Want to remove raspberry and blackcurrant bushes from my garden?

Question

and grow some veg instead for a change (i just ended up letting the birds eat the fruit but dont worry - I will leave some for them).

When I finally get them dug out, how should I prepare the ground, what veg should I grow that will not be a failure to a very amateur and part-time gardener and what should I be doing now? Live in west of Ireland so need hardy type of veg and I refuse to use slug pellets so dont want anything too attractive to these pests.

Thanks

Huge - just LOVE curly kale. Will definitely have a go at growing that !

Answer 1

At this time of year all you can really do is prepare the ground for sowing in the early spring. Grow things you know you will eat, what about: brussel sprouts,cabbage or curly kale. Also, consider growing runner beans or french beans. For root veg try beetroot and and if the soil is light grow parsnips and carrots. All these are dead easy to grow and you can get rid of slugs in many other ways - try jam jars half filled with old beer they die happy.

Answer 2

1. be sure to dig out the roots. These are hardy plants and will come back up.
2. Soil prep. You want as much compost as possible tilled into the soil. When I prepared my native soil I was able to get free horse manure from a local stable. I added 6-12 inches and tilled it in. Steer or leaf litter is also good. If you need to pay for it you can get by with a lot less.
3. A trail of salt around your garden will kill/deter slugs and snails.

I'm in California, so I'll let someone local tell you what to plant. I found lettuce easy to grow.

Answer 3

Try some of these sites

Garden Organic - the working name for HDRA - the organic organisation - organic gardening, farming and food
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Organic UK
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Vegetable Gardening - Organic Vegetable Garden
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Featured organic vegetable garden
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What to do now in your vegetable garden
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How to Plan your organic vegetable garden
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Instant organic vegetable garden uk - Rocket Gardens
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Organic Vegetable Gardening-Your Guide to Organic Gardening
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Online Garden Courses, Vegetable and Flower Garden Design, organic flower gardening, landscaping ideas for garden ...
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Controlling Japanese Beetles In Your Organic Vegetable Garden
Organic methods for controlling Japanese Beetles in Your Organic Vegetable Garden ... likely to be hard at work in your organic vegetable garden at this very moment. ...www.gardenandhearth.com/OrganicVegetableGarden/Japanese-Beetles.htm