something high up !!

[glow777]

Ive just had a mini brainwave I think.  :P

The entrance to my allotment has a 3 metre wide path on the left a big shed on the right my hen house (another big shed). Both these create quite a bit of shade so I generally store wood etc around here.

My idea is to run a spare wire fencing panel (council one (temporary style) approx  7'6 by 14' across the 2 sheds roofs and grow something(s) climbing across.

However what to grow?

The plants will have to be in large tubs either on the roof or near the roof on top of water containers etc. Watering wont be a problem as I have plenty of water handy and a step ladder. As I have plenty of flowers already I'd prefer it to be something edible and as its the entrance to the lottie something with a bit of a wow factor would be good.

French beans dont do too well outside in Buxton otherwise some climbers would be ideal. So i'm thinking runner beans (bit boring and Ive already built my frame & dug trench elsewhere etc) or some kind of squash (please advise on a good vine Jeannine (squash goddess)) or a bit of a mix.

Any ideas, anything useful in the red parcel?

Glow

[glow777]

[cambourne7]

HI

Personaly i would go with a mix.

I would start with a good climbing rose which will give you colour, fragrance and something to climb up.

Have you looked at petit pois peas ( i can let you have some if you want )

You could go for more unusual plants like ...

You might want to look at something like Actinidia kolomikta (kiwi vine ) http://www.nickys-nursery.co.uk/seeds/pages/vines.htm

You might want to try passion flower, http://www.jungleseeds.com/SeedShop/TropicalClimbers2.htm has some cool hardy variatys and you can protect over winter.

You also might want to try Hops (Humulus lupulus) which will do well in shade and you can dry and use as decoration, sell to florests or use fresh in home brew!!

Cambourne7

[Suzanne]

This sounds a terrific idea. Could you go for something like dessert grapes. I always thought Italian pergolas look good with the bunches of grapes hanging down from the pergola. I am not sure the vines would like to compete with anything else though.

[glow777]

thanks both Cambourne 7 - guess you missed the bit about not wanting flowers - maybe next year

Suzanne re: grapes bit cold for Buxton and I already have  black and white vines in my greenhouses. It would be cool to walk in tho and get amongst hanging grapes

[cambourne7]

you have to have flowers !!  :o

And a climbing rose will take a couple of years to acheive anything anyway...   ;D

[jennym]

I know you said french beans may not do too well, but maybe try purple podded climbing beans? or yellow podded ones? The colour would look good. Possibly gherkins would trail nicely, but less of a wow factor. You could try thornless blackberries (if the pots are really large) or other climbing thornless berries like loganberry. Not edible, but how about small coloured gourds, the JimJams selection trails nicely and is small and colourful? Climbing snap peas may be ok too. If you are really patient (and lucky) you could try planting apple or pear trees on dwarfing rootstocks and train selected branches across the space. Cherry might work like this too.
Hope it's not too windy, as this might affect fruiting plants.

There's always trailing nasturtiums, colourful and the leaves can be used in salads and the seeds pickled.