Grow your own veg: first-time veg grower

The right soil?
While some crops grow best on particular soils (brassicas are best in alkaline soils and carrots love deep sandy soil), vegetables will actually grow in any soil. But soil is alive and should be nurtured and managed lovingly. When we grow vegetables, we ask a lot of it, so we must be prepared to do our bit to replace what we take out. Adding compost (home-made is best, but shop-bought is fine) and well-rotted manure will help maintain soil fertility.

I have heavy clay soil, but over the years it's become more workable thanks to the addition of organic matter - compost and manure. Light soils, too, benefit from this treatment. It helps them retain moisture and nutrients. If you haven't yet made your own compost and there are no nearby sources of manure, then buy them from a garden centre.

Bagged salad leaves are often washed in chlorine solution 20 times the concentration of a swimming pool SOURCE Not on the Label, Felicity Lawrence (Penguin Books)

Golden rules

1. Look after your soil and replace the nutrients that have been taken out.
2. Concentrate on growing the crops that you like to eat.
3. Sow little but often to give you a constant supply and avoid gluts.
4. Pick vegetables young, when they're at their freshest and tastiest.
5. Rotate your crops to avoid disease and maintain vigour.
6. Use your space to the maximum - plant quick-cropping lettuces between rows of slower-growing veg such as leeks or cabbages.
7. Grow for taste rather than volume of harvest - you're not a farmer!
8. Make sure your plot is in full sun for as much of the day as possible.
9. Don't tolerate bare earth - sow green manure on any vacant patches.
10. Enjoy yourself and encourage the whole family to join in.

What can I do now?

• Draw up a list of your favourite vegetables, and then select the ones you'd like to grow.
• Rummage through specialist seed catalogues (see www.gardenersworld.com for contact details) and order seeds that take your fancy.
• Mark out some vegetable beds and dig them over, removing all weeds.
• Swap seed with friends - this is a great way to try lots of different varieties.
• Don't miss our February issue, where we'll give a rundown of the different types of vegetables available to grow.