Want to grow my own

Krakkkers

I was thinking of starting small, my rear garden is about 40ft x 40ft and is mostly lawn at the moment but i am will to dig up as much as is needed.
Already have a mature Pear tree which gives me about 300 Pears a year and my 2 favourite fruits for puddings are Raspberries and Rhubarb which are top of my list for growing.
I realize that potatoes are quite cheap to buy and would take quite a bit space to plant, how many potatoes/kilos do you get per sq metre?
Not really interested in other veg as i only really like peas and onions.

gwynlas

You have the choice of growing directly in the sole or in containers potatoes work well in either. Rhubarb needs to be left until the second year for picking so only bother if you really like it. Check online fpr videos some people have very productive  planting in seemingly tiny areas.

Krakkkers

"Rhubarb needs to be left until the second year for picking so only bother if you really like it."

Rhubarb is the food of the gods, if i could only eat one thing for the rest of my life it would be Rhubarb.

RAS

Do you like the bright pink rhubarb or the sort grown in normal light. Or both?

There are different sorts of rhubarb which can be harvested at different times, and forced plant produce the pink stems harvest a month or so early. Do you have an allotment site near you? If so, try asking whether anyone would let you have a crown or two? The bog standard Victoria is later, so if you see anything that harvested very early, that is a different variety. The same person tends to win the spring show locally because her variety sprouts (huge) stems a month earlier than anyone else. You can also grow some in a sunny spot, and some of the same variety in shade for a later harvest. 

Re raspberries, they can become thugs if you are not careful. It would be worth getting an early, then Cascade Delight and an autumn variety which will fruit until the first frost kills the flowers. Raspberries are woodland plants, so a part shaded spot, not too exposed to the wind is preferred, and add any leaf litter you can find locally. You really want to get bare rooted canes net autumn.

Next year check if there is a local potato day? They sell varieties you can't get in the shops like Red Duke of York or Arran Victory, sometimes mad things like Highland Burgundy and Salad Blue. Generally priced per potato so you can try different varieties. This year try Kestrel for summer , Pink Fir Apple for a late harvest. 

Oh, and does peas extend to mangetout and sugar snaps? Definitely more bang for your bucks.

Farway

RAS said:

Oh, and does peas extend to mangetout and sugar snaps? Definitely more bang for your bucks.

And if it stretches to pea shoots you are a millionaire

Katiehound

Just to say that if you didn't know a loganberry is a cross between American blackberry & European raspberry. Very delicious- slightly bigger than raspberry and darker red.

Krakkkers

Well i put the Raspberry plant in the garden about 5 days ago and it is doing well, bought a thornless Blackberry plant from Morrisons today for £2.29 and will put it in the garden this afternoon.
Need to find some Rhubarb.