In review: Veg in One Bed

We’re sure that all of us, at some point or other, have toyed with the idea of growing our own vegetables. The beguiling idea of plucking fresh vegetables, crisp and sleepy from the ground, to enjoy at their nutritional best; and the feeling of satisfaction gained from growing something from scratch, are enough to encourage even the most hesitant gardener.  Huw Richards started helping his parents in their vegetable garden when he was three years old and has since made a career out of empowering others to grow their own food. His book, ‘Veg in One Bed’ simplifies the process down to one raised bed, showing you how to grow vegetables easily month by month. From constructing the raised bed to introducing 19 different vegetable varieties to enjoy over one growing season, this book is a wonderful reference tool to keep close at hand.

Months are colour coded, with an illustration showing you what the raised bed should look like each month. Tasks are clear cut, informing you which seeds need to be sown for the windowsill (it also includes how to make newspaper pots), what needs to be planted out into your raised bed, and what to harvest. Huw’s tips are invaluable- for example: don’t worry about accidentally planting a broad bean seed upside down as gravity will correct the direction in which its root and shoot grow. From extending your lettuce harvest into autumn by just plucking the outer leaves (rather than cutting the whole head of lettuce at once) to the idea of using a grapefruit skin to trap snails and slugs, Huw’s hands-on experience is evident.

Huw also offers advice on how to keep the soil healthy (including a recipe for garden weed feed), as well as crop rotation and dealing with weeds and pests. Several growing plans are presented, accommodating various requirements – low rainfall, winter variety, cool climate, low effort, summer edibles and salad. The low effort plan, for example, suggests five different crops, each one planted in quantity and harvested over a long period for optimal return. For those who don’t have the space for a raised bed, there is information on how potatoes, tomatoes and salads can all thrive in containers.

This book is invaluable for anyone wanting a more self-sufficient lifestyle, as it shows you just how much can be achieved in a small space. Under Huw’s tutelage, the art of growing your own becomes manageable and appealing, this book a welcome addition to the bookshelf or allotment shed.