Veggie patch as big as your garden will allow, what next?

squeeks

I've turned over as much of the garden as I can really allow to veggies and I am trying to think about ways to expand.

An allotment is the next logical step I'd have thought except my local allotments have a long waiting list (60+) and a waiting time of a year+. So I am trying to explore other options.

I could try and do more with the area I have - better rotations and the like. But I really don't have that much space, so that will only get me so far.

I do have a few pennies in the bank earning next to nothing, so I'm thinking (very much in the blue sky phase) about buying a small piece of land with no planning permission or restricted to agricultural use only. Something in the region of 10 - 20k seems to get me 30sqm or so, providing I avoid the plots marketed towards the property developers / self build crowds which are nutty expensive.

Has anyone else tried to use a small to medium parcel of land for a veggie plot? - Any pit falls or silly mistakes I would do well to avoid? Are their any issues with getting water supplied for instance, or planning restrictions I should be aware of? (no sheds or polly tunnels?)

Many thanks

Complete novice with high hopes and want-to-be green thumbs.

Farway

Depending where land is vandalism & theft are the obvious pitfalls

I gave up my allotment because of the above, it was just so dispiriting to see my hard work smashed or stolen

gibson123

Can you expand vertically?

http://wakeup-world.com/2011/11/01/eating-out-of-the-gutter-literally/

squeeks

I hadn't thought that site security would be the big show stopper - thanks for that, something to bear in mind.

Might have to ask the local field secretary if they have any issues.

Do you know if it was random locals passing the area / yufs out at night looking for something to do or was it more likely a plot holder rivalry thing?

squeeks

gibson123 wrote: »

Can you expand vertically?

http://wakeup-world.com/2011/11/01/eating-out-of-the-gutter-literally/

I have actually looked at that - The issue I have is the garden is a renter, rather than keeper, so everything has to be free standing rather than attached to fences and walls. I also happen to have high fence/bushes + a tree eclipsing some of garden, so again no where to really put things as they just won't get enough light.

But yes I am considering going up a little more but I am running out of spaces or perhaps I'm just not thinking creatively enough! I do have an aquaponic system in the garden, so something like this could bolt on to that with an extra pump and some guttering/framework - but it isn't always the prettiest way of doing things.

If push comes to shove I could go for a container farm or similar, something like urban farmers box - http://urbanfarmersbox.ch/ but again I need somewhere to put it.

Having some soil I can actually grow things, which isn't a pot (or half barrel with hydroton in it/re-purposed drain pipe) is a bit of a novelty for me. Now I am finding I need far more space if I want to actually make more than a couple of meals a year.

arbroath_lass

I've seen a couple of things online about renting gardens. Do any of your neighbours struggle with their garden? Could you use their land in exchange for some veggies? Or money?

There is really the only same security risk there that you'd have with your own garden.

Just checking - are you using your front garden too? Lots of veggies can be quite ornamental.

Have a look at this website http://www.container-gardening-for-food.com/ . This gardener seems to get a lot from a small space.

Leif

One option is to deep dig, allowing plants to have deeper roots, and hence you can have a greater density of plants. i.e. closer together. That is what I am doing, so as to maximise usage of space. It has certainly made the slugs happy. You could also hang some planters from fences, using hooks over the top, subject to the neighbours not objecting if the fences are on a boundary. You can have fruit trees trained to grow in 2D against a fence i.e. espaliers. If you have a greenhouse, add shelves, and have hanging baskets. Also hanging baskets in the garden, under the eaves etc.

Lotus-eater

Very interesting, any chance of a photo of your garden?

A year+ isn't that long to wait and comes about sooner than you think, get your name down and you can decide if you want it, if one comes up.

If you crop intensively in your garden, you can get an amazing amount out of a small space. OK so you're never going to grow all the spuds you need, but in easy to grow high cost stuff, you can be self sufficient virtually.

squeeks

The aquaponics is a bit of an experiment, it is a tiny (200 - 500l depending how you measure it) CHIFT PIST set up (google will explain all) kinda similar to this system in appearance:
http://www.aquaculturehub.org/photo/my-aquaponics-equipment/prev?context=user -bright blue barrels 'n all.
but with a fish tank between the bed drains and the sump, beds continually drain instead of bell syphons and a pump on a timer. I am not entirely convinced it is that productive, but I haven't been very good at keeping my PH under control so that's my fault. At least it is somewhere nice to keep goldfish.... anyway, back to topic...

I am not sure about renting someone else's garden. I don't really know what I am doing so promising someone else that a) they will have a better looking garden and b) that I'll actually produce a vegetable that doesn't get eaten by the wildlife first, may be a little to much to hope for. I am looking for something for my own enjoyment and follies, if it all goes wrong and I have to start again so be it. I'd rather not have any 3rd party expectations. Hence looking to get another parcel of land to have my way with - if that is allowed under planning laws.

I will put my name down on the allotment list, I guess it isn't that long to wait, we'll see. In the mean time...

COOLTRIKERCHICK

those urban box garden things look a bit like an eye sore to me, I think if anyone put one of them up you would get complaints no end...and they will not come cheap, as steel containers have rocketed in price over the last few years..

I personally would save your money... ( maybe put it towards a house fund) and put your name down for the allotment...

the two ways of looking at it....

a... an allotment is free ( well except the rent) plus if you find it hard to work/maintained a large area of land, then you can give notice and leave, with only losing your rent money.

b...If you find a suitable bit of land and buy it dont forget you will have legal fees on top of the buying price ...plus land prices now which isnt rough pasture is anything between 10 - 14k an acre ( depending on what part of the country you live in) ..

IF things didnt work out, you could potentially be stuck with a bit of land, which might take a long time to sell, and another set of legal fees for selling it...

Hydroponics... I assoiciate this with people growing a 'certain' plant, and for your every day veg plant I should imagine its an expensive way of growing them, as you have to have the D3 lights etc....

Edit.... just seen your link.. on the hydroponic system.... personally i cant see the logic in that outside? inside and growing all year with lights etc yes , plus for all that effort you havent really gained any more growing space..

Davesnave

squeeks wrote: »

Something in the region of 10 - 20k seems to get me 30sqm or so......

I hope you really mean 30m square!