[billathome65]

Ok heres hopefully a fun way for you lot to get your creative side going as a newbie to gardening and having a small plot to work with I want to use as much space as possible so I am putting up a few pics to let you guys and girls come up with ideas for the best use.

Ok I am looking at

spuds, cabbage, peas, beans, Leeks a few beets the wife likes them, onions, Not got the soil for carrots yet cauliflower, sprouts, Not sure wheat else as a newbie I know what I like but thats from eating from shops with little experience of other veg. I have eaten Radish but they give me indigestion anyway heres a few pics







This last picture you see the fence and sand stone wall blocks I don't know weather to move them and use that strip as the main plot or to leave and grow runners or something?

Am also thinking of moving the bench and last bit of gravel to use more space but will have to put some stepping stones to get the washing on the line without getting muddy shoes

You can also see a raised area at the back ie wall I have a gooseberry bush here and some other plants this is an area that has all building rubble old concrete that was in the garden area and was back filled with the excess soil so unable to dig over but I'm thinking a Raspberry bush Herbs Ideas and advice.

Ok over too you lot, lets hope with your expert help we can turn this into a productive plot.

  

[Goosegirl]

Mmm - interesting! As a newbie, it is easy to try and grow everything you want in your first year; however, I would limit your choice to those things that will give a good crop in the space and soil type that you have and also what veg are your priority ones - this will give you motivation to carry on, rather than be over-doing it and get disheartened.

Taking up a lot of room are potatoes - any space for a poly bag or tub elsewhere?

Sprouts grow big - maybe just grow one?

You can get small cabbage and cauli types (there are summer and winter types but don't plant them in the same space - plant in a space occupied by something you have harvested), peas take up loads of room - I would grow a few sugar snap peas and tie them onto clematis netting secured to your fence - later on, some can be left to grow into small peas if you wish. I would also use your fence for one or two runner bean plants - they can be quite prolific so maybe one will do?

Beets, onions and leeks don't take up too much room - you can grow your beets between your leeks and harvest them in summer so there is room for the leeks to mature in autumn - in your raised bed area? I would also try and slowly dig out the rubble area this next year ready for 2012 season.

Herbs like good drainage and full sun (pots?) but parsely and chives can take some shade - by your gooseberry bush?

A few raspberry canes by the fence if there's room - they are shallow-rooted so raised bed would be perhaps a waste of an area?

I would create more raised beds around your plot areas - this would enable you to add grit, manure, compost etc to improve your soil without it falling onto your paving, and you could get to the washing line without getting muddy, and leave the bench because you are going to need it for a sit down - best of luck - let us know how it goes this year.

[Yorkie]

I think all of Goosegirl's points are really good ones (GG, I edited your post simply to break the text up so it was easier to read, hope you don't mind!).

That doesn't look a very big space so spuds will really take up a disproportionate amount of space.  People report relatively decent crops in bags.

The soil next to the fence will need significant amounts of enriching with fertiliser and organic matter to enable a good havest - check whether the area gets any sun as this will potentially have some impact too.  Also make sure that you water the area regularly as it will be in a rain shadow depending upon orientation.

If you do a search of the forum for posts by Elcie, I think 'square foot gardening' - and you'll see some fab pictures and inspiration.

[billathome65]

Hi thanks for all the advice there. The raised area was actually a dumping area for rubble and a lot of it so digging out would not be feasible and really is only good for shallow rooting plants and herbs maybe thats why I was thinking rasberry bushes and herbs there plus as mint can get out of hand this also seems a safe area to plant that as it wont cause much problems to the rest of the area.

Yorkie I have a coupon from the News Of the world that I posted yesterday which is a voucher for 3 potatoes grow bags potatoes seed and 3 packs of veg seeds so I will be using these as the main grow for spuds then possibly other things like carrots once the spuds have been harvested?  How long do these bags last 1 season or can I move them to say the garage for a latter crop of veg that can grow with less light? and use again next year?

BTW thanks for the PM with respect to the yesterdays deleted post have replied and no issues at all from me.

Keep the advice coming people I need all the help I can get.  

[Yorkie]

I think you'll probably be able to reuse the bags next year, hopefully they are sufficiently robust not to disintegrate in the course of a season.  Not sure about growing in the garage - all plants need decent light levels.  Though carrots as a follow-on crop sounds a good idea.

I'd think again about whether raspberries and herbs in the same bed is a good idea.  Many herbs are mediterranean and thus don't need very rich ground or manure mulches, whereas raspberries benefit from manure mulches and higher nutrients.  The raspberries will spread (as will the herbs) so you run the risk of competition.  I'm also not sure how happy the raspberries would be growing on shallow soil over rubble.

[mumofstig]

Raspberries are shallow rooting, but I think the rubble will make the area too well drained for them to do well, perhaps you should just stick to herbs in that area.

That fence looks perfect for runner beans to me

[Totty]

Although digging the first potato of the season is great, they are cheap to buy and take up room. I would concentrate on more expensive veg, less room consuming.
 How high are the fence posts? You could put up some hanging baskets and grow tomatoes, peppers or chillies in them. None of your floor space will be taken then.
 I would put a thin path down the middle, enabling you to reach all of your crops without having to step on anything, and choose f1 seed, which tend to be more productive per sqaure yard.

A couple of rows of beetroot go a long way, choose reliable strong growers like Boltardy or Pablo.
 Leeks again dont take up a great deal of room, but i have limited experience with them, i grew musselburgh last year and will be growing lyon prizetaker this time. Maybe a smaller faster growing strain may be better for your plot.
 You can get a smaller strain of cauliflower which looks to be the ideal size for on meal for 2-3 people but i forget the name, but they take up less room.
 Sprouts take up room for a long time so may want to avoid growing many.

On a smaller plot, you should also think about planting fast growing veg, lettuce etc to fill any little gaps and fully make use of all ground.
 You can also grow edible climbing things like nasturtium? I have a smallish allotment plot, and the biggest thing to remember when trying to use your room to its potential, is that you as much room as you want going up, so use hanging baskets and containers!

Good luck
Totty

[billathome65]

Great advice I could possibly use hanging baskets If need be and I will have to rethink the Raspberry bush as the gooseberry bush I have there isn't very productive either I'm one of the old school people plant it see if it grows but as this is a more productive project idea I can now appreciate the pitfalls. I may actually do some project work to clear some of the rubble of this raised area to give me more depth so making that area more productive.

Cheers