No greenhouse, bare plot, want to grow veg, what do I do and when?

[SiriusStar]

I have an area at the bottom of the garden that was cleared last year. There are a few small weeds and loads of chives beginning to grow.
I don't have a greenhouse but I do have a small lean to with plastic sides and roof.
Do I need to dig some fertiliser in to the ground?
How do I know what to plant, where and when?
What can I plant staight into the ground?
What about different sowings etc, I am a bit confused.
Any good books? I have a carol klein book but I don't think it is basic enough for me.

I don't want to run out of time.
Appreciate any help/advice you can offer.

Good for you giving it a go! Dig over the patch you want to use and break down any large lumps of soil with a garden fork and remove any clumps of weeds. For best results you should buy a good quality compost ( you may need several bags as I don't know what area you have to cover) and dig the compost into the soil. Rake over the soil and remove any stones. Decide what you would like to plant - what do you like? what will your famiy eat? You can buy plug plants in garden centres this month and put them into your lean-to so that they are sheltered. Remember to keep the plants from drying out. At the beg. of May take the plants outside during the day and put them back in the lean to at night. This is called hardening off. Once you have done that for a couple of weeks you can plant them in your patch. If your patch is going to sunny you should be able to grow tomatoes, squash, potatoes, If you want to grow from seed then parsnips and carrots are easy. Just mark out a line in the soil (about 1 cm deep),put a string across (tied to a stick at either side) and sow the seeds along the string. Cover with a light covering of soil. Keep watering if it doesn't rain - they will appear fairy quickly. Buy a Alan Titchmarsh book - they are very easy to follow and might help to inspire you. Good luck!

Have a browse in the garden centre and check the backs of seed packets that you'd consider growing.

If you are south, you can plant early, if north, leave it till the later date on the packet.

If weeds are germinating, then you can plant seeds in the ground.

Try starting a few things off on windowsills? eg peas in pots, to harden off in your lean-to and plant out later?

Thankyou. Just what I needed, basic and easy tips. Off out tomorrow I think.