What size area needed for vege garden? As long as a piece of string?

[Cass72]

Netix, DH bought a black plastic soakwell from Bunnings. We use it for our spuds. Put in a layer of dirt to cover them, when they sprout, put in more, they sprout, we put in more dirt...etc., until they reach the top, flower and die off. Then we knock the soakwell over and harvest our potatoes. The good thing is that we can put it anywhere in the yard and doesn't look quite as daggy as a stack of tyres. I usually have it hidden.

With regards to "how many" of each plant. We had a seed fundraiser at childcare and the backs of the packets of each that I bought (except for the herbs) would give an idea of how many you should plant, for example, the capsicum said 1-2 plants would yield enough for an average family of four. Cucumbers was the same. Cant remember the others but the packets give you a guide.

[Trillian]

Netix, it doesn't have to be broad beans - any type of legume plant will do the same thing and it's only of benefit if your soil is deficient in nitrogen anyway. It would probably be a good idea to buy yourself a little soil PH test kit before you start planting anything so you know what acidity your soil it and you know what to plant that will suit it or what you need to do to fix it because some will prefer acid soil, some alkaline and others neutral.

[briggsy's girl]

there are a few "green" crops you can plant in the off season (winter ish) that help to rebalance your soil - can't for the life of me remember what they are now though. DH had his cancer treatment over this winter, so we let the garden do it's own thing and we're now fighting a battle with weeds sigh. definitely options for ways to rehabilitate with edible things though

[Dansta]

BG do you have saw dust at all? that'll keep the snails away...

[briggsy's girl]

nope - tried that, and it doesn't work as well as it is made out to do! we have literally plague proportions here (walking from the door to the car in the morning means standing on at least 30-40 snails - and they're just the ones that haven't made it back to their hidey holes before we come out! we have tried all the natural options, but have had to resort to the bait or lose all our vegies. we combine the natural options in there as well though to minimise the use of the bait