[tode]

Our veg patch has has a steep bank on one side, which at the moment is a sort of no-mans-land.
Would like to use it for growing something useful (preferably fruit), but dont know what could be grown.
Its about 5 ft high and 5 ft wide and faces due East. The soils not bad, but gets pretty dry. The part on the left is a courtyard, so weve got acces top and bottom.
Must be something that doesn't need frequent worK.
Any ideas anyone?

[Dominic]

Blackcurrants is what I'd do.

[Roll Roll]

It's a bit of work, but could you cut into it and terrace it??

[tode]

I was thinking more on the lines of somrthing that spreads, and just having a few flat stones set in the bank so that we can pick the crop.
Maybe thats asking too much 
Terracing would have been doable 30 years ago, but now........

The soil is pretty alkaline as well (there used to be a building there, made of limestone.

Would blackcurrants be OK if its dry?  Tempting: its my favourite fruit 

[8doubles]

Looks like a prime spot for strawberries, they like a warm bank.

[gillie]

Black currants need heavy feeding.  Could you carve out smallish flat areas to plant the currants and mulch round them?  perhaps lower down the bank.  Could you net them?

The problem with things that spread is weeding, otherwise a thornless blackberry or hybrid berry might do.

Cheers,

Gillie

[Roll Roll]

How about Bilberries? They should be able to put up with the dryness ( i think)

[gillie]

"How about Bilberries?"

Don't they require an acid soil?

How about junipers? (assuming you want a life time's supply of juniper berries).

Cheers,

Gillie

[sunshineband]

Brambles seem to gron just abotu anywhere, so a thornless one might be good on your sloped bank

[Roll Roll]

Quite right Gillie the DO require acid soil
I've just looked it up.  Sorry tode.

[Greengirl]

They grow grapes on south facing banks in France - not sure if an East facing one would do as well though.

[scabs]

Turf it, sit on it and pump your fist once in a while... presto! Your own Henman Hill.

Or strawberries.

[tode]

Juniper berries and cream    That'd make the tea taste funny 
The trouble with a slope like this is the watering (and the access).
Thats why its still looking like it does.
Maybe strawberries would work if I find a way of making decent-size pockets to plant them in.
Im worried as well that if I prepare the soil, then one good storm, and I'll have a courtyard full of mud.
Maybe Im just a difficult customer 

[mumofstig]

I'd just plant a thornless blackberry and leave it to get on with it