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Free lessonGrow your own vegetables · lesson 1 of 10

Planning your plot

Where to grow, how big to start, beds or containers, and choosing crops that are worth the space.

Key points

SiteSun for most of the day, shelter from wind, away from tree roots and shade, near a tap.
BedsAbout 1.2 m wide so you can reach the middle; never stand on the soil.
ContainersBigger pots dry out less; they need more watering and feeding.
Start smallOne or two beds in the first year; little and often.
What to growWhat you eat, what's best fresh, what's costly to buy, and easy, quick crops to start.

Summary

QuestionAnswer
Where?Sunny, sheltered, near a tap, away from trees
Beds or pots?Beds about 1.2 m wide; pots for patios
How big?One or two beds to start
What?What you eat, best fresh, costly to buy, quick

Quick check

How wide should a vegetable bed be?
  1. As wide as the garden allows
  2. Narrow enough to reach the middle, about 1.2 m
  3. At least 3 m, to fit more rows
  4. Just 30 cm, one row per bed
Answer: B. You can then work it from the paths without stepping on the soil.
Which is a good choice for a first vegetable plot?
  1. One or two beds in a sunny, sheltered spot
  2. The whole garden in a shady corner
  3. A bed under a large tree for shelter
  4. A plot far from the house to keep it tidy
Answer: A. Start small, in sun, close to water.
Which crops are most worth growing yourself?
  1. The cheapest vegetables in the shops
  2. Whatever takes up most space
  3. Ones you eat that taste best freshly picked
  4. Crops that store longest unpicked
Answer: C. Freshness and cost make home-grown worthwhile.

In your garden

  • Watch your garden for a day and note where the sun stays longest.
  • Mark out one bed about 1.2 m wide.
  • List five vegetables your household actually eats.

Video transcript

Growing your own food is one of the most satisfying things you can do in a garden, and you don't need much space. In this lesson: where to grow, how big to start, and which crops are worth the effort.

Vegetables need sun for most of the day, so choose your sunniest spot. They also like shelter from strong wind, which dries them out and snaps tall plants. Keep away from tree roots and deep shade, which compete for water and light. And put the plot close to a tap and the house, so watering and picking are easy, and you'll visit it more often.

A bed can be dug straight into the ground or raised with timber sides. Either way, keep it narrow enough to reach the middle from the path, about one point two metres wide, so you never stand on the soil and squash it. Containers suit patios and balconies. The bigger the pot, the better, because small pots dry out fast. Plants in containers need more watering and feeding than plants in the ground.

The commonest mistake is starting too big. One or two beds are enough for a first year, and easy to keep weeded and watered. You can add more next year, once you know what you enjoy growing. Vegetables reward little and often: ten minutes a day does more good than one long weekend a month.

Choose crops with four simple rules. Grow what you eat, because there's no point in a row nobody likes. Grow things that taste best freshly picked, like salad, peas, sweetcorn and new potatoes. Grow things that are expensive to buy, like herbs and salad leaves. And start with crops that are easy and quick, like radishes, lettuce, courgettes and beans, so you get early success.

This is one of 10 lessons in Grow your own vegetables

The full course adds sorting drills, flashcards and a printable summary sheet for every lesson.

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