Veggie Bed Design
This post is quite information dense – some subtle but very important points around how to choose a location and ongoing management. After this one I’ll try to keep it to shorter soundbites.
All my comments are relating to where I live – Sydney’s northern suburbs. The accompanying video says a million words.
Takeaway nuggets of info:
Sunlight.
– Veggies require 6 hours of sun every day – even in the depths of winter. You can get away with a bit of dappled shade in summer, but in winter you really need full sun.
– You can engineer some shade if you have to, engineering more sun requires superhuman powers I do not possess.
Aspect.
– Here in Sydney the sun travels in the northern part of the sky. So in general put tall trees/ trellis/ buildings to the south. A north facing slope is perfect. A south facing slope requires a lot more care and attention to make sure everything gets light. Exposure to morning sun is more important than the blistering late afternoon western sun.
– On dead flat ground, orient rectangle beds on a North – South axis. This ensures all the beds get the maximum sun. If I erect a vertical trellis for beans or peas the adjacent beds still get a decent amount of sunlight. Where I can I erect the trellis at the south end of the bed.
Water.
– On a slope I would be more inclined to orient the beds perpendicular to the slope – on contour. This ensures water run off is minimised and water soaking into the soil is maximised. In Australian conditions you need all the help you can get keeping soil moist in summer.
– Veggie gardens are relatively intensive water users, ensure there is a tap close by for the inevitable drought, preferably coming from a rainwater tank.
Habits
– Putting the herb garden and veggie patch right outside your kitchen window or door means you are keeping an eye on things without even trying. Looking out over your productive patch whilst doing the washing up at the window has surprising mental health benefits… This is Zone 1 in permaculture design speak.
– I walk past my veggie patch at least twice a day to see to the chickens. Also on this route is my rain gauge, compost bays and composting toilet. The produce washing sink is right next door to the patch. I’m intentionally putting all the regular chores in close proximity to the high maintenance garden areas.
