Veg Patch.....how to start?

I have two water butts the back of my shed not easy to get to but i put a piece of hosepipe from the back one around to the front with a tap on the end always good to have waterbutts you can fill the watering cans and add that bit of extra feed new to veg but always liked flowers am thinking about a third the more the merrier

 

Thank for that will have to have look in the garden for a place to put it i have a piece of concrete before i go up the steps to the garden might put a few boards up the corner how long will it take before i can put it back on the garden

 

Not sure putting them on concrete is best,mine are on the soil to allow the wriggly things to get at them and expect to reuse the heap next year.

 

I'd go for the Garden King it's big and has a hatch for removing the odd shovelful of compost.
Much depends on the the size of your garden and family - you may find one bin isn't sufficient. We fill at least one 7 litre "compost caddy" in the kitchen each day and empty into one of our bins.
If you introduce worms soon after you've started with your bin you'll find the contents are converted to compost much faster.

[ 05. March 2006, 07:19 PM: Message edited by: michaelmasdaisy ]

 

Don't forget to turn the compost every so often (at least every few weeks - to keep aeration going - oxygen being rather essential in the process!

 

Agree with paladin, dont put a purpose built compost 'bin' on a solid base, as not only will it stop the useful worms doing their job, but the liquid by product of the rotting down process will not be able to soak away.

 

bexiboo,
look at the photo in edible gardening 'veg garden photo' this is on a larger scale than you will probably have but the principles are the same.
as regards starting to make your veg patch now, although it is a nice idea, and good luck to you, it would have been a lot better to start this in the autumn due to
1, the amount of time & hard work involved
2, the preparation of the ground, double digging etc.
3, the addition of well rotted manure/compost.
4, leaving the area to the elements for a couple of months.
5, preparing a list of what seeds you will require.
6, the sowing in warmth of some types.
the list can go on.
If you have done the preparation then all is well.
remember that you must not grow root veg where you have freshly manured, even if it was well rotted.

 

Last weekend I took the turf off and dug half of the patch. I also forked in some organic chicken manure pellets. I was wanting to use this area to grow potatoes....what should be my next step. Sorry for all the questions.

 

Buy some seed potatos and 'chit' them! By the time they are ready it will probably be warm enough to plant them. See:
http://www.gardenerscorner.co.uk/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=15;t=000192

 

Noticed the comment about water butts, Roy F - and was thinking ought to mention not to use water from them on your seedlings as you get insect larvae, and other undesirables - ok on established stuff, but use tap water (allowed to stnad to settle the chlorine, etc) for your seedlings - beware the dreaded damping-off!!

 

good comment about insect larvae what the dreaded damping off

 

it's a disease caused by either soil or water-borne fungi! The problem is that your seedlings that seemed fine, will start to go brown at the base, near the soil, and keel over - no more seedlings!! Lots of people use cheshunt compound, from GCs or on-line, at a dilution it tells you on the can. Water the seed-compost in your trays with it, and there-ever-aftr! Instructions on the tin!!

 

here's one place on-line that sells it - gives pic and details too. http://www.gardendirect.co.uk/product.asp?cookiecheck=yes&numRecordPosition=2&P_ID=4318&strPageHistory=cat&strKeywords=&SearchFor=&PT_ID=348

 

I got all my veg books from second hand shops. There always seems to be loads for a quid each, some great old ones too!