I need some advice

[Brewer-again]

I have been brewing for years and hopefully advising for several on this site. Now I want to change my garden, I have a 5m X 4m section of lawn infront of my grape vine which I would like to use.

I have lived here for 15+ years and all that happens is we cut the grass every two weeks or so. The area is never used so I thought what could I grow on it ??

Garden has sun morning till about 2pm, should I create raised beds ?? What should I grow ?? any ideas or information would be helpfull.

[shirlthegirl43]

Grow anything you like to eat, cut or just look at. That way you will be happy with it.

[Seahorse]

That's a really good space! Do you have any preferences as to what you'd like most? For a first year I'd be tempted to go with single season crops but if you're looking to the longer term, you could plant fruit bushes, rhubarb etc - all good to eat but with brewing potential too.

[Hazel at the Hill]

I'd say a mix of fruit bushes and veggies, BA. I'd deffo grow the main ingredient of you favourite home made tipple - whether that's broad beans or gooseberries!

And I'd go for raised beds from an aesthetic and practical viewpoint.

[Brewer-again]

excellent advice so??

If I plant 'fruit bushes' around the outside then have a raised bed in the centre what would be most productive as fruit bushes (kilos per m2) in the southeast. Same goes for veg.

I grew some peppers in grow bags last year and only had three peppers per plant, this was in the conservatory next to the vine.

I use a lot of onions, carrots and potatoes when cooking.

[Hazel at the Hill]

If I plant 'fruit bushes' around the outside then have a raised bed in the centre what would be most productive as fruit bushes (kilos per m2) in the southeast. Same goes for veg.

I grew some peppers in grow bags last year and only had three peppers per plant, this was in the conservatory next to the vine.

I use a lot of onions, carrots and potatoes when cooking.

Someone will be along to answer the yield q on fruit bushes - with regard to the veg, I wouldn't do onion as these all take up quite a lot of room and are pretty cheap to buy. I would do a few potatoes and carrots tho' as the taste is so much better than shop bought.

I'd be inclined to do some asparagus crowns in your raised bed as it's delicious (in my view!) and not cheap to buy. Oh - and tomatoes as they are prolific (assuming the blight don't get 'em!) and they're easily preserved in the freezer, and I use loads.

But that's just me.

[Flummery]

Grow what you enjoy eating. Remember that you'll need to observe some sort of crop rotation so don't just go for a few things exclusively. You could get decent crops from a space this size, my veg plot is about 6 x 7 m and keeps us in veg except for main crop spuds and carrots and onions. I do grow these but don't have room for enough. Treat it as a mini-lottie and go for it. Raised beds are very productive by the way.

[gardenplot]

I used my lawn area to make a veggie plot, like you say its just cutting grass and looking at it, so yes go for it make a veggie plot and grow your own, better to put the space to good use.
Good luck grow your Favourite veg

[bluemoon]

We grow plenty of raspberries already, but have just bought a few canes of "Autumn Gold" (sometimes called "Fall Gold") because I've heard they make wonderful wine, so if you like brewing you might want to give them a go.

[Brewer-again]

really useful advice.

Do I need to strip off the turf or can I dig it under?
Is it too late to dig in some manure?
Any one use watering systems, might be best to build something in at the start??
I have some ants (small red) nests in the lawn will the go away when I turn it over??
First thing I have been keen on doing for a awhile.!!!

[SarzWix]

I think it depends what depth of soil you're going to be putting on top, and whether there's any weeds growing through the grass? If you have to strip the top layer off, you can stack it up, cover it & leave it for a year or so, then use it to top the beds up.
If you can get well-rotted manure (or buy it in bags from B&Q! ), you can still dig some in, but not where you're growing carrots as they'll fork.
Dunno about ants, sorry, but can't imagine they'll like being disturbed though (don't red ones bite? )