Growing your own vegetables can give you a great sense of satisfaction and accomplishment, and it’s a fun activity the whole family can join in on.

And not only that, you have the option of being able to grow them free from chemicals and pesticides.

But the success of your crops will depend on the quality of your soil and how well you tend them. Here we look at three ways to get your veggie patch ready for planting to achieve the best results (and fill up your vegetable crisper).

It all starts with the soil.

Using the best quality soil you can ensures you’ll get your patch off to a flying start. If you use soil that’s old, tired or recycled from other garden projects, you’ll need to replenish its nutrients and this can be time consuming and costly. It’s best to start with fresh, vibrant, nutrient-rich soil that’s ready to give your plants everything they need. If you are using an existing veggie patch for new crops, make sure you use a mix of compost (homemade from vegetable scraps is great), manure, blood and bone, lime and perhaps even a little sulphate of potash and seaweed fertiliser to bring it back to life. A great way to introduce nutrients on an ongoing basis is to get some earthworms. They increase the air and water in the soil, break down organic matter and their castings act as fertiliser. By making sure you have healthy soil you’re also ensuring your produce will be rich in nutrients and goodness.

Much ado about mulch.

Any good gardener worth their salt will be a big fan of mulching. A decent layer of mulch spread on the top of your patch will do wonders. It will help stop weeds, reduce temperature variations in the soil when the weather gets hot or cool, assists with drainage and helps keep your soil moist. Good options are lucerne and sugar cane mulch, made from the leaves and tops of the cane. As time goes on, the mulch breaks down, returning nutrients and organic matter to the soil. It also helps to add density. You’ll still need to fertilise your crops, but mulch will reduce the amount you’ll need to use.

Rotate those crops.

When you’ve harvested your delicious, fresh crops and you’re preparing the next planting schedule, don’t forget to rotate your crops. Ideally, your patch will be divided into sections allowing you to change where you plant each crop. By doing this, you’ll reduce the likelihood of disease and soil nutrient deficiency. It’ll cut down on the amount of preparation you’ll need to put into the soil for next time. It’s a good idea to group your crops to make for easy rotation; most gardeners use these groups: beans and peas; fruiting veggies; root and stem veggies; and green, leafy produce.

Recycling scraps or parts of the veggies you don’t use and converting them into compost will ensure you always have a ready source of nutrients for your patch. Sure, you’ll probably need to supplement it before planting, but it will help reduce costs and boost the nutrient content of your crops.

And lasty, be sure to contact a local landscape or gardening expert if you get yourself into strife or would like to take some of the work off your own plate.