What to plant your vegetables in

The most important thing is to make sure your containers are large enough and have drainage holes covered with gravel or broken pots, so that water can escape and the soil doesn’t become waterlogged. Most veg prefer a sunny or partially shaded position, free-draining soil and plenty of fertiliser.

Clear a space in your existing bed, then set about improving the soil. This can be done with grit, to improve drainage, and compost, to improve the soil structure, pH and absorbency.

RAISED BEDS
If you’re serious about turning home producer, a raised bed will give you extra space for a wider choice of crops.

You will need:

• Two planks that are 23cm wide x 80cm long and two planks that are 23cm wide x 90cm long
• Four pieces of wood that are 5cm x 5cm square and 23cm in length
• 16 x 8cm wood screws
• A saw, pencil, tri-square, rake, screwdriver and drill with 4mm and countersink drill bits
• Compost: you’ll need about 200 litres. Use a mix of 50 per cent sterilised top soil with 50 per cent multi-purpose compost and a few handfuls of grit.
  

How to do it:

• Choose a sunny, sheltered spot for your raised bed
• Make clear pencil marks 5cm in from the short ends of the 90cm-long planks
• Line one of the four small pieces of wood up with the marks, as pictured:

• Drill through the side, countersink so that the screws sit flush, then screw the two pieces together. Repeat with the other three small pieces of wood.
• Line up an 80cm plank with one of the joins you have just screwed together. Drill and countersink two more holes, evenly spaced from the other screws, through the 80cm plank and into the small piece of wood. 
• Screw together to form one corner of the frame. Repeat to form the other three corners and assemble the frame, as pictured:

• Fill with compost mix.
• Deter slugs and snails with copper tape around the outside, and keep the soil free of weeds.

Watering and feeding your vegetables...