new veg patch

Me and the other half have decided to give up part of our garden to create a small veg patch.We have built a raised bed area which we will to fill with top soil.
It is 8ft x 4ft.Not a huge area but there is only 2 of us.We dont plan big crops like potatoes.
We are looking for any advice on how to prepare the area for planting and when to start.
Many thanks.

 

What sort of veg do you plan to grow? I ask because I've got a similar plan, and the patch I've allocated also is a bit smaller than a typical veg patch.

As for preparing the soil, I'm sure the more knowledgeable folks will be along soon, but when I do mine I plan to just dig it over and add a couple of sacks of well rotted manure.

 

We want to grow cabbage,leeks,salads (next summer) anything like that. We have an endless supply of manure as our caravan is kept at a stable. In the past we have only gone as far as toms, cucumber,peas and beans.This year we did try beetroot and potatoes in bags which were reasonably ok. So its a whole new adventure for us.

 

Have you looked at oriental veg? I haven't tried it, but from what I've read they tend to grow much, much faster than our home counterparts, which is obviously a bonus when using a small plot.

 

Might be worth investigating "Square Foot Gardening" which has ideas for maximum productivity from a small area.

 

Kristen, I've just looked it up. It looks like a good idea.

http://www.squarefootgardening.com/

 

Thanks for the link Clueless1 :thumb: