How much will I fit in?

[happygirlie]

Hi all,

I have been given some advice to start planning what to grow where but I am struggling to get to grips with how many plants I will need and how many different veg etc.

I have a greenhouse, normal garden size (like the one you can win on here). Down one side and the back of the greenhouse there is compost, with some sort of irrigation system which I haven't quite fathomed out yet. I had planned to do tomatoes, cucumbers and maybe some peppers here.

Two raised beds which are approx 5.5ft square, the deep one has 3 varieties of asparagus in which I would like to keep and the other is empty. Any ideas for this one?

One raised bed about 2.5 ft wide and twelve foot long, packed with strawberries, again I would like to keep them, but should I be doing anything with them?

One herb garden - which I do know what I will do with.

Finally one veg patch 22 ft long and 8 ft wide where I would like a variety of easy to grow veg. But not sure what will grow well together or how much I will need. For example if I grow beans, how many plants do I need for what diameter wigwam etc.


I would like to grow jersey royal potatoes, onions, peas, beans French and runner, and maybe calbrese or cabbage. I would also like to grow lettuce, spring onions and beetroot.
I would be grateful for help, advice and views. I have been a keen gardener for as long as I can remember, but more flowers and herbs etc. so don't mind hard work and effort, just lack the knowledge.

[rustylady]

A very useful book you could buy is Dr Hessayon The Vegetable Expert. I've had a copy for years, and it gives you loads of useful information such as expected germination times, planting distances and expected yields.

It's a brilliant reference book, and not too bulky or expensive.

How many people will you be growing for?

[happygirlie]

Thanks Rustylady, I have some of the 'expert' books and they are generally very good so I will look out for the veggie one.

I feed three in the week, all adults and four in uni holidays.

[Bigmallly]

There's a little info Here as a guide.

[solway cropper]

At the risk of being pedantic, you can't actually grow Jersey Royals unless you're on Jersey. The variety is International Kidney but don't expect them to taste like Jersey Royals as you can't offer the same growing conditions as the real thing.

With a relatively small space such as you have I'd be inclined to go for block planting rather than traditional rows as you'll get more crop from a given area that way. Check out the posts on square foot gardening.

[Patchninja]

The greenhousenexpert book is good too. At least you kniw what you want to grow - no point in growing what you won't eat. Good luck!

[Loudbarker1]

Hello Rusty Lady.

If you buy one book only buy Joy Larkam's " Grow Your Own Vegetables".

I use this and it's invaluable. I use it all the time and supplement it with:

John Seymour "The Self Sufficient Gardener" (Don't use the "updated version")
Charles Dowling "Organic Gardening the Natural No-dig Way"
and
"On the Plot with Dirty Nails- a Practical Guide to Fruit and Vegfetable Gardening in Words and Pictures"

This last one is a month by month guiode that may well be ideal for your situation.

I do have the Dr Hessayon book but find the others far more useful.

LB

[northepaul]

The first thing you need to do is write a list
1. What you like to eat
2) where it will go in the spaces you have
3) what perparation you need to do before planting etc

Look through this forum for ideas, and also gardening magazines, maybe talk to your neighbours if they grow too.

And, most importantly, dont be afraid to ask for help on here if you get stuck!

Good Luck!

[happygirlie]

Thank you all for the advice.

I spent the whole day, measuring accurately and then making lists and finally making garden plan on Sutton's website. I found this really useful and now have a starting point.

I am a bit daunted about growing everything from seed so I am going to try some things from seed and buy some plants.

I have settled on tomato, cucumber and peppers in the greenhouse.

Red onions, beetroot and salad leaves in the spare raised bed.

In the veg plot there will be runner beans, French beans and peas along the fence side.
Carrots, leeks and potatoes in the rest and radish and lettuce in any gaps.

Herbs ( which I am ok with) mint, rosemary, basil and chives.

I also think I have fruit trees, but I am not sure what they are, although they are well pruned. I have found a label next to what looks like a low level pruned shrub and it says black currant x gooseberry , surely this cant be right???

It's strange, but I am so excited to start growing and for spring to come so I can discover what else is hiding in the garden.


Someone who kindly replied to me mention that jersey royals were international kidneys, does anyone know how easy these are to grow and is the taste anything like the jersey royals? If not if anyone could recommend a good reliable early and maincrop variety?

[veggiechicken]

A blackcurrant x gooseberry could be a Jostaberry. The fruit is like a small, black gooseberry, tasting of a cross between the 2 fruits. Its thornless too. I like them

[Paulieb]

I also think I have fruit trees, but I am not sure what they are, although they are well pruned. I have found a label next to what looks like a low level pruned shrub and it says black currant x gooseberry , surely this cant be right???

It's strange, but I am so excited to start growing and for spring to come so I can discover what else is hiding in the garden.


Someone who kindly replied to me mention that jersey royals were international kidneys, does anyone know how easy these are to grow and is the taste anything like the jersey royals? If not if anyone could recommend a good reliable early and maincrop variety?

I've got a jostaberry and it is extremely vigorous. Didnt get much/any fruit as it was the first year and I think the fruit grows on 2 year old growth. I think the suggestion for a jostaberry is to allow 8ft (from side to side).

Regarding potatoes, there are hundreds of varieties all for different purposes (roast, mash, chips, salad, etc) and some that are more eesistant against various diseases like blight. Whichever you should be good homegrown, or someone might recommend a particular variety or there are a few threads which can sometimes be a bit contradictory.

Good luck.

[Two_Sheds]

if I grow beans, how many plants do I need for what diameter wigwam

I've tried all types of support and spacing over the years, and now I stick to a four-cane wigwam for climbing beans: it's very strong.
Each cane is 18" from the next one, and in between each cane I have a tent peg, which has string going up to the top of the wigwam.
The beans (one per cane/tent peg) are 9" apart.

You need space to walk round the wigwam of course, for weeding and watering.

[happygirlie]

Thanks two sheds, that's really useful re the beans and wigwam. Had had thought about 9 plants, so wasn't far off the mark.

The jostaberry I don't hold out much hope for as it is been cut back to around 1 ft high and 1.5 ft diameter. It is next to a gooseberry bush, which has also been cut back hard (smaller than the jostaberry). Both are in the front garden with the apple tree, so I think I will wait a year and see what happens.

[Two_Sheds]

had thought about 9 plants

For fresh beans, that's probably enough. If you're growing for dried (kidney beans) you need much more

[BUFFS]

as i found out rather late,talk to the other half about likes and dislikes,or you will end up like me,growing veg you dont really like,thinking that the other half does,you would not believe how easily it was to do.....