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Talkback: 'Grow Your Own' Week

Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
in Talkback
Adam,

this is good practical advice and I enjoy your tips in the magazine. But am I the only one who struggles with wanting to grow vegetables? I'm doing it because I feel that I should -- I want to teach our children how, and I've been persuaded by Alys's argument that it's "a slightly immoral" not to minimize your carbon footprint by growing some of your own. But as I was saying in this piece (http://www.stopwatchgardener.com/veg-gardening/), I'm enchanted by the beauty of the flowers that will come from the ornamental seeds I'm growing, and I find nothing enchanting about the vegetables. Not least because they need so much ugly protection (knitting, fleece, plastic) in the garden. I'm pushing through, but I'm finding little beauty in the experience.

Sheila Averbuch -- Stopwatch Gardener
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  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    Gosh, I meant netting, not knitting! Maybe knitted protection would look nicer, come to think of it...
  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    I understand what you mean about appearance. Why not try mixing some veg in with the flower? All the bean family have lovely flowers, make great annual climbers and don't need protection. I inter-plant peas and sweetpeas together and a lot of the lettuces are ornamental (if you can keep the slugs off!)I have put spring bulbs in round the fruit area and carrot and nigella foliage go well together. This year I am going to put annual flowers like Marigolds in amongst the veg and I am working out a plan for "drift" planting veg next year when I get brave enough to ditch the straight rows - after all they are only there to max produce and my space isnt big enough to give me large crops anyway.
  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    Thanks Pixley! I've ordered some dwarf French beans and I'm looking forward to planting them. I was half thinking of putting them in the border instead of in my raised vegetable beds -- I think I will! And carrot and nigella (which I already grow) together is a great idea. You're a smart cookie.

    Sheila Averbuch -- Stopwatch Gardener
  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    I gave up my front lawn 3 years ago, i now have four large raised beds, in which i grow fruit and veg, we still have the back garden to enjoy, but in my opinion, it's the best thing i ever did! In the summer i had lots of positive remarks from friends neighbours and passers by, on the veg garden, and thanks to some of the above posts will now consider adding a few flowers too. :-)
  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    Sow Limanthes douglasii(poached egg plant) in your veg patch as green manure and leave some to flower for the butterflies. Chard comes in lovely vibrant colours, but the important thing is to "see" beauty with some of your other senses than your eyes - the flavour of your own-grown veg. for instance will surpass shop- bought ones. The buzz of bees round your bean plants, the wind rustling in your corn stalks, the smell that makes you hungry when you lift your garlic and onions, the feel of new potatoes as you lift them from the warm soil, all pleasures as great as the sight of a well-tended mixed border. The latter will be good for your children's soul but growing veg. will be great for their health.
  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    I am looking forward to Alys' new series - she is the person who inspired me to mix veggies and flowers together. Yes, the taste of home grown veg is miles better but until I started mixing it up I didn't think veg were worth the effort. I firmly believe Sheila that life is too short to do something because you "should" or because it is fashionable. I think I have broken most garden "rules" trying things out to see what I like/can make work. If you can find a way to make it work for you - great - if not don't let anyone else make you feel guilty. Life is too short to stress over lettuce.
  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    Stopwatchgardener - how about growing any of the following:
    * sweetcorn - once in, need no care,are large 'grasses' & you wait till the seeds have formed before eating them
    * globe artichokes - large perennial/architectural plants where you can eat some flower 'buds' & leave others to bloom
    * courgettes/ marrows/pumpkins - can be great-looking plants, generally flower well & you can eat the fruit or the flowers
  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    My family and I bravely turned a chunk of our garden into a raised veg plot last year. I had two archways between the beds that the runner beans rambled over; forming a bean tunnel it was a thing of beauty. Everyone commented on how it looked, and it tasted great. I am eagerly anticipating our second year as veggie gardeners!
  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    Hello all!!

    I had a successful year last year growing my own fruit and veggies so thought I'd give it another go this year! I'm growing the same things as last year (tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers and strawberry's) and have started off a few new ones this year including spring onions, beetroot and lettuce. They are all still very early seedlings but just wondered if anyone had any advice about grouping them when I plant them out?

    I grow them all in containers and pots so am just looking to save abit of space.
  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    Can anyone advise me please on which broccoli seeds to sow to grow the "Tenderstem Broccoli" that I can buy in the supermarkets?
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