My garden transformation - help with Veg patch layout

TallGirl

Dear All
I am loving this part of MSE and I hope you don't mind helping me layout my new fruit and veg patch.

I used to have two raised beds 2ft by 3 ft and some horrible clay soil full of rubble and stones which meant I had to grow a lot in pots which I would like to avoid this year.




Then we had the garden made over and I now not only have a lovely large patio and a deck in the sunshine I also have a new veg patch which faces pure South and we live near Portsmouth right on the coast if that makes any difference.

The bed has been dug down to 1ft and filled with gritty top soil then topped up with something finer that looks like its got a lot of organic matter in it. Its 8 meter by 1.8m and as you can see I have already got my herbs in.




What I need help with is the fruit trees and bushes first of all. I have 4 dwaft trees as can be seen in the black pots which I am happy to dig down past 1ft to get the trees in.

• Apple
• Plum
• Cherry
• Pear (All self fertilizing)

I also have to fit in

• 1 black current,
• 1 red gooseberry (stemmed)
• 1 small red current (not on the picture)

First question does that look too cramped and would you lay it out differently. How far from the fence do they need to go? My idea was that it could all go at the back then I can use the front to plant vegetables in is that a good/bad idea? I would quite like it to look like a garden and not an allotment if you know what I mean.



So second question is how much else I can fit in I would like to grow:

• Potatoes (have got bags but wanted to put them in the ground this year.
• Lettuce
• Radish
• Peas (have a frame that they can grow up and wants lots)
• French beans (climbing and non climbing)
• Spring Onion
• 3 green asparagus (new packet)
• 8 strawberry plants

Would that all fit in or is it too much. There is just the two of us so I don't need to go mad its more important to me that I sew little and often.

How would you lay out the veg in straight lines or in clumps?

The other side of the garden can have stuff in it the soil is just not great to dig into.

Thanks for your help look forward to any replies.

amcluesent

Are you planning on running wires along the fence and then training the fruit trees in fans\espalier style? I think you'd get more production and save space compared to free-growing trees.

The currants will IIRC take some shade so could go on the other side of the garden. Would be a squeeze with them and the fruit trees.

As for the veg, I'd look at "square foot" style planting in the space in front. I'd focus on stuff that's expensive (i.e, strawberries) and not bother with potatoes.

NB Watering could be a challenge this year if it stays really dry. Have you an easy means to keep the trees and veg watered. Could be worth laying out a drip-feed system when the plants go in.

TallGirl

Thanks amcluesent really usefull advice. I plan to trim the fruit trees so they grow like minareatte ones (they can be grown in pots on the patio) so should not take up that much space I hope. Thanks for the tip about the red current I think I can find a space for it.

Good idea about the square planting will got some nice posts I can use as dividers.

I will go for new potatoes though not main crop as you cannot beat that fresh taste from the garden and new ones are expensive. Guess once they are out I can grow something else.

As for watering so far our water company has not introduced a hosepipe ban and I do have a water butt. Good point about the drip system will look into that.

SailorSam

You've been working hard TallGirl, that looks much better. This is the hard part now going outside everyday to see if there's any green shoots and waiting.

TallGirl

Just had a read of that square garden stuff and made a simple grid out of canes I had that was 1.2 m long so perfect for 4x4. Moved my herbs so they fit 1 in each square and it looks great. Seems you can cram a lot in but that's only good.

Of to the Edible Garden Show tomorrow that's to a kind MSEr who gave me the tickets. Will report back.

Lotus-eater

Bit late I think, but I would have put the trees and soft fruit on the back fence and used the South facing bed as pure veg.

Whatever you grow in the bed you have, is going to be taking nutrients, water from your trees, even worse, you are going to be disturbing the roots everytime you dig there.

Hope that gives some food for thought.

TallGirl

Thanks lotus eater the bed is 1.8 m wide perhaps that's not quite wide enough? Will have a good think about it and keep them in the post for now.

Lotus-eater

It's not the width, fruit trees and soft fruit need their roots undisturbed, you can't really have them in a veg bed. it just doesn't work.

lolly5648

Lotus-eater wrote: »

It's not the width, fruit trees and soft fruit need their roots undisturbed, you can't really have them in a veg bed. it just doesn't work.

i have raspberry canes at the back of my raised bed and was planning to grow veg and you've got me worried now. I can't move the canes so are there any veg that would be happy in front of the raspberries?

Lotus-eater

lolly5648 wrote: »

i have raspberry canes at the back of my raised bed and was planning to grow veg and you've got me worried now. I can't move the canes so are there any veg that would be happy in front of the raspberries?

It's more, what would the raspberries be happy growing in front of them.
And the answer is nothing. Raspberries have really shallow roots, if you grow something close to them, whenever you dig over the soil, you will be disturbing the raspberries roots.

TallGirl

I was going to put the raspberries along a fence with a 20cm clear bark covered strip of soil before the lawn. First time I have grown raspberries they were only from Lidl so if they don't work so be it.

Have had more thoughts on the fruit bushes will get rid of a bench on the other side and put them over there is West facing with a 6ft fence. Hopefully they will be ok the poor gooseberry have spent 6 years in that pot bet it's dying to get out.