Hello from Hertfordshire!

[superlady]

Hello there! At the moment I'm trying to grow veg in a teeny tiny garden (16' x 12'), whilst still leaving enough space for my 3 boys (8, 5 and 2). We did have an allotment but had to give it up as I couldn't look after it whilst pregnant (good reasons, not just being a wuss!) and haven't managed to get another one yet, so I have a 6' x 2 1/2 - 3' raised bed to work with, space on the back step for herbs and whatever pots or containers I can fit along the wall. Hubby has banned me from taking up any more space!



I'm planning to do square foot gardening in the raised bed and maybe get one or two of these reusable grow bags for along the wall Reusable Grow Bag - Vegetable Growing Accessories - Garden Equipment - Gardening - Suttons Seeds and Plants
I'm planning to grow tomatoes, climbing beans, sunflowers, chillies, cucumbers, calendula, nasturtiums and whatever else I can fit in! My main problems will be slugs and small children digging everything up! 2 year old in particular likes to empty pots!

I like to garden as organically as I can, don't use peat and save my own seeds, etc.

I look forward to taking to all of you!

[Bill HH]

Welcome, the fact you are limited for space is not a bad thing, it concentrates the mind and inspires ingenuity. Plenty of people on here are growing in very limited spaces. I look forward to seeing your progress.

[Jeanied]

Welcome to the vine Superlady! As Bill says, lots of ideas for growing in small areas!

[Bren In Pots]

Hello and welcome to the vine

It sounds challenging with a little one wanting to 'help' so maybe you could put some netting around your bed a bit like I have to keep cats of.

[bearded bloke]

Hello & welcome

With walls & fences you can increase your growing area with a bit of "vertical growing"

>> http://www.rhs.org.uk/Gardening/Grow...e/Veg-on-walls

[Dorothy rouse]

Hi Superlady, how about some 'hanging type baskets' for tumbling toms, and strawberries? I think you can also buy other 'container type bags', that could be attached to your fence ( if it's sturdy enough, for herbs maybe, or there are those containers designed for strawberries I think that stand on the ground but have a number if planting holes, I've used these for herbs also.

Potatoes in bags?

Courgettes and squash growing up a frame?

Do you have room for a bean pyramid ?

Just a few ideas.

[Verinda]

Hello, welcome to the forum

[Dorothy rouse]

As usual, my fellow grapes, who can type faster than me, have got there first, with helpful links.

[Ninetrees]

Welcome!

[superlady]

Thanks for the warm welcome everyone!

Bren, I may give netting a try, although I suspect it might not stand up to the toddler, he can be a bit rough at the best of times! We get a lot of wood pigeons though, so it would probably be a good idea anyway. I've got a load of enviromesh in the shed so I'll probably have a go at making something with that. Failing that, barbed wire and electric fencing would probably keep him off!

Bearded Bloke, I have the 'RHS Vegetables In A small Garden' book, which is basically an expanded version of that link, and I'd actually bookmarked the page on Vertical Vegetable Gardens, so it's definitely something I'd be keen to try. I have a north facing fence panel that edges the patio which I'd be happy to utilise, not sure if anything would actually grow there though, maybe salad?

Dorothy, most of the good bit of fence will have climbing beans, tall peas, cucumbers, sunflowers and possibly tomatoes growing up it. I have a hanging basket bracket on the wall by the back door so I could do hanging basket stuff there and maybe get hubby to put one of those window baskets under the window for more space. I might do strawberries in there and then I wouldn't have to worry about small children standing on them or the slugs getting to them first! I have some old climbing courgette seeds (might be black forest f1) but I'm not sure if they're still viable. I might have to have a jiggle about with some things and see if I can fit one in somewhere. They're just so bloomin big! We decided against potatoes this year because they're so cheap to buy we'd rather use the space for something else.

[veggiechicken]

Hello Superlady and welcome. I'm a Super Nutter - I was sane before I joined this Forum so be warned

[Knight of Albion]

A very warm welcome to the forum.

[Glutton4...]

Hello, and welcome to the Madhouse!

Although, with three young Boys, yours may be madder than ours...

[Bigmallly]

Welcome to the vine SL, with your limited space it sounds like Sq Ft may be the way to go.

[Kirk]

You can grow tomato's in hanging baskets, also chilli's.

Hello Superlady and welcome. I'm a Super Nutter - I was sane before I joined this Forum so be warned

The latter bit is open to question.
Anyone want to start a poll ?