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Beginners veg and fruit gardener

ladybug22ladybug22 Posts: 6
in Fruit & veg
Hello I have grown a few bits of veg the past few years, but I have now ordered a 10 x 8 greenhouse and I am laying some raised beds ready to get a bit more serious! I have in the past just planted and waited to see what happens. But I am now wanting to actually produce most year round enough veg for my family. I wondered if anyone had used a fools guide to what to plan and when guide so ensure I can plan my veg plot the best way? I have already some runner beans, courgettes, aubergines (though not expecting great results as my greenhouse hasn't arrived yet!), tomatoes, cauli, broccoli, spinach, onions, potatoes, kale, broad beans and peas all as plug plants ready to plant. But I am not sure how I rotate or which I can plant a later crop for continued crops. I appreciate this probably is a big ask to have a one stop guide for all this information! I had though of making my own on records cards - but wondered if there was a journal or book to start me off. Thank you for any ideas!

Posts

  • steephillsteephill Posts: 2,841
    Here is a basic rotation guide https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?PID=124

  • raisingirlraisingirl Posts: 7,093
    Hello - how exciting - a new greenhouse  :)

    There are loads of books, so you might want to have a browse through a few and see which suit you best. These are some that I found helpful when I was trying to learn to do veg, but there are lots, depending on what sort of garden you have and want.

    I used Veg Patch: River Cottage Handbook 4 a lot for rotation, varieties and what to do when. Mark Diacono later wrote another one called 'Grow and Cook' which has loads of ideas about alternative methods for growing fruit and veg, which is really interesting.
    Carol Klein's 'Vegetable Gardening and Monty & Sarah Don's 'Fork to Fork' are both good. There's also one which was a collaboration between Gay Search and Delia Smith called 'Delia's Kitchen Garden' which is an excellent beginner's guide although I think it may be out of print so you may have to do some hunting to find it.

    The RHS also publish some excellent 'how to' books. 


    Gardening on the edge of Exmoor, in Devon

    “It's still magic even if you know how it's done.” 
  • LG_LG_ Posts: 4,360
    I am finding 'Veg in one bed' by Huw Richardson really useful. Obviously it's aimed at a single, large raised bed (10' x 4' if I remember correctly, and no greenhouse) but the book is laid out really well regarding the what and when, and what follows what - with a little effort you can tailor it to your circumstances. I've drawn up my own plan from it, the first time I've done so properly. I'd recommend it.
    'If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.'
    - Cicero
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    And don't forget there's the What to do now section here on this website

    https://www.gardenersworld.com/what-to-do-now-may/

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • ladybug22ladybug22 Posts: 6
    Thank you so much everyone for such speedy replies! I appreciate the tips very much. I haven't been so excited about anything than I have for years about finally having a greenhouse and a small veg plot! It's fun times ahead!
  • nick615nick615 Posts: 1,487
    ladybug22  I wouldn't get too panic stricken about veg gardening.  With the help of the seed packets, even the worst of us can get reasonable results but, if you'd like to buy one book that's a comprehensive guide (and you've got a birthday coming up), I've always found 'Food From Your Garden' by Readers Digest to answer most of my questions.  Copies are available on sites like Amazon.
  • philippasmith2philippasmith2 Posts: 3,742
    I'd certainly agree with @nick615 re Food from your Garden - first produced in 1997 .  I have the 1985 edition but no doubt it has been updated since then.
    Not only a guide to growing but also includes recipes for all the mentioned veg.
  • WolveryetiWolveryeti Posts: 21
    Grow Your Own Vegetables by Joy Larkcom is a great book and has extensive discussion of crop rotation and different crop rotation patterns. 
  • nick615nick615 Posts: 1,487

    philippasmith2   Yes, mine is the 1977 one, and the same year a Dr W E Shewell-Cooper produced 'Vegetable Growing' which has a far more naturalistic slant, with a strong accent on composting.  Both provide useful guidance.
  • ladybug22ladybug22 Posts: 6
    Thanks everyone. I bought the RHS veg patch book and it is really helpful.
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