Advice on how to create a veg patch with the kids

[Langbannedforsafeguardingkids]

Hello,

I'm a novice gardener as have previously rented - now we have bought (well, rented from the bank!) we have a long thin garden mostly grass with some borders with shrubs (and lots of brambles). I really want to grow some veg / fruit with the kids this year, so am looking for advice on best things to do

We have a massive Laurel bush at the end of the garden - is it OK to create a veg patch about 1m in front of this (I've read Laurel is poisonous but presumably as long as we don't actually eat it it will be ok?). I don't know whether to convert previous flower beds (which have a holly tree in, lavender, buddleia bush, some lilies etc) or dig up some grass. There is a bit at the end of the garden (by the Laurel) with loads of ant hills - can I dig up here - will the ants affect the crops? Do I need to deal with them first?

Any advice gratefully received. I don't know what I'm doing... but we're keen (especially the kids).

Oh and the brambles - I've been cutting back and trying to dig up the roots (proving difficult) - any other things I can do to get rid of them?

Thanks in advance....

Keep digging the brambles, especially the roots, otherwise they will take over.

As for vegetables.. I would get a raised bed box like the one in the first link (sorry not clicky), fill it with compost / soil and then use one of these vegetable seed mats as a first crack at growing vegetables.

www.amazon.co.uk/quickcrop-Starter-Raised-Bed-Kit/dp/B00I9DHHGK/ref=pd_sbs_86_1/261-0900244-6044829?psc=1&pf_rd_p=96cae456-8d7a-4bc1-91c7-9b20b4dfd7c9&_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_wg=NNtzM&pf_rd_r=1G8837ZBDGJBSCBFSGTV&pd_rd_i=B00I9DHHGK&pd_rd_w=yAOc9&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&refRID=1G8837ZBDGJBSCBFSGTV&pd_rd_r=0aa41954-7e5c-44c8-9d0c-9fd2ded1e0b2

www.amazon.co.uk/GroMat-25160-Mr-Fothergills-Grow/dp/B00TM7GU6A?tag=mumsnetforu03-21

Thanks Chateau - brilliant suggestions.

Any advice for digging bramble roots? I keep trying with the spade but just feel I'm never quite getting it all.

Brambles create a mat of roots so it is important to get out as many of the lumps of roots as possible, trace the roots until you reach this woody clump and dig it out. Keep an eye on the patches and dig them out as soon as they appear. We are on year 3 of a very overgrown slope and it is getting better! Don't use weed killer especially where children are going to be gardening. The link below has some good advice. If you are going to do a vegetable box above the ground like I suggested above, you can lay down cardboard at the bottom and then compost or soil on top which will slow things down!
www.allotment-garden.org/gardening-information/weed-control/organic-control-of-brambles/

Ah brilliant Chateau really great advice and some hope that things can get better. Had another go at the brambles today. This is going to be a long war I think, it's pretty bad......

Any advice for digging bramble roots? If you trace a bramble stem back to the soil you'll find a sort of node from which all the stems are shooting. If you can cut through the roots under this, then the bramble can't throw up any more shoots and the remaining roots will just rot. Use secateurs rather than a spade - buy a cheap pair, because they're not really meant to be used underground. This is how I have cleared bramble patches.

My childhood "den" from about age 7 was in a large laurel bush. I wouldn't have any qualms about eating vegetables grown near it. However, the ants nests probably indicate that the soil under the bush is quite dry. Digging up an anthill will deal with it quite effective, but if the soil is dry they will return. They won't damage the crops directly, but no plant appreciates the soil upheaval of an ants nest being dug underneath them.

Digging up some grass is a good option. Mark out a strip at one end by pushing in a spade about half a spade's depth, then put a spade underneath horizontally and lift the turf. in pieces about a foot long. Store them temporarily alongside the opposite end of your proposed bed. Then dig out the strip to form a treanch another spade's depth (at least), cart the soil to alongside where you've stashed the turf.

Then mark out another strip. Strip the turf and place it upside down at the base of the trench. Dig a new trench where you've removed the turf, and put that soil on top of the upturned turf. Mark out another strip and repeat. When you get to the far end, your stashes of turf and soil are waiting to fill the final trench.

It won't work out that neatly in practice. But the upside down turf will rot and enrich the soil, while you can get on with planting your veg on top.

Thank you Mere great advice. I am now feeling more optimistic about getting rid of the brambles! Let the work commence.....