small veg patch

[Nij]

Hi guys, sorry for the following newbie question.

In my back yard I am building a raised flower/veg garden.
The dimensions are roughly,
4 foot deep, 3 foot tall and 12 foot long.

My question is, what veg can I grow in there, it will get sunlight (when the sun decides to come back out) in the morning till early/mid afternoon.
Ideally I want to grow veg all year round, but would love a variety of potatoe (can vary through out the year), sweet pea/runner beans to go on trelace on the rear wall, and carrots and some sprouts for xmas.

Anyone got any specific brands/variety's I can use? Also what would be the best/cheap soil to use (at the moment there is nothing there, it is solid concrete, and I am planning to build a retaining wall with drainage holes)


Cheers in advance.

[skiking]

Have a look at my post from a few days ago.

I would section off your 'plot' so you don't get carried away with some vegetables taking over.

I wouldn't grow spuds in there as they grow quite big but you can just use a bin liner, cover the base with soil, put some seed potatoes at the bottom and when they start sprouting just keep topping up with soil until the sack is full and you will find you have a good crop. Look in some of the Sunday supplements as there will be offers on 'sacks' together with seed potatoes - usually about £15.

Lettuce is good, especially the ones where you just cut the outer leaves and it just keeps growing throughout the season.

Sweetcorn also grows well.

Use the RHS chart to plan your season but delay the dates the further north you live

[Nij]

Sweetcorn also grows well.

Use the RHS chart to plan your season but delay the dates the further north you live

Thank you for the advise.

A couple of questions, the bin liner spuds - do you literally just leave the bin liner on the floor so to speak?

As for sweetcorn - the mrs hates it and I would be in deep s**t if i even thought about planting lol

RHS chart? sorry mate I am a total newbie to this kinda thing, I just want my daughter to grow up and understand where her food comes from and have fresh organic food.

Ohh but sectioning off, would a length of 3 by 1 do the job sufficiently?

[Nij]

Ohh I found the RHS chart in your thread - makes a lot of sense & answers a lot of questions, thank you

[thescruff]

Yes, you want a black liner, fill it with about 400mm of dirt, and plant the suds, the every time they stick their heads up about 100mm cover them up with more dirt.

Note: they do want regular watering but not so it turns into a bog. A couple of holes in the bottom will help, as would a few inches of shingle.

[skiking]

As scruff says but I'd use soil rather than dirt

[wine~o]

and feed the spuds...they are hungry little buggers, soluble veggy food available at all good garden centres

edit...don't forget to make some drainage holes in the bottom of the sack, otherwise you may get rot setting in.

[Nij]

Cheers guys ill crack on with that.

I assume you use old sprouting spuds? or do i need to buy some?

[skiking]

Cheers guys ill crack on with that.

I assume you use old sprouting spuds? or do i need to buy some?

You can use seed potatoes but I've also had success with normal shop bought potatoes that sprout

[Nij]

That will do me mate... makes sense to re-use :)