Plot Design

[Producer]

Hi everyone,

Below is my proposed design for my quarter plot (75yards squared).  After some advice from other members I have opted for one wheelbarrow central path and two narrow side paths.  I was initially getting confused about rotation systems because somehow I had it in my head that it was a section/bed per veg family.  And then I realised that you could mix the familes, but just have to ensure they dont grow on the same ground the following year.  Have no intention of growing brassicas and think it would be best to keep Jerusalem Artichokes away from the beds due to their height.

Anyway, please have a look and let me know what you think, particularly regarding the size of my beds (small I know, but only a small plot), the proposed rotation scheme and any other issues / problems you forsee.

Thanks a lot!

[Producer]

[dtw]

No fruit?  :'(

[Producer]

Dont know where I could fit any

[manicscousers]

you could stick a fruit tree in the middle of the flower bed, the insects would pollinate your fruit  ;D

[Producer]

The flower beds in the plan have a width of about 20 cm so dont think I could plant a tree.  Perhaps I could plant a fruit bush at the bottom middle intersection where the bottom (bottom of the plan) narrow path meets the vertical narrow path.

Perhaps some fruit in with the legumes and cucrbits?? Dont know really, small plot.

[Deb P]

What are the boarders of your plot? Are there any fences or could you erect some posts and wire that you could consider putting apple cordons against, or other soft fruit such as raspberries instead of your narrow flower boarder?

You have a bit of room between the shed and flower bed, you could put some strawberries in some old tyre towers or similar?

[Producer]

What are the boarders of your plot? Are there any fences or could you erect some posts and wire that you could consider putting apple cordons against, or other soft fruit such as raspberries instead of your narrow flower boarder?

You have a bit of room between the shed and flower bed, you could put some strawberries in some old tyre towers or similar?

Hi Deb, the only border is some wood steaks and string.  What are apple cordons?  IN terms of bushes I like your idea, but I asked the question the other day how much room I needed and it sounded loads - as stated the thin flower bed sections basically represent about 0.25 meters.  Do you think that would be ok?

As for the space between the shed and flower bed, well I dont want to grow anything there as it is next the railings and alleyway, thus I dont want litter and people p*ssing on what I grow! :-)

[sarah]

can i suggest that on such a small plot it may make more sense not to grow potatoes and to perhaps have a three year rotation instead which would leave you a bed for permanent fruit?  the amount of potatoes you will get from such a small bed is not going to be economical.  thats just my opinion obviously and i think your plan looks great.

[Producer]

Hi Sarah, cheers for the advice.  I did consider this and Im not particularly bothered about growing potatoes.  Only thing is the potato bed was going to be for the potato family in general - tomoto, aubergine, chillies, potato...  So not sure..  Potato aside, can some of the aforementioned fit in the other beds you think?

[asbean]

Growbags could be put anywhere - perhaps in the space by the shed and lawn  ???

[Deb P]

Apple cordons are trees you train to lie flat against a wall or posts and wires, so they do not take up much room and make a nice feature in limited space: these are cordons, trees have their branches pruned to stubby fruiting 'spurs' which restrict their growth and helps them fruit:



There are also espaliers, where the branches are trained as 'arms' out to either side:



Here are the 'criss cross' cordons I have trained across my plot: these were from first year trees from Lidl I am training myself; it's not difficult!



You can buy such trees already trained but they are expensive, it is much cheaper to buy young 'maiden' first year trees and DIY.

[Carls3168]

In Store (Pound Stretcher) are currently selling apple and pear trees for £4.99 each...  :)

[Deb P]

There you go then  ;D ;D You can see by the cloches underneath my cordons you could even interplant them with a few strawberries in the gaps! More productive than flowers, but you would need to dig and prepare with compost/manure that narrow boarder well before putting posts and plants in there.... ;D

[Producer]

I like the idea of having gorw bags around the allotment with some fruit to be honest.  Either that or I use one of the four beds purely for fruit - does fruit need to be rotated?

I see what your saying about having trees, but dont know what the rules are on my allotment and also have absolutely no knowledge of how to care for and train a tree.  Could it really be contained within such a narrow section against a fence  - the long strip I have alocated for flowers is about 20 or 30 cms wide - see the plot.

[jennym]

Don't know which way is north, south etc on your plot, but consider siting your shed so that the back and a blind side faces south & west. You can grow a grape, or train a tree on it, taking advantage of the support & warmth it offers.
You can use the back & sides of your compost bins to grow against too if you like.
In the narrow beds, you can easily get away with growing blackberries, loganberries, tayberries and suchlike - you'd need to put posts & wire in but would be well worth it. You could grow a row of strawberries too.

[Producer]

Cheers Jenny, dont know anything about growing and training fruit bushes im afraid, will have to have a read!

[posie]

You could get a patio braeburn apple tree and a patio pear tree from Wilkinsons, they just need a big pot but give full sized fruit. Not sure about raspberry to be honest, I've just bought one, but no idea what to do about it and where to put it as I don't have any fences or railings!  And strawberries could be done in tyres as suggested.

[kt.]

Heres' mine. Been tweaked a little but is mostly as shown