small veg patch

osso

my patch is 12ft x 18 ft n/ s facing well sheltered on the chester wales border i would like some ideas on a year plan to maximise use of this space the only thing i will not grow is beetroot (hate the stuff) anything else will give it a go many thanks osso

sotongeoff

One thing I would always grow are runner and climbing french beans-are dead easy-don't take up much space -cordons or wigwams and always pricey in the shops-but do not start until May at the earliest

You should get some other ideas

 

Matty2

Aim to grow easy stuff to start, you can become more adventurous as you get more sure of what you ae doing. Good rule is to grow things that are tooexpensive to buy - peas, beans of all sorts, a salad supply, Cougettes, 

Plan your plot into 3 or 4 sections 3ft x 18ft or something like it, you can then set up a veg rotation so you don't get the nasties

1 for roots-, onions, parsnip spinach, carrots, leek,

1 for brassica type - broccoli, cabbage, brussel sprouts, swede. turnip etc

1 for legumes- bean of all sorts, peas, tomato,

1 for squash_ cougette, squash, sweet corn, cucumber

Buy a good book on veg growing and plan carefully before you start

Good luck

Obelixx

Yes, divide it into 3 or 4 equal parts so you can rotate crops and avoid building up pests and diseases in the soil and then grow what you love to eat and what is expensive in the shops.  A basic book such as the Vegetable Expert will help with soil preparation, varieties and How To info to get you off to a good start.

Dovefromabove

My patch is slightly smaller - I make a point of growing only things we like that we cannot buy locally, particularly unusual varieties.

 E.g. I always grow runner beans - you just cannot buy good runner beans anywhere.  This year I will also grow Beurre de Rocquencourt dwarf beans - they have a fantastic flavour.  I grow Swiss chard throughout most of the year, and broad beans as again, you cannot get really fresh ones in the shops.  I will also grow some of the more unusal varieties of lettuce.  I always grow a couple of courgette plants as you cannot find small sweet courgettes in the shops, and that also gives me a chance to cook with the flowers. Last year I grew Marmande and Red Alert tomatoes - this year I'll be growing some heirloom varieties from seeds sent to me by a regular on this Forum 

osso

many thank to all have saved the advice and will put it to good use