Reddit mentions of The Vegetable Expert (Expert Series)

Another oldie-but-goodie is The Vegetable Expert by D.G. Hessayon.... Getting on for 30 years old now, but very comprehensive!

Thrift stores and libraries are good places to look for gardening books, even if they might be a bit 'dated,' most of the basics don't change much.....

Any kind of well-rotted organic matter dug into to the raised bed should improve whatever soil is in there already - if there are any horseriding stables nearby, they are often more than happy for you to take away a few sacks of horse poo for free.... Otherwise, store bought compost would be fine, or you could have a truckload of good topsoil or loam delivered if you are filling the whole bed from scratch as it might work out cheaper...

One of the first things I'd do in a new garden is establish a compost heap or bin for all the green garden waste, kitchen peelings etc.... It takes a year or so to get going, but it's a great way to get rid of biodegradable waste and put goodness back into the vegetable plot with your own free compost :>)>

Any more specific soil preparations would depend on what the plot's soil condition and drainage are like already, as there are lots of soil types (from thin, dry and sandy to soggy heavy clay) in a range of pH's from acid to alkaline, and certain crops may be better suited to your conditions than others, so that might be worth having a read up on before you assess the task ahead....

If you have any more questions as you go along, this sub is a great place to ask! Happy gardening, and I hope it brings you a lot of satisfaction :>)>

Woody

If you want inspiration, have a wander round Kew Gardens. At one time they had student vegetable gardens there too - don't know about now, but it's a wonderful garden. Most supermarkets will have seeds sold for UK conditions, as of course will garden centres, and seed catalogs are a good source of inspiration. I have a nice one from http://www.mr-fothergills.co.uk/Home/Orders-Requests/Catalogue-Request.html#.VvLaK6DLfGU The classic book on UK vegetable gardening is by Hessayon, with titles some variation on "The Vegetable Expert":

http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-New-Vegetable-Herb-Expert/dp/0903505754?ie=UTF8&keywords=hessayon%20vegetable%20expert&qid=1458756231&ref_=sr_1_1&sr=8-1

I see second hand copies of the previous version going cheap at http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Vegetable-Expert-books/dp/0903505207?ie=UTF8&keywords=hessayon%20vegetable%20expert&qid=1458756231&ref_=sr_1_2&sr=8-2

Such large numbers of this were sold that you have a good chance of repeating what I did a week or too ago - check out the local charity shops and pick up a second hand copy for £2.

Last year I was very pleased with Annual Rocket. A few years before that I had a lot of Kale coming along which got covered in caterpillars, but I am trying that again this year since I saw a story in this newsgroup of it recovering from such infestations. I have grown tomatoes outdoors but that can be chancy even with a variety bred for the purpose. Radish is famously easy, unless you get enough heat to make it go to seed, and even then you could eat the tops as greens.

Welcome to the UK - for further enthusiasm about its climate etc. see http://www.poeticexpressions.co.uk/POEMS/This%20royal%20throne%20of%20kings.htm (..This other Eden, demi-paradise,..)