I want to begin a small herb and vegetable garden - guidance please!?

I grew my own tomatoes from seed last year and they were very succesful. We are moving house and I am getting a lovely big garden. I want to start a very small veg patch and a herb garden. Could anyone please give me guidance on what would be good for me to grow as a beginner, bearing in mind I wish to use the produce in the kitchen (ie no marrows please!) Could you also give me tips regarding where to place the patch (against a wall, in sunniest spot etc) and details about soil - I'm not sure of the soil type but the hydrangeas are pink (I believe this can tell you something) and its in Rastrick in West Yorkshire.



Many thanks for all you help x
I want to begin a small herb and vegetable garden - guidance please!?
Pick the spot that gets the most sun. Build it up like a "raised bed," using landscape blocks, un-treated timbers, new plastic timbers, etc. A soil depth of about a foot is ideal, although you could go deeper.



What you want is an area that you're not going to walk on and compact. Keep the soil loose. Work in some peat moss, sand, composted manure. Any good balance of organic material to help build up the soil.



A sunny spot against a wall is nice, as it will not only reflect some sunlight, but you will get some residual heat from the house, itself. Bear in mind, watch the soil moisture level so it doesn't get too dry. Sunny sides of houses tend to get dryer for the reasons I just mentioned.



Growing things like tomatoes from seed is ok, but it's also easier to use transplants, whether you buy them or start them indoors. I would suggest just one cherry tomatoe plant; that'll give you all the salad tomatoes you can eat.



Your choices for other things depend on what you like.



It's really easy to grow salad greens and some herbs.

Easy herbs are oregano, chives, garlic chives, thyme, basil (many kinds of basil to choose from).



You might consider a trellis for Asian style cucumbers; they're very crisp. Better than regular slicers.
Reply:Like you, I am starting a veg patch this spring as this is my first garden (moved in last summer). Try asking your local garden centre for advice, I went in mid-week (when it wasn't too busy) and the staff were very helpful. I took a plan/photos of my garden showing north %26amp; south, also any trees,walls,fences.

Potatoes are definitely good for beginners and good for the soil, apparently they improve it for the next planting season.

I have been growing herbs in containers because I love to use fresh herbs and this way I can grow them all year round, moving the containers indoors when it is cold outside.



Good luck with your gardening!
Reply:Herbs and vegies want full sun. Start with perennial herbs, thyme, oregano, rosemary, whatever you like to cook with. Basil is an annual, collect seeds for next year. Grow what you love to cook with and eat.



Pink hydrangeas = alkaline soil (rusty nails, really)

Blue hydrangeas = acid soil (coffee, tea grounds, Epsom salts)



have fun!



Mint is invasive entire, containerize unless you want it to take over the whole garden.
Reply:better you purchase a book on how to grow herbs this type books are available in market
Reply:sounds like acid soil so should be OK for most things. I would mark out the area for herbs etc as they can tend to travel and get raggy if noy contained. Incorporate plenty of humus to bulk up the soil particularly if sandy.

Lots of herbs will grow there - I would favour half perennials like rosemary, hyssop, thyme, mint etc and half annual like sage, chervil, coriander, basil etc. HTH

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