Create a veggie patch

A veggie patch is a must for any organic gardener.

Many new gardeners begin with too grand a scheme and find out that they can't cope with the large area of veggie garden they've created. It's better to start off with a smaller area - say 3 or 4 metres long by 1.5 metres wide. You'll really be able to focus on this area and begin to get a feel for the soil and plants.

There are 2 main methods for getting started. the first involves removing the turf and breaking up the soil below to a depth of at least 30cm, then digging in organic matter. This is hard work and you'll end up with lots of weeding in your new veggie patch. However it is a tried and tested method and weeds can be overcome. My preferred method for getting started is a no-dig method. Here's how it's done.

You'll need a frame about 200 to 300mm high, preferably made from timber. Avoid using treated timber. It may have been treated with poisons, which could leach into the soil.

Start off by covering the ground, which could be an area of lawn, with a generous layer of manure. Give it a good soak. Cover the manure with a layer of wet newsprint, at least 1 newspaper thick. Make sure the newspapers overlap each other. There's no need to dig because the manure and newspaper layer will help the weeds/grass to break down and will also attract worms, which will work your soil for you.

Place the frame on top of the newspaper and fill the frame with compost. Give the compost a good soak. You can then plant seedlings directly into the compost. If you want to sow seeds, make a small hole in the compost and fill the hole with a good organic seed raising mix. You can then sow the seeds into the seed raising mix.

You'll never need to dig this patch, just keep adding compost. Worms and organisms in the soil will also benefit from the lack of disturbance to the natural soil depth they prefer to live in. The compost will continue to break down and settle over time, so keep adding more to the surface as mulch.