Spare space conundrum

[Alison]

OK, now have most the plot under control with a largish fruit area (raspberries (loads), red currants, black currants, white currants, gooseberries, blueberries, strawberries and rhubarb) plus some apple and pear trees elsewhere. Also have loads of rotating veg beds which are already producing as much veg as we can eat (and enough space for seed saving beds too), a bed marked out for asparagus next year, one for cranberries, a 10 x 20' polytunnel, a wildlife pond (), a comfrey area, compost bins, troughs full of cut and come again lettuce, a shed and some horseradish. However this still leaves some more space (need to measure up but am guessing it's about 20' by 10' ish which I'm not sure what to do with. Was going to put more veg beds in but really don't need anymore general veg as I'll only give it away. Am wondering about anything unusual or maybe some permanent crops (not artichokes, don't like them), any ideas?

[HeyWayne]

A plunge pool?

How big is your plot woman!?!

[Alison]

A plunge pool?

How big is your plot woman!?!

lol - about 40' by 80' I think, maybe a bit bigger so nothing ridiculous but there are only two of us. Oh yes, and I don't want chooks either even though they are lovely

[HeyWayne]

lol - about 40' by 80' I think, maybe a bit bigger so nothing ridiculous but there are only two of us. Oh yes, and I don't want chooks either even though they are lovely

I'm not sure you can call it a plot. I think henceforth you should refer to it as your estate.

20' x 10' would be a perfect garage size...

[hamsterqueen]

I love the idea of rotating veg beds, how fast do they go round?

[kentvegplot]

Do you like flowers? What about a cutting garden? Annuals and perennials, plus bulbs if you're so inclined....

[Alison]

I love the idea of rotating veg beds, how fast do they go round?

Too bloomin' fast sometimes as if I don't write it down I forget what I've put where

Do you like flowers? What about a cutting garden? Annuals and perennials, plus bulbs if you're so inclined....

Put a load of daffs by the fence last winter and don't really want anymore but quite like the idea of some other cutting stuff although need to be careful what types as OH gets really bad hayfever round most flowers. Maybe I could plant up some lavendar for drying?

Keep ideas coming, especially if it's stuff I can eat which will store well or be useful for pressies too

[northepaul]

plum/cherry/quince/medlar/nut trees? How about some more apple trees to make your own cider?!

[Alison]

plum/cherry/quince/medlar/nut trees? How about some more apple trees to make your own cider?!

Trees are a possibility although need to make sure they won't shade next door. Anybody got any experience with nut trees? Don't know much about them apart from foraging for sweet chestnuts in autumn.

[Scarlet]

We have a walnut tree but they do grow very large and would definately shade your neighbours, we also have a couple of hazel bushes but i think you can get as much as you would need from the hedgerow.
Plum trees are great for jam, preserves etc for xmas pressies. Herb bed?

[solway cropper]

You don't mention having a herb bed. I'd certainly go for that in at least some of the space and there are plenty of perennial herbs that need little attention once established. And don't just think cooking. Herbs have lots of medicinal/cosmetic uses.

[Alison]

Do have herbs but have them all at home as I like to be able to just walk out the back door and pick what I need. Have a few in one of the salad troughs at the lottie too but don't want much more there for cooking but may look into the medicinal / cosmetic thing, thanks

[womble]

How about hybrid blackberries on wires. Loganberries, tayberries, boysenberries, that sort of thing. That would fill the area nicely and allow you plenty of space to walk round the canes trained on wires and plenty of space to train the new canes in. You can antiweed fabric the whole area and it should be easy to keep tidy.

Or permanent planting of flowers for bees. Honeysuckle, hollyhocks, that sort of thing, stuff that looks after itself.

[Two_Sheds]

I would always have a flower bed /cutting garden (even though I don't have cut flowers in the house, they are useful as gifts for all kinds of things). Teachers get them, people on the housing estate next to my plot, friends, the kids at Garden Club, even my in-laws (they prolly go in the bin though )

[HeyWayne]

even my in-laws (they prolly go in the bin though )

I know you don't always see eye to eye TS, but putting your out-laws in the bin!?

Remind me never to cross you.