LOCATION
Vegetables ideally need six to eight hours of sun a day, some more than others. Eggplants, tomatoes and chillies need more than lettuces, rocket or spinach, which can get by on four to five hours. The ideal location is north-facing, however, an east- or west-facing vegetable garden will do.
DESIGN
There are many design choices, from rambling wild cottage gardens, to formal French potagers.
• Plan your garden on paper.
• Map the design in the garden, using string and stakes to mark the beds and pathways.
• Beds should run north-south.
• On a slope, create terraces along contours to ensure water, nutrients and seeds don’t run downhill.
• Maximise space by adding vertical structures and trellises, using the area underneath for other plants.
HEALTHY SOIL
An organic…