Yet another newbie

[DavidM31]

Hi everyone, like Tony from London I have been a subscriber to Grow your own for just over a year now, and having read many of the posts decided to join The Grapevine.
There is without a doubt some very knowledgable gardeners and growers on here and a mine of information, and I look forward to posting on the threads.

I live down on the South Coast in Worthing, and my garden is only 28 ft wide by 33 ft long, it used to have a very patchy lawn with a 3 foot flower border around it.
Last September I dug over the whole lawn and put in 6 raised beds seperated by 2 foot wide paths and created a small pond in one corner and several compost bins in another.

I have grown small amounts of vegetables before, mainly in pots but this year I am going to do it properly and have already got numerous seedlings growing well for planting out later.

I have purchsed some seed potatoes (now chitting) and some onions,garlic and shallots.

What fruit bushes would any of you recommend for my small patch? I plan to put them around the edges of the garden which runs East to West with one South facing fence.

Any advice on varieties welcome.

Many thanks

DavidM31

[RedThorn]

Hi David and welcome to the vine.... I'm relatively new here too. I'm sure someone will be along shortly who can answer your question, sorry I'm not much help.....yet!

[TonyO]

Welcome to the forum David,

I've only visited worthing once, it was a very nice place with a good seaside, i remember walking down to the cafe thats on the seafront to the west of the amusemant arcades. i got sunburnt, but had a lovely time.

It sounds like you have a very good garden there. plenty of room & scope.

What type of fruit bushes you grow depends on
1. what fruit you like, or are interested in,
2. what type of soil you have,

When i used to live in a house, I grew Raspberries & Blackcurrants next to a west facing wall that got the late day sun, without problems & a Gooseberry bush next to an east facing wall, (the gooseberry bush had been left behind by the previous tennant & i kept it going for about 3 years before becoming fed up with it & digging it out).

My Nan also grew white grape vines when she was alive also on a west facing wall, the fruit grew, but they werent very big.

As redthorn said, theres so many people on this forum with expert knowledge of growning fruit, i'm sure they will be able to help with some excellent advice.

once again Welcome

regards
Tony.

[DavidM31]

Hi Tony
Many thanks for your welcome note and suggestions.

I would like to grow some Raspberries, Blackcurrants, Rhubarb, Gooseberries, Blackberries and some Strawberries in a special strawberry planter that I picked up cheap.
I have also picked up a second hand fruit cage frame, so just need to renet that and all the fruit can go in there.

Regards

David

[tricky]

hi David welcome too the vine

[stephenwithap]

hi david welcome to the vine i think you will find us a friendly bunch a bit crazy sometimes but friendly may i suggest you look out for sunday nite chat which someone usually starts at about 5pm some times a bit earlier its a good laff

[selfraising]

Hi David
Welcome to the vine. My garden is about the same size as yours and it's amazing how much you can fit in! I said goodbye to my last patch of grass about a week ago. I figured the space would be better used for another raised bed! Gradually vegetables seem to be taking over the garden!!!

[bobleponge]

Hi David and welcome.
For the fruits, with my limited knowledge I would suggest
Raspberries in a row running north south if possible, supported with posts and wire/cord whatever.
My last big currant bushes were dug up last season after taking cuttings from all of them. The cuttings will now be planted along the side of a path, so will have sunlight all the time, but they are pretty hardy creatures so should do pretty well.
Rhubarb, dig a hole, chuck a bit of manure in, put a crown in, leave it. It will grow. Very tough and difficult to kill. At the end of the growing season the rhubarb will die back, I then cover the whole bed (I have 6 crowns) in a layer of manure and leave it. As long as it isnt in total shade you will be fine.
Blackberries I wouldn't grow, cos I hate them, but if you are, just pay very close attention to them, or they will spread like wildfire. Thornless might not be a bad option.
For the rest, others will help I'm sure.

[DavidM31]

Selfraising: Thanks for your welcome note,yes my teenage kids live with their mum down in Kent now so I don't need a lawn,so it made sense to get rid of it and grow fruit and vegetables instead of just in pots on the patio.

Stephenwithap: Many thanks for the welcome to the vine and I look foward to a few laughs as well as learning a great deal from the old hands on here.

Bobleponge: Thanks for your advice, I have been warned about Blackberries, but I love them so I'll stick in a couple of the thornless ones and see how they go.

Has anyone tried growing those minariette dwarf fruit trees ??

[BrideXIII]

welcome to the Vine David, you are just along the road from me

sounds like you have a good sized garden, i am very envious.

[DavidM31]

Hi Bride

Thanks for your welcome note, yes only a few miles up the road.

Now you think that I have a large garden, 28 foot wide 33 foot long but I call that small, I have been on the local allotment waiting list for 3 years and this January they offered me what they call a mini-plot which is only 12 feet wide but 30 foot long, so I have been down there getting it ready for this season.

Is your garden very small then ??

[happybunny]

Hello there and welcome to thee holy vine

[DavidM31]

Hello there and welcome to thee holy vine

Why thank you kindly for your welcome note.

[BrideXIII]

Hi Bride

Thanks for your welcome note, yes only a few miles up the road.

Now you think that I have a large garden, 28 foot wide 33 foot long but I call that small, I have been on the local allotment waiting list for 3 years and this January they offered me what they call a mini-plot which is only 12 feet wide but 30 foot long, so I have been down there getting it ready for this season.

Is your garden very small then ??

yep about 15 feet by 20 , pocket handkerchief, but it does the job, waiting for my allotment with no patience at all

[Flummery]

Hi and welcome! I love blackcurrants and gooseberries so I have those in the garden. I'm also partial to a rhubarb or a damson crumble so I've got 2 rhubarb crowns which look after themselves and a damson tree. Took it about 3 years to get going but it fruits brilliantly now. Fruit is all down to what you actually like eating.