I don't really grow that many vegetables, Froggy, but I definitely grow as many potatoes as space and rotations allow. I cannot grow any of the onion family apart from leeks (because of white rot on the site) and I do tomatoes in the greenhouse...so I generally just grow summer crops such as squash/courgettes/french beans and saladings. Always laugh at the 'potatoes will break down the soil'. They won't, but
YOU will...trenching, planting earthing up, harvesting. There is nothing so absolutely delicious as a fresh, home-grown potato...and I cannot praise the great all-rounder, second early 'Kestrel' enough. I still recall the first taste, over 20 years ago, which took me back to childhood, when potatoes tasted of something other than starchy blandness. It was a revelation. But anyway, you do have time on your side so you can watch a lot of videos and read some books. Often, in chazzas, I come across a couple of guides put out by the RHS - 'The Vegetable Garden Displayed' and it's sister publication, the Fruit Garden Dis[played. Fantastic stuff. Mine is ancient and features lots of 'chaps' with corduroy trousers, braces and flat caps, and almost everything is sown directly into the soil. Then there are websites such as Charles Dowding's No-Dig site. A bit spendy, to implement his ideas, involving tonnes of compost...but I would suggest you do knock-up a composting bin with pallets and wire. Compost is the heart of the plot...and soon, you will be able to collect leaves for leaf-mould.
Ah, I wouldn't even consider textile underlay (soz
A380) - a nightmare which will not stop weeds. Might, as a last resort, use around permanent shrubs such as currants.Looks awful and has to be covered.. smaller weeds will simply root in the surface mulch or detritus...while dandelions will actually batter their way through! And after a couple of years, it will be a nasty, fraying nightmare. You would probably be better with a temporary cover of cardboard. Does much the same thing (keeps out light, keeps moisture in) and gracefully degrades down. Will home a lot of slugs but hey, hedgehogs and frogs!! Get a really good hoe. My eldest swears by a circular how, while I have something called a 'swoe'. Basically a knife on a stick so keep it sharp. And buy a good fork and spade - try them out for height and weight. I like Bulldog green-paintred steel with ash handles (durable but weighty). And also, something I have only recently been using, a hori-hori knife. Your tools are one of your greatest assets so go for the best you can although you can come across ancient spades at car boot sales and even antique-y shops. I have bought some lovely old tools which are still better made than anything we find at the likes of B&Q. O, and secateurs. Felco have been the industry standard for literally decades...with good reason. For small hands (like mine) they do a fabulous No.6 pair of secateurs. Fancy Japanese ones are available (and are lovely too) but definitely avoid Spear and Jackson, Darlac, and imitation olde worlde ones with wooden handles. My secateurs are my most used item and come with me everywhere , everyday (cos you never know when you might see a potential cutting or a nasty whipping bramble).
I have no clue what I'm doing tbh, would be great if someone suggested some places to start
