Advice on my new plot please

[Gemmalaveen]

Hi All

This year was my first growing year, mostly in containers in my small garden... so far it has been a great success

I recently managed to find an unused garden through Landshare right across the road from my house in London (lucky!!!) and would welcome any advice from all you gardening gurus and some guidance on my specific queries below. I have cleared the site and started digging beds... plan to do the rest this Sunday.

I have drawn a map of the plot and include some photos. The map is NOT to scale but I have included measurements for the beds.

I have planted Nantes carrots in bed 1 and plan to use bed 2 for overwintering broad beans and some kohl rabi which I will grow as baby veg (sowing Sunday).

My specific concerns/queries are:

The tree at the back of garden & in neighbouring garden mean bed 3 gets some sun (right half anyway), bed 4 gets very little or no sun and bed 5 gets some sun but it's right near the Elderberry bushes. Soil is also rocky but I am removing all big pieces... full of big fat juicy worms which is encouraging. The owner requested that the bench stay where it is. There is no water supply apart from a single water butt. I plan to grow thirsty veg in my own garden at home. So...

1 - are potatoes okay in rocky soil?
2 - where would you plant late season spuds for Christmas? Bed 3, 4 or 5?
3 - will bed 4 ever be good for any veg? I know flowers will work there.
4 - would you bother putting in a fifth bed behind the shed/so close to trees?

Any other advice most gratefully received! Apologies for the long post... I could go on forever. I am ready every book I can get my hands on but I thought this might be useful too.

Thanks very much!

[Two_Sheds]

Xmas spuds need to be in a greenhouse: they will die with the first frost


(I can't stop, so I'll let someone else address your other queries)

[chris]

Shade loving things like salad leafs etc will be fine in bed 4. You will be able to grow other stuff (I've got a bed partially shaded by a tree - the leeks at that end aren't growing much, the other end they are) - even trailing things that can ramble along the bits inbetween the bed to seek out sun will be ok.

I have rhubarb in a shadey part - it's thriving. Not sure if it needs to be in full sun or not but it's working for me.

SPuds in rocky soil, I think will be ok -you may get scab or similar damage on them where they rub on the stones (I have pumpkins that have been rubbed by growing next to sharp / on sharp stones) - but best leave that for someone else

You could also (may be a bit late though) bury wet newspaper deep down in the beds - I've done this in one of my beds, and haven't had to water it all summer.. the other beds where I didn't - I have had to water.

Bed 5 - I would, why not? More space to grow. Does it get any bit of sun there? What about more fruit? - something that can grow tallish to get the sunlight? Blackberries/Raspberries for example... or a diff type of blackberry to what's already there -or a hybrid.

[Gemmalaveen]

Thanks for all the info - certainly given me something to think about. I have just bought 10 seed potatoes so will have to start chitting asap and stick them in large tubs at home. I assume covering them in horticultural fleece will be fine? Else can I store them in the dark for next Spring?

Bed 5 probably gets more sun than bed 4 but it's closer to the trees so I assume the soil will be drier... excellent tip re newspaper!! It also slopes slightly but it should be fine for me to just straighten that out.

I was thinking I could erect a bean support all along the back and grow climbing runner beans there - as I have read they can cope with partial shade. My mum suggested pumpkins as they can sprawl along the ground and find the sun. My reservation with pumpkins is they are too thirsty!

I don't think I will have this land for longer than two years (moving to the country) so want to plant mostly annuals while I have it.

[Two_Sheds]

SPuds...you may get scab or similar damage on them where they rub on the stones

Nah, scab is caused by a norganism, not stones. However you may get funny shaped spuds where they grow alongside a stone, and carrots/parsnips won't like stony soil

[Two_Sheds]

I was thinking I could erect a bean support all along the back and grow climbing runner beans there

Partial, ie not much, shade would be OK. Runners like cool weather, whereas French beans do better in hot summers. Do a bit of both?

[Gemmalaveen]

Nah, scab is caused by a norganism, not stones. However you may get funny shaped spuds where they grow alongside a stone, and carrots/parsnips won't like stony soil

Oh dear! Have planted loads of Nantes carrots (as recommended in Sept issue of GYO) to harvest as babies in time for Christmas. I removed most of the stones so fingers crossed! If not I will stick to growing them in buckets.