beetroot will prefer sandy soil. You can modify or enrich your soil in early spring to make sure your crops receive adequate nutrients throughout the growing season. Adding plenty of organic manner such as compost, bark, and manure will improve the quality of any soil type, and spreading a layer of organic mulch will help the soil to retain moisture. Remove any large stones or other debris from the border and loosen the soil with a fork to improve aeration before sowing. Try to keep your beds narrow, so that you can easily reach across them to perform any maintenance without stepping on and compacting the soil. 

Fertiliser

Even with the best soil quality and light conditions, your crops need fertiliser to really maximise their yield. Nutrient-rich soil produces nutritious, delicious crops. It’s best to add fertiliser in spring and work it into the soil before the bed has been planted. Very hungry crops such as tomatoes will need extra food during the growing season. There is an extensive array of crop-specific food available, which deliver specialised nutrients to complement each crop. Be careful not to over-fertilise though, as this can cause considerable damage to the plant. 

Maximising productivity 

Succession Planting 

Fast-growing veg such as spinach, leeks, and onions can be sown and picked in quick succession. Designate an area for these fast-growing crops, As soon as one crop is harvested, use that space to plant another fast-growing variety. Spring onions and most salad leaves can be sown repeatedly throughout the summer. Succession planting maximises the productivity and versatility of your space. 

Extending the growing season

Growing your own produce is not limited to the summer! There are plenty of ways to extend your growing season for year-round harvests. Resist the temptation to sow early, as most crops will be damaged by a late frost. Wait until the soil is warming up. You can speed up the warming process by covering beds with blankets or plastic in mid to late spring. This also prevents weeds from getting a head start. Get ahead by sowing fragile crops like chilis in seed trays indoors, and plant them out as soon as the last frost passes. Brassicas are fairly frost-hardy and can be grown year-round, carrots can be sown in mid-to-late summer for an autumn harvest, and leafy crops like rocket can survive frost if covered with a cloche. Winter veg should be sown in early summer so they have plenty of time to mature. 

Harvesting

Certain vegetables, such as potatoes, can remain in the ground for some time once matured, whilst others such as soft fruits and berries are best picked and eaten fresh as soon as they are ripe. With some crops, like beans, the more often you pick them, the more they produce. Cut-and-come-again veg like kale and spinach will continue to grow back again and again through the summer, so long as you don’t remove all the leaves at once.

Troubleshooting and Maintenance 

Pests, Weeds, and Disease

Frustratingly, fruit and veg gardens are a haven for all manner of garden nuisances, but there are some clever tricks to keep them at bay without the need for harmful chemicals or labour intensive procedures. Peppermint oil is an excellent natural aphid repellant. Debris and decaying matter are notorious for harbouring pests and disease, so keep borders clear. High-density planting keeps weeds at bay since there isn’t room for them to flourish. Growing in pots or raised beds will offer some protection from ground pests like slugs.

Crop Rotation 

Planting the same annual crop in the same place year on year can deplete the nutrients in that spot. Crop rotation not only helps to maintain soil fertility since different crops will take up different nutrients, but also disrupts the cycle of crop-specific pests and diseases, which may linger dormant in the soil and attack the next year’s crops.

Companion planting

Companion planting, where complimentary or symbiotic plants are grown together, is an excellent way to both maximise productivity and protect against pests by letting the garden do the work for you! For example, planting onions near to carrots will protect them from the carrot root fly, and French marigolds will repel aphids from susceptible crops like tomatoes and beans. Plants from the pea family will release nitrogen back into the soil from their roots, so are a great addition near soft fruits that love nitrogen-rich soil. Avoid placing drought-tolerant herbs near to thirsty plants like beans or tomatoes as they may become oversaturated. Interspersing vegetables with pungent plants like garlic or strong herbs will also help to repel pests. Nectar-rich flowers like sweet pea and nasturtium will attract pollinators who improve the yield of crops like strawberries and courgettes, whilst also brightening up the veg garden with vivid splashes of colour. 

Small spaces can be a challenge for gardeners, but with ingenuity, creativity, mindful planning, and considered planting choices, anyone can create a beautiful and productive garden, no matter how small your space is. Here are some clever tips to help you maximise the potential of your small garden. 

Lawn Vs. Patio

Avoid lawns, as they tend not to be multifunctional, limiting versatility and encroaching on valuable planting space. They are also high maintenance, and mowers take up valuable storage space. Instead, opt for paving or hardscaping which is low maintenance and is the perfect foundation for pots, containers, or raised beds for plants. 

Containers and Raised Beds 

Containers of any kind are ideal for small spaces, as they constrain the spread of plants somewhat, preventing them from becoming too overgrown and unruly with minimal maintenance. Pots are versatile, they can be easily and quickly moved if space is needed to accommodate different activities or garden functions. Raised beds are another clever solution to limited space since they can be constructed in virtually any size or shape imaginable, and be tailored to fit neatly in awkward spaces. They can even double as seating areas if they are constructed with wide sidewalls and edges.

Vertical Gardening

If you have limited square footage on the ground, consider growing upwards! Fences, walls, trellises, and hanging baskets are all perfectly useable growing spaces that add height to your foliage, creating the illusion of abundance. Climbing plants such as Jasmine, Wisteria, Passionflower, or Clematis will brighten up any dull or imposing walls, as well as offering some privacy if your space is overlooked. Succulents will thrive in wall crevices and cracks. Hardy, shade-tolerant creepers such as Ivy will envelope dreary walls and fences in dense, vivid green foliage.

Structural Features and Zoning 

Breaking up the area with low walls or box hedges will give the illusion of space whilst creating distinct areas (or zones), for different functions, for example, cooking, eating, and relaxing. Adding height with pergolas, small trees, and archways will draw the eye upwards and add to the feeling of space. 

Window Boxes

Window boxes are a fantastic way to increase your growing potential. Herbs such as Basil, Oregano, Thyme, and Coriander are shallow-rooted, needing just six to eight inches of soil, so are perfect for small window boxes. Placed on a kitchen windowsill, you have a mini herb garden for easy access whilst cooking. 

Planting Choices

Choose plants with compact growth habits and minimal spread. Tall flowers such as Lupin, Salvia, Lavender, and Honeysuckle add drama and vivid splashes of colour to the garden whilst taking up minimal space. Mixing plants of varying heights, structures, and textures creates the illusion of depth. Ornamental grasses will add fluidity, height, and texture to an otherwise austere small space. If your garden is shaded by surrounding buildings or walls, opt for shade lovers such as Hydrangea, whose bold blooms will make a huge impact in a small space. 

When growing fruit and veg, opt for crops that grow up rather than out. Beans, tomatoes, strawberries, and chilis are all happy pot dwellers whose yields will provide bright pops of colour and plenty of tasty snacks throughout the summer. 

And the best part of all, small spaces generally require much less laborious maintenance, leaving more time for you to relax and enjoy your beautiful garden!

References

Catherine. (2021). 10 EASY SMALL SPACE GARDENING IDEAS. Available at: https://growingfamily.co.uk/garden-tips/10-easy-small-space-gardening-ideas/

Cottrell, A. (2022). 20 small garden ideas – clever designs for tiny but mighty plots. Available at: https://www.realhomes.com/design/small-garden-ideas

Funnell, R. (2016). PLANTS FOR SMALL GARDENS: 10 GREAT CHOICES. Available at: https://www.theenglishgarden.co.uk/expert-advice/gardeners-tips/the-top-10-plants-for-small-gardens/

Gardeners World. (2019). 12 tips for small gardens. Available at: https://www.gardenersworld.com/plants/12-tips-for-small-gardens/

Gardeners World. (no date). 12 plants for an urban garden. Available at: https://www.gardenersworld.com/plants/plants-for-urban-gardens/

Kelly, T. (2022). 45 small garden ideas to make the most of your outdoor space. Available at: https://www.idealhome.co.uk/garden/garden-ideas/small-garden-ideas-2-174377

Powell, A.M. (2020). 15 great plants for small gardens. Available at: https://www.housebeautiful.com/uk/garden/plants/g30977879/plants-small-gardens/

Rogers, R. (no date). Making the most of small gardens. Available at: https://www.thrive.org.uk/how-we-help/gardening-advice/gardening-tips/making-the-most-of-small-gardens