Only 6 beds, abundance of seeds

[Lovelybitofsquirrel3]

I’m new to gardening. I went mad on buying seeds, but the beds aren’t massive. They’re 110 x 90 each. I’m not sure whether to just grow one thing per bed, or do a mix per bed? I will be growing tomato’s and potato’s in a sack so that’s not an issue. I could also potentially dig a vegetable patch from out the ground so not sure which would go in the ground or raised beds or does it not matter?

Have a look online to see what companion planting you could do with the plants you have - that might dictate what goes where

If you have any extra seeds/plants you could always sell them/donate them to a community kitchen garden or something, or perhaps a local school?

I didn’t realise that companion planting was a thing, I’ll put that on my list of things to do. Yes that’s a good idea I couldn’t possibly use all of the seeds even in individual packets there’s loads of them and they have an expiry date (Are they real?) It would be a terrible waste. Last time I needed to donate something to the local food pantry they came to my house to collect. I’m not sure if they’ll take them but I can ask.

Seeds last years, certainly you’ll get 2-3 years out of-them, and lots will give you more. Longest lived seem to be peas and beans. Shortest lived are the carrot family - carrot, parsnip, parsley, dill, coriander, fennel and soon. So sow 50% more than you need, and keep the rest for next year.

I thought the date on them was the year they were packed rather than an expiry date?

Use the raised beds for the things that like a “well-drained soil” and the ground for the rest.

Certainly fine to do a mix in each bed. You also may be able to do some succession planting, eg clear your broad beans and replace bu chard which will stand through the winter.

I scatter spare seeds around our village on patches of earth and I absolutely love it if they flower