A number of interested residents have said to me that they would like to know how to grow a few vegetables and my reply has been “the answer lies in the soil”.

            Select a plot of ground in an unshaded part of your garden, removing any large weeds or plants. During the winter, on a dry day, fork over the plot, adding half a cup of good fish and bone organic slow release fertilisers as you progress. Any small weeds may be forked in and buried. Leave the soil in large lumps for the frost to work on a larger surface area. If you have some well rotted garden compost in your composting bin (rotted for at least 18 months), this may be spread and forked in at the same time.

            In February, mark out using a garden line (string and two pieces of cane) an 18" wide part of your plot and rake it level. Sow some broad bean seeds 6" apart and 2" deep. Do not rake the rest of the plot until the end of March or the beginning of April and wait for the next instalment in the spring Beacon.

Keith Redfearn, Secretary, Horticultural Society.