[mellowmick]

The top corner of my allotment (about 4'x4', west facing and quite shaded) slopes up quite sharply to the back boundary wall and is currently covered by a huge bush thing which I intend to consign to history this autumn.
Underneath is apparently the remains of a rockery. I'd prefer to keep it as a feature rather than flatten it completely, so I'd be interested in anyone's experiences or ideas for veg/spices/herbs/fruit etc,  which would do well in a rockery type environment. :?:

[rugbymad40]

What is the soil like?  I have a few ideas to bounce your way

First was Strawberries - I have grown them with a reasonable amount of success in the rockery at home.  You can also get alpine varieites - don't know what the taste or crop like, but I read they grow well in rocky soils.

Another idea is a herb garden - keeping them separated.

Finally why not grow alpines.  I assume the climate in Dundee is some what colder than down here in the south and it could give you the opportunity to bring a little colour into the plot.  I try to make room for flowers on our plot - aside from keeping O/H happy they also attract pollenating wildlife which can only be good.

Regards  - Rugbymad40

[mellowmick]

Cheers for that.
Not sure of the pH, but it's on the sandy side, rather than clay. I was going to say volcanic soil, being on the slopes of an extinct volcano, but as it hasn't errupted for probably half a million years, I doubt if the soil retains any volcanic attributes.

[Oliver]

the climate in Dundee is some what colder than down here in the south

don't alpines come from the cold mountains in Switzerland? they would probably love it in Dundee.

Herbs like a sunny dry position. so perhaps that will work

Alpine strawberries - some plants just appeared on the Patio by the back door so they got left there (dunno how many years ago). They are extremely prolific - golden ones, and red ones. They are quite small - the biggest is about as big as her thumbnail, but they taste beautiful - they have even made them into jam they have had so many (They freeze them as they ripen then make them into jam when they have enough).