麻豆社

Brendan Little on creating a veg patch

Post categories: question

Brendan Little | 09:31 UK time, Friday, 24 September 2010

Brendan Little, gardening expert聽for 麻豆社 Northern Ireland answers your questions about growing veg. Send Brendan a question.

Suzanne from Hamilton asks: Next year I'd like to create a vegetable patch. I've read your tips. When is best to start preparing the ground? When is best time to start planting the seeds? Is it better to bring the seeds on in the greenhouse then plant them out?

Answer: Hello Suzanne, now is a great time to begin the planning of your veg patch. My advice is to build one or two raised beds but do assess your site first remembering that your veg will need maximum light. Fill the bed or beds with a good garden soil mixed with compost aiming for a light airy medium that will retain moisture without flooding. If you are just starting out I suggest that you go for direct sowing. Most people tend to sow too thickly so keep this in mind. Seed packets give an outdoor sowing time on the back of the packet and I always stick to this. Trying to 'jump the gun' always leads to tears!

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The Dig In campaign has finished now. Thanks to everyone who took part in the campaign throughout 2009 and 2010. We hope you enjoyed growing the Dig In seeds, especially those of you who are new to growing vegetables. This site is no longer being updated, but it is still packed full of useful information about growing veg.

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Our video expert is Blue Peter gardener Chris Collins. He's a qualified horticulturalist and award-winning gardener, who's presented shows on everything from allotments to Chelsea - . He loves sharing his experience with growers old and new!

Gareth Austin is resident gardening expert with 麻豆社 Radio Foyle and lectures in horticulture in Northern Ireland. Gareth has made it a prority to encourage gardeners throughout Northern Ireland to 'reclaim the space' and start growing vegetables in any area they can find.

Maria del Carmen Casarrubios is a tutor and practical instructor at , Regent's Park. She trained at Capel Manor and Writtle College in Amenity Horticulture and has 20 years' experience of working with plants. Sally Smith

Sally Smith is a freelance gardening researcher and lecturer. She headed the advisory team at Garden Organic for many years. Pest and disease control by organic means is her speciality, Sally says: "Managing your soil is key to solving nearly all gardening problems, look after your compost heap, it's your most important asset." Sally Smith

Brendan Little trained at and . Brendan runs organic gardening courses, works as a garden designer and is in the 麻豆社 Radio Ulster Gardeners' Corner team." Sally Smith

Karen Kenny is the Eastern Region Rep for the National Society of Allotment & Leisure Gardeners as well as on the management team of Suffolk and Ipswich allotments where she runs a site. Karen is also an accomplished lecturer on most gardening subjects, including allotments.

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Ben Raskin is an advisor with the , as well as helping to run 22 acres of organic vegetables. With over 16 years of horticultural experience, including running market gardens and working at the Welsh College of Horticulture, he's an expert on organic matters.

Beechgrove Potting Shed is Radio Scotland's top gardening show, giving tips and advice to Scottish gardeners - and the odd Dig In grower - every Sunday.

Zoe tends the Dig In website. When she's not in the office you'll find her gardening on Hampstead Heath and in Regents Park.

Ann "Dig In" Kelly looked after the blog from day to day until May 2010. Bitten by the gardening bug a few years ago, she has progressed from a few growbags to a great big polytunnel. She hates slugs.