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Allotment Gardening
Grow all you can eat on your own allotment.
grow your own
20:32, 10th May 2014
Smallholding for Sale in North Devon
Three bedroom detached house in 18 acres for sale - North Devon, UK
smallholding
20:48, 17th Mar 2013
Nettles
Find out more about nettles - how to benefit from them and how to get rid of them
foraging
16:12, 13th Apr 2012
Making Nettle Beer
Find out how to make your nettle beer
recipes
16:10, 13th Apr 2012
How to Make Sloe Gin
Find out how to make your own sloe gin
recipes
14:40, 13th Apr 2012
Grow Your Own Chilli Peppers
Find out how to grow your own chilli peppers
grow your own
13:33, 16th Mar 2012
Home Beekeeping
Find out more about keeping bees in your garden for honey
grow your own
15:40, 4th Jan 2012
Storing Apples
Find out how to store apples
fruits
13:23, 28th Jul 2011
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
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Container Vegetable Garden
Grow vegetables in Containers
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Find out more about growing delicious peas
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Grow Potatoes in Containers
Find out how to grow potatoes in the smallest garden
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Crop Rotation
Find out more about the importance of crop rotation
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Potato Clamp Storing Potatoes
Store potatoes (and other vegetables) over winter with a potato clamp
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Growing Rhubarb
Find out how to grow and care for rhubarb
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Make a delicious caramelised onion chutney
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Growing Shallots
Find out how to grow your own shallots
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