Vegetable patch for beginners?

[FattyMcChubster]

Any ideas where to start?!
Am getting a vegetable patch and I am very excited
However, I have brown fingers (opposite of green) and have killed all plant life I've ever had. Literally.
So, any websites, magazines etc that you can recommend?
I'd love to grow things like potatoes carrots peas beans tomatoes etc.

Also, if anyone knows anything about raised beds I love some advice. I think they look great but that's from a totally aesthetic viewpoint. What are they for? Do I need them? Can I make them?

Tia

You don't need raised beds. Why buy soil etc when it's erm there already in the ground???

I think veg does better in the ground. It;s far more able to withstand drought and the soil is already full of worms and microorganisms that help to give you healthy plants and richer/more nutritious veg.

If you divide your patch into 3 you can manure 2 every winter and alternate your veg so that carrots/parsnips/other root veg don't go into freshly manured soil which would make the roots split. The idea is that this helps to avoid diseases building up that affect veg.

I need raised beds because I have arthritis, bunch. My knees and hips don't work properly. :)

Hello, I moved into a house this Spring with a 100ft garden!
100% novice gardener but was determined to get some raised beds in! I did a lot of reading and came to the conclusion that to use untreated wood would be best as I didn't want chemicals leaching into our home grown veggies. We bought some un-treated scaffolding planks from here and they have made brilliant beds! We are do pleased with them and they have weathered to a beautiful silvery colour now, they were a bit "blonde" when they first went in! Apparently, untreated wood should last for at least five years which I am happy with. I suspect they may last longer though, the planks look pretty meaty to me!!!! So far we have built three 8x4ft raised beds, but hope to put some more in this Autumn... I have found 4ft to be a good width if you can access bed from both sides as 2ft is a comfortable arms length to weed etc. HTH and good luck!