New to Veg Growing, but Groundwork Layed

[earthworm]

Ay up,

I've got a new house, and a garden at last. I want to have a crack at growing some of my own veg, and keeping some chickens.

The old owners had done some work, there's a veg patch, which looks like its got cabbage, spuds and some other bits in it. Its got a big compost bin on it too, which I've been dumping food waste into.

The other side, there's a herb patch I think. There's space for a green house at the bottom too, then some lawn where I could fence off some chickens.

The trouble is here, I don't really know what's been done with this space. I don't know exactly what's in where, aside from the obvious. I could tell that there's cabbage, because it looked like it, and my Dad says he thinks there's potatoes in there to be dug up.

The question is, should I dig all this up and start again just so I know what's what? Or, should I try to work out what's already in there. Will the cabbage and spuds just grow back again next year if I leave them?

Thanks for any help!

[earthworm]

I had the good cabbage when I moved in. I followed what you said and dug up the spuds. There were actually one or two good 'uns in there, so I've bagged them.

So, should I leave the mankey spuds in the earth or put them in the compost bin? Will they grow back next year if I leave them and the roots and that in there?

Does the same go for the cabbage? Will that grow back again if I just leave it?

The rest of the patch seems to be just weeds for now ...

[happyhippy]

If it were my garden,I would probably clear out the spuds and cabbages and start again.I moved last year and started a new veg plot,which is quite big,several different beds and a planned hearb garden.When I harvested the last of the produce in Autumn I decided to leave the veg plots bare,and just topped them up with a covering of spent compost to sit for a while and have a rest!(me included! )I can't wait to get going again,have already started looking at seed packets!Good luck with yours and hope you have a load of success!

[Flo]

Buy yourself The Vegetable and Herb Expert. It is totally basic, have pictures and tell you all the things the beginners need to know. Many very good gardeners started their training here and it's cheap enough to buy for reference. Practical Allotment Gardening by Carol Klein is a good solid guide to basic ideas and worth keeping to hand for reference. I know - it's a garden not an allotment but you are going to be doing what is basically allotment gardening.

You can't do too much at the moment with weather as it is so learn first and get going end of February, beginning of March.