Grow your own food
Vegetables, fruit, herbs and food forests.
A raised vegetable bed
A compact 120 × 80 cm bed. A clear starting point for your first vegetables.
Get to know your garden before you begin
A good vegetable garden starts with observation. Map the light, space and your own routine.
Succession sowing salad leaves in a small UK or Irish garden
Plan small, repeated sowings of salad leaves around your kitchen needs, local weather and available space, without producing one large glut.
Outdoor tomatoes in Britain: choosing a sheltered growing position
Compare light, wind exposure, support and access to water before choosing an outdoor tomato position in a British garden.
A practical herb container garden for an Irish balcony
Choose useful kitchen herbs and arrange containers around shelter, drainage and daily access on an Irish balcony.
Planning vegetable beds on heavy clay in a British garden
Create accessible vegetable beds on heavy ground by observing drainage, protecting soil structure and starting with a manageable area.
Planning a raspberry patch in an Irish family garden
Allow space for raspberry growth, picking access and variety-specific pruning before planting a permanent fruit patch in Ireland.
Build an Irish sowing calendar from your own garden observations
Use local forecasts, seed instructions and garden records to create a sowing calendar that fits your Irish site rather than a fixed national date.
Protecting young vegetables from slugs without relying on barrier myths
Identify vulnerable seedlings, inspect actual damage and choose a practical monitoring routine for damp UK and Irish gardens.