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Digging
Dig the vegetable patch in early winter and leave the soil 'lumpy', you can use a spade or a fork but do not smash the clods up as you dig. This will leave the surface rough, this has several advantages. The soil will dry out a lot quicker in the spring as it has a greater surface area exposed, the 'lumps' of soil will be broken down naturally through the winter, the action of rain, drying and frost will all 'work' the soil for you, all you need to do is rake it over in the spring. This achieves a better seedbed than forcing a seedbed by hand.

Avoid Compaction
Avoid walking on the soil when the ground is wet, your feet will compact the ground, impeding plant root growth and drainage. If you need access for harvesting or planting crops always use planks to spread your weight or use the bed system.

The Bed System
There is a way of vegetable gardening known as the bed system that is ideal for the smaller garden. The vegetable patch is split up into beds about 4-6 feet wide that are worked from either side without walking on them. Between these beds you make paths of grass, slabs or bark chips to walk on. Only make the beds as wide as you can comfortably reach to the middle from the sides. You can use bricks, sleepers, timber or edging stones to mark out the beds, this will then act as a retaining wall to make raised beds. Raised beds are made by incorporating as much organic matter into the soil as you can manage, this will raise the soil level above the surrounding area and improve drainage and the available rooting depth. Raised beds are so much more productive that you can get more produce from a smaller area, some people prefer to plant vegetables closer together so as to produce smaller or baby vegetables.

Planting and Sowing
Two to three weeks before sowing or planting, apply a light dressing of organic fertiliser like poultry manure to the soil, lightly rake it in and then leave it. Depending on the vegetables you are growing you may need to plant out seedlings, sow seeds or plant tubers. When planting seeds make sure you have prepared the ground according to the instructions for the seed you are going to plant. Use a rake to level the soil and break down any large lumps. If the soil is too wet, leave it a few more days to dry out, if it is too dry, water before and after planting. When planting out seedlings always water the plants in, even if the soil is wet, this is to wash the soil around the plant's roots. Always plant seeds at the correct depth and with small seeds, as thinly as possible to avoid unnecessary thinning.

Succession Sowing
Always sow seeds in succession, that is plant small rows regularly to prevent a glut of vegetables all at once. You can plant salad crops and carrots etc, at three weekly intervals. Or you could consider planting varieties that mature at different rates, early and late varieties or with potatoes first earlies, second earlies and main crop.

Weeding
Keep weeding regularly to avoid weeds getting too big and setting seed. Use a hoe or trowel between rows.

Feeding
Most vegetables benefit from regular feeding. Very heavy croppers, potatoes in particular take a lot of nutrients from the soil, these nutrients need to be replenished by applying a fertiliser. Through out the growing season you will need to use a fertiliser according to the manufacturers instructions, always incorporate the fertiliser into the surface of the soil if possible by hoeing or lightly forking it in. Keep an eye on the weather forecast and try and apply your fertiliser just before rain is expected. A multi-purpose organic fertiliser is ideal for feeding vegetables and improving the soil at the same time. It is a good idea to use a nutrient and mineral supplement in between applications of your other fertilisers.

Watering
During the summer months you may find it necessary to water your vegetable garden. If plants experience a period of stress caused by drought, cold or lack of nutrients they will be triggered into 'bolting', this is when the plant decides it needs to produce seed because it might die prematurely. When watering always try and use rain water collected in water butts or recycled water from your bath or shower. Where this is not possible use a watering can filled from a tap, or using a hosepipe directed to the roots of each plant, avoid using sprinklers as they are very wasteful.

Harvesting Crops
Start harvesting your vegetables when they are still young and tender even if this means using some before they are fully matured. If you wait too long all of the crop will be ready at the same time and some may be wasted, if you do produce too much of one crop, consider swapping with another gardener or store some for later use. You can freeze most vegetables or store them in trays of sand or in a frost free, dark shed or garage.

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