Forum home Fruit & veg
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

Raised vegetable beds

Hi everyone,

I currently have 3 raised vegetable beds, measuring roughly 1.5M squared each. one of them is very close to my pond and I cannot decide whether to remove the raised bed and increase the size of the flower beds around my pond.

I usually grow potatoes, leeks, cabbages, carrots and parsnips however I am becoming more and more interested in the flowers in my garden rather than the vegetables.

I have a 6ft X 8ft Greenhouse also that I grow vegetables in, so taking that into consideration it wouldn't have too much of an impact of food production in my garden.

I would love to hear any of your opinions!

Thanks!

Jerry

 

Posts

  • fidgetbonesfidgetbones Posts: 17,618

    I think that it's your garden, and if you want to grow flowers instead of veg, that's your prerogative. In a small garden , I think Potatoes are a waste of valuable space.

  • Hi Jerrybone

    You have the best of both worlds you can grow veggies in a controlled climate ie greenhouse, and enjoy flowers in the outside world. You can enjoy opening up the flower border around your pond and perhaps grow some Lillie type flowere that would complement your pond.

    Enjoy and as fidgetbones said its up to you what you grow

    enjoy

    Jolly G

  • JerryBoneJerryBone Posts: 91

    Thank you fidgetbones and Jolly Gary, I think I will open in up, Im thinking of another tree perhaps, I have 2 trees in my garden at the moment. A Cherry and a Pear, I want a tree that is beautiful all year round. I have seen plenty of betulas which are stunning however I don't think I can justify buying one as the wildlife benefits aren't that great (Please inform me otherwise). I want a tree that will be great for nesting in and maybe give off fruit for the wildlife.

    Any suggestions on that?

    Thanks

    Jerry

  • iGrowiGrow Posts: 183
    We have Whitebeam and Rowan which provide food solely for the birds and plum, apple, pear, hazel and a vine which often get attacked by wildlife before we get a chance...
  • Steve 309Steve 309 Posts: 2,753

    Beware of tree roots damaging the pond liner - even if it's concrete!

  • I have to say i'm becoming more selective on what i grow. To get a space in my plot it now has to offer superior flavour over what i can buy locally. So things like spuds, onions just are not worth it, parsnips may go the same way this year i'll decide. Either that or i'd rather devote space to high value produce that's expensive in the shops like soft fruit.

    Other things i really like growing are carrots as they taste so good out the ground, broad beans, peas, beetroots, salad crops. Winter squash, leeks and broccoli, make the cut as they are so low maintenance, and you can grow much tastier varieties than those available commercially.

    Then in the greenhouse toms, cucumbers, chilli's and peppers. I'm ditching melons from the greenhouse this year.

     

     

     

  • JerryBoneJerryBone Posts: 91
    Oh wow you grow quite the selection, may I ask why your ditching melons? I ask because I'm intending on growing those this year in my greenhouse!



    Thanks for the comment
Sign In or Register to comment.