Basic gardening

[Paul Webster]

I'm hoping to get some advice from the green figured members out there. I have a reasonable size garden, about 70' that is mainly laid to lawn. This year I'd like to make the most of it and was thinking of growing some fruit etc. Fruit or veg that I could store for long periods.

Without digging up the entire garden I was thinking of some planters or small bushes. What would you guys recommend, what would you do with the harvest, recipes etc, how to preserve them etc??

[swkieran]

fruit and veg doesn't really last some you can preserve and freeze,potatoes etc last a little bit longer if there stored in darkness but will adventually seed,bushes accept blackcurrant bushes dont yield fruit,apple trees and pear trees take years of looking after before they yeild a half decent crop.up in gloucestshire you have a decent climate and already a good soil to grow things but it will need fertilyzing with horse manure and sea weed if you can get hold of some and youll have decent crops each year

[swkieran]

also make yer own compost heap and rake into the soil :)

[Fletching]

If you're only thinking of doing a small amount and with 'minimal' long term effort, I'd go for a small herb garden. Herbs can be dried and all your food will taste better!

Just an opinion.

Steve

[aman]

Hi DT

Before you do anything please do a search for Square Foot Gardening. There is a book on the subject (get the new one) and search on youtube etc. The whole idea if fantastic

[fish]

mate get some black currant bushes up one side gooseberries on the other and some autumn fruiting raspberries up the end. then you have the fruits high in pectin for jams so thats dead easy preserving,or bottle them in kilner jars.
couple of wigwams of runner beans and french beans,pickem fresh and then let the rest go to seed and leave till dry/dead or if the weather is poor cut at the bases and hang in the shed then when fully dry shell and jar the seeds they make a great addition to stews and soups.
spuds in containers or growbags are a pain in the arse,grow a couple of rows. carrots i wouldnt bother with unless you can give them the room. a couple of tubs with curly kale in them is a good one as you simply pick the leaves and it keeps comming,same as perpetual spinach and swiss chard,the curly kale will crop all winter,dont let it dry out as it will bolt(go to seed) onion sets can be grown in amoungst the flower boarders successfully.

i am a retired show winner of the veg classes and would gladly give any advice you may need,i still successfully grow 70% of my family of 6's veg needs.
kurley kale:
http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m92/fishfish_01/allotments/DSC05332.jpg

some early crops last year:
http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m92/fishfish_01/allotments/DSC05350.jpg

broad beans:
http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m92/fishfish_01/allotments/DSC03695.jpg

last years first pick of peas:
http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m92/fishfish_01/allotments/DSC01221.jpg

and my two cabbages weighing 80lb together:
http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m92/fishfish_01/cabbages-2.jpg

hope the pics inspire you!

[Paul Webster]

Fish, you are indeed a man of many talents. That was exactly the kind if thing I was hoping for. It's definitely inspired me!!

[Edwin]

You might like to think also of Marcus Harrison's ideas of growing wild plants in your garden, the sort we might forage for. Mostly hardy and free of pests and diseases.I went on one of his courses and enjoyed it and the foraged lunch. Have a few wild forage plants in an odd corner of my garden.
You can see what he is all about at the Wild Food School web page
http://www.countrylovers.co.uk/wfs/

I couldn't see the book I have- "Occasional Paper, Cutting your food bills: Cultivating Wild Plants" but I am sure that you could buy a copy from Marcus.