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how to be a gardener - The complete online guide BBC Homepage Lifestyle Gardening Part One Part Two Are you signed in? Go here for more information The productive garden Setting up your plot Making your own compost General care Growing vegetables Growing fruit The kitchen diary Greenhouse growing The herb garden Test your knowledge Go further Plant lists Interactives Glossary Credits Programme information Help with plugins Gardening newsletter Site map
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7 - Setting up your plot Print page Setting up your plot When you’re thinking about where to grow fruit and vegetables in your garden, bear the following considerations in mind for the best results:
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Vegetable garden Choosing your site
Vegetable plot A good idea is to divide the plot into four areas – this enables you to rotate the crops, minimising disease problems. Ensure the paths between the beds are wide enough to take a wheelbarrow, and have a hard surface – paving slabs will stop your feet getting too muddy.
Plot Beds about 1.2m (4ft) wide with paths all around are perfect, because you can water and weed without getting on to the bed. Make sure there is a source of water nearby. It’s worth forking out a few quid and getting an outdoor tap. You’ll thank me on those hot, sunny days when you don’t have to carry heavy watering cans hundreds of yards Previous
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7. The productive garden Introduction Setting up your plot Making your own compost General care Growing vegetables Growing fruit The kitchen diary Greenhouse growing The herb garden Test your knowledge Go further
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Plant lists Find plant lists on: Soft fruit Tree fruit Easy vegetables Herbs Greenhouse planting Find thousands more plants in the BBC Gardening database .
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Video Watch video clips on: Basic principles of growing vegetables Growing seasonal vegetables Making a vegetable plot Making a compost heap
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Interactive Learn how to build a compost heap with our fun game, Hurl-a-heap .
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