new veg bed! what to plant where? pressure treated wood?

[pumpkinsoup]

I have just half-made a new (small) raised veg bed, with that mini log edging. Then I read something about arsenic, but then something else saying that is 5years out of date. Anybody reassure/advise me? Don't want to poison my children!

I've been looking at the rotation system, but we will only have two veg beds, and I don't want to grow potatoes or many brassicas so I'm a bit confused. Can any of you more experienced gardeners help?

Last year bed 1 had beans in (it was meant to be a three sisters bed but the squash and sweetcorn didn't make it) and 1 tomato plant in a corner. There are some strawbs, herbs and hopefully marigolds. Now there are also some garlic scattered through growing steadily, will be ready in 5-8 weeks. Both beds have partial sun.

I would love /am growing caulis, parsnips, carrots, PEAS(must have peas!), beans, swede, a few 'tester' tomatoes and squashes. Can I just put them all in together, or do they need to go separately? I'm happy to put some things in pots.

You don't have to do crop rotation, it's advisable to help balance soil nutrients and maintain fertility and structure and avoid disease. As you don't have much space I'd just make sure you aren't growing a crop in exactly the same spot it was grown the year before.

Your peas and beans should go in bed 2 as bed 1 had beans in it last year. Brassicas usually benefit from the nitrogen built up in the soil by legumes the previous year so your cauliflower could go where your beans were last year. Ideally all roots go together because they require similar growing conditions and easier to look after that way. The rest of the stuff could probably be crammed in where there's space, that's what I do with mine.

Thanks