how much land needed to grow enough veg for family of four ?

Zazen999

Technically, it depends on how much veg you eat, the weather, the seeds you buy, how committed you are, the bugs you get, where you are living, the soil etc etc etc.

We have 5 beds, all 1.8m square. plus 4 beds of 1m square.

I grow year round, as much as I can; and all my beds have something in them every month of the year.

I buy potatoes and onions during the winter, but am hoping this year to be able to grow enough of both [waiting on an allotment] to survive next winter through.

I buy summer veg through the winter as well, peppers, tomatoes, cukes etc as these won't grow without a heated greenhouse where I am.

I don't buy broccoli, swede, leeks or carrots; make do with the garden stuff or without; and lettuce can be grown all year round. Even beetroot can survive the winter [gets a bit woody but it is fine for soups].

I suppose if I put up a large greenhouse - heated - in the courtyard; and carved all my patch up for food [we have flower beds and bark walkways and some decking by the canal] then I could easily feed us all year round - with ample left over.

The other thing to remember is that if you eat seasonally then you cut costs as you don't buy off-season at Mr Ts.

RAS

Bartholomew is fine as long as you ignore the stuff on soil replacement, really. His ideas on using up small quantities of vegetables not used for meals are brilliant.

If you are into blocks and plant spacing in small areas, Jeavons is certainly a good read, if dense in places. He has a number of ideas for intercropping of blocks.

have you come across poly-cultures? broad cast some very quick growing seeds like mustard, then a mix of leaf crops and space out seedlings of slower larger plants. Did it with brussel sprouts and it worked to some extent, although the leaf crops were hammered by the slugs. But- the pigeons were confused so i actually got my sprouts to grow tall.

meanmarie

I had two 4 foot square 'gardens' last year and was amazed at what it produced...there is a third waiting to be filled and planted next month...and a fourth that OH is not yet aware that is going to make!

I am still getting salad greens and a type of bok choi on a fairly regular basis, there are scallions and carrots most of the time, I planted a packet of shallot seeds late in the year...mid October I think fairly thickly and have been using the thinnings in soups and salads...they are proving very useful...wouldn't buy them at this size in the shop but that doesn't matter. I bought a seed sprouter and have fresh sprouts at least two days a week...window sill but all adds to the variety.

I would agree with OP who said start small...things like spring onions, salad leaves, couple of tumbling tomato plants, courgette plant, peas and beans...small amounts to start and increase amount and variety as you become more experienced...rhubarb is a useful thing to have in any garden as it freezes beautifully.

Good luck

Marie