I am going to share some of the questions I get from readers who are anxious to start a new garden.

What is the best type of soil for growing vegetables?

Vegetables suit most soil types, once they are fertile, but they prefer a medium loam. They are greedy and do not like poor, starved soil. Dig in lots of organic manure, or about two bucketful’s of compost/m2. Bacteria will break down the compost into humus causing nutrients to be released into the soil.

What is the ideal site for a vegetable garden?

Vegetables need sun for as long as possible, with no large obstructions, eg trees, walls. As much shelter should be provided as possible, as even light winds can be damaging. A level site is easier to work on than a slope. Cultivate across rather than down on a slope to prevent erosion.

How does soil acidity affect vegetables?

Acidity is measured on the pH scale. The following vegetables prefer slightly acidic soil: beans, brussels sprouts, cabbage, cucumber, marrow and parsley. Radish, peas, parsnips, turnips, sweetcorn, tomatoes, rhubarb and potatoes like very acidic soil. Beetroot, asparagus, cauliflower, carrots, leeks, celery, spinach, onions and lettuce prefer more alkaline soils. On peaty soil vegetables grow better at lower levels of acidity than in normal soil. Excess acid can be fixed by liming.

What is important when growing organic vegetables?

Before artificial fertilizers were introduced all vegetables were grown organically. That was when farmyard manure was plentiful. For organic soil, fertility has to be built up by frequently working organic matter into it.

Feeding the soil, not the plants, is the organic grower’s ethos. Liquid fertilizers can be made by soaking bags of soot and farmyard manure or comfrey in a tub of water. This is a great mix for getting plants growing during the early stages.

How should I prepare a seed bed?

A seed bed is where seeds are sown. In spring, the rough soil must be raked to a fine tilt, after it has been raked over roughly, to make sowing easier. The soil should be raked several times in each direction, clearing out all small stones and clods. Heavy soil may need attention and will need to be broken down in stages. Allow the soil to dry out for a few days before raking. Tap it down with the back of the spade and it should be ready.

I hope these few hints will keep my readers busy and get spades dirty after the long winter.