I planted my first Veg patch last year. I have 3 raised beds, about 3m x2m, filled with a mixture of top soil and compost . I tried tomatoes, courgettes, sweetcorn, lettuce, cabbage, broccoli, sprouts, strawberries, peas and runner beans. All grew easily, I planted then watered them daily. They all grew really well but. My cabbages, broccoli and sprouts all became infested with cabbage white caterpillars. I lost them all: I should have put nets over them. The tomatoes, beans, peas, courgettes and lettuce grew easily with little input from me other than watering trimming and picking! The strawberries have over run their 'patch'. So I'm hoping for more fruit this year--I planted them in the ground with a little compost and fed them throughout summer. I also made a herb bed, just planted small plants in the ground and left them to it, rosemary, marjoram, thyme, chives and oregano. All have thrived and almost filled the large bed already. Sorry for the long post. But from one beginner to another!