Self-Sufficient.co.uk
Find out more about Self Sufficiency
Latest Articles
Green Manure
Find out the benefits of green manure and its uses
grow your own
10:25, 14th Aug 2008
Build a Pallet Shed
Build yourself a shed from used pallets
shed
13:31, 23rd Jul 2008
Choosing a Greenhouse
Decide which greenhouse is right for you
greenhouse
13:26, 23rd Jul 2008
Chicken Coop
House chickens in a suitable chicken coop
livestock
13:13, 23rd Jul 2008
Keeping Chickens
Find out more about the practicalities of keeping chickens
livestock
13:11, 23rd Jul 2008
Growing Redcurrants
Find out more about growing your own redcurrants
grow your own
09:02, 21st Jul 2008
Nettles
Find out more about nettles - how to benefit from them and how to get rid of them
foraging
11:48, 19th Jul 2008
Growing Peas
Find out more about growing delicious peas
vegetables
16:16, 18th Jul 2008
Your Vegetable Plot
Find out more about the ideal vegetable plot
Your Vegetable Plot
vegetables | grow your own
Every garden no matter how small can be used to grow a selection of vegetables. It is even possible to grow many vegetables in pots and trays - for example, growing potatoes in an old dust bin. However, if you intend to be self-sufficient in vegetables you will need a decent sized vegetable plot in your garden and the time to care for it.
Grow Your Own Vegetables
Each week expect to spend around 5 minutes per square metre of vegetable plot weeding, tidying and so on. Therefore to maximise your yields and the quality of the vegetables you grow it is often better to reduce the size of your proposed plot so that you have the time to give it your full attention. Decide how many hours you can dedicate per week to growing vegetables and set your plot size accordingly (within the constraints of the amount of land you have). For example, if you can spend three hours per week on your vegetable plot then your plot should not be much larger than 25 x 12 feet.
Your plot must also be positioned so that it gets at least six hours of sunlight daily as vegetables need a lot of sun, and also water must be readily available. If possible position your plot in a sheltered location where the soil will warm up quickly in the spring and give you a head start and a longer growing season.
Well drained fertile soil is essential for a high yielding vegetable garden. Remove as many stones as possible, and add organic matter such as compost or manure to increase fertility. The soil should be tilled and raked over before planting. Raised beds help to protect the structure of the soil and make it easier to tend to your crops.
Click here to find out about the importance of crop rotation.
Article Published: 13:12, 8th Jul 2008
Related Articles
Grow Potatoes in Containers
Find out how to grow potatoes in the smallest garden
Article Published: 11:51, 5th Jul 2008
vegetables | grow your own
Container Vegetable Garden
Grow vegetables in Containers
Article Published: 03:37, 20th Apr 2006
vegetables | grow your own
Fighting Slugs
Find out how to protect your crops from slugs
Article Published: 10:20, 18th Jul 2008
vegetables | grow your own
Growing Peas
Find out more about growing delicious peas
Article Published: 16:16, 18th Jul 2008
vegetables | grow your own
Carrot Fly
Understand carrot fly and how to protect your crops from them
Article Published: 10:13, 5th Jul 2008
vegetables | grow your own
Growing Shallots
Find out how to grow your own shallots
Article Published: 08:06, 12th Jul 2008
grow your own | vegetables
Making Pickled Onions
Find out how to pickle onions
Article Published: 15:05, 7th Jul 2008
preserving | vegetables | grow your own
Crop Rotation
Find out more about the importance of crop rotation
Article Published: 09:08, 5th Jul 2008
grow your own | vegetables
Growing Rhubarb
Find out how to grow and care for rhubarb
Article Published: 14:59, 15th Jul 2008
grow your own | vegetables
Companion Planting
Find out about the benefits of companion planting
Article Published: 09:27, 12th Jul 2008
grow your own | vegetables