Drawing up your plan

⬛ Work out how much space you can devote to your edible plot, then draw out a scaled plan of it on graph paper. Note down the north- and south-facing aspects – this primarily governs what crops you can grow, and where.

⬛ Mark any services (such as water or electricity) on your plan. Do you need to add more or adjust their position?

⬛ Ensure all areas are accessible but keep path widths to a minimum, otherwise you’ll unnecessarily eat into your growing space.

⬛ Decide where large structures, such as greenhouses and sheds, should be located. If these are already there, but in the wrong place, is it possible to move them? Can you work your design around existing trees and shrubs, or will any mature plants have be renovated or removed? We needed to dig out eight huge hazel stumps and a row of oversized conifers, as well as clear out a bed infested with ground elder.

⬛ Tackle big projects like these in bite-sized chunks – or employ someone else to do them!