What to do with this space?

[Kilm]

Hi guys,

Wasted space at side of house. Last year I made the box thing and swiped some old tires from my dads farm, had a massive lettuce bed in there, carrots which were the worlds smallest, potatoes which were the worlds smallest and onions which were also the worlds smallest.

In general, it's a good size space, gets part sun during day, so often in some level of shade.

Any ideas what I should do with it to make it a low main veggie plot and what veg would be good for it?

Cheers!

[Bren In Pots]

Firstly hello and welcome to the vine Kilm

With the area bing partly shady how about things like Chard, spinach, brassicas or beetroot.

[cariann88]

Hello and welcome


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[Strawberry patch]

Hi and welcome to the vine

[Potstubsdustbins]

If you lift stuff up will it get more sun. Down the side of my house at ground level it is very shaded. However plastic dustbins of spuds do well because they are naturally 3ft above ground level when they reach the top of the bin.

I also have troughs for strawberries and hanging baskets for Tumblers toms. Opposite the house wall I have made a shelf so that produce is lifted above fence height and gets some good sun.

[Kilm]

Thanks for the welcome!

Some good suggestions - does anyone have ideas more in terms of practical matters to make more out of the space? Should I build a long bench / table thing to do pots on? Should I ditch the tattie tires for a plastic barrel for spuds? Good thing about tires is I can lift them off to get to the spuds.

Just at a loss as to what to do. I should probably make a start on making it nice, get rid of the red stones, make a more defined border, etc.

[ButternutSquash]

Alpine strawberries do not need much sun. Gaultheria procumbans is a pretty little plant with edible berries and leaves, used to flavour root beer, and it likes shade. Red currants are said to thrive with some shade.

[veggiechicken]

Hi Kilm and welcome.
What about turning it into one long bed and use Square Foot gardening as your template.
There's a huge thread about it http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...ing_44388.html

[Kilm]

The Sq ft thing looks quite good. I'd need to be careful as I have an unidentified yellow plastic pipe running under there which I only discovered by virtue of almost putting my fork through it. Might be gas, not sure.

So perhaps just gut the whole area from wall to path and do the above technique? Should I raise it? Like with my improvised planter? Just do that from end to end?

I was brought up on a farm all my days and am absolutely rubbish at any kind of growing / planting. The irony (and shame) is not lost on my dad.

[Potstubsdustbins]

Yep its most certainly your gas service running to the meter box on the wall. It should be at least 18 inches below ground except where it rises into the meter box and this bit should have a metal shield.

Avoid this at all costs if you puncture it you will not be able to control it/turn it off. It is medium pressure so a much higher pressure than you are used to in your home. Just in case you need it the number to call is 0800111999.

[Nicos]

My MIL uses her space like that for growing raspberries.
Having different varieties means she's always picking them!
Apart from a bit of mulching and cutting back they are very maintenance free

To make your area brighter, you could try painting the brick wall white to help reflect light back from both sides?