Tiny bit of spare plot .. need ideas.

[Jeannine]

I have a picky nature and won't waste anything so I am puzzled as to what to do with a small wasted spot..and I mean small.

Plot fence is off kilter so now the raised beds are finished there ia a gap behind the last one, it goes from 4 inches at an angle to a foot and is 10 feet long.

My plot is so tiny I need to use every inch and it will onlt be a weed collector if I leave it.

Any ideas anyone please..perennial would be best and I guess it could be floral if needs must.

It is sort of an odd shaped box really between the fence and the bed.

XX Jeannine

[Jeannine]

[Alimo]

Could you use it for herbs? 

A thick row of parsley would look good. 

Alison

[redcoat]

Sunny or shady?

Sunny - a few cordon fruit bushes tied to wires on the fence.  Red and white currants, gooseberry; a few strawberry plants as the strip becomes narrower.

Shady - lettuce.  Grow in modules so you can put replacements in, with a bit of new compost as you make gaps.

[Squash64]

How about those Aquilega seeds?

[melann]

some type of bean or peas tied to the fence

[Sally A]

I'm unsure of your climate, but I'd also go with a perennial herb, sage, oregano, rosemary (might be a bit too tall and spready), thyme or even mint (trust the raised beds would stop the roots intruding).

[tricia]

I have a similar area between the wall and my raised beds - filled with Autumn fruiting raspberries. They are out of the way and sheltered from the wind.

Tricia

[Jeannine]

Thank you, I can't tie anything to the fence or plant anything tjhat would grow beyond this space as the fence is the borderline between plots and we are not allowed to encroach.

It is sunny as are all the plots and would only be shaded by what I planted in the adjacent bed..not sure yet.

Mmm yes, good idea about the flowers seeds I asked about earlier..



I would have loved mint which I like as a filler in but again we can't plant that unless in a container, same with horseradish.

I am thinking perennial  herbs might be the answer but still interested in any other ideas.

Wondered if a couple of sunflowers would make it in the wider part??

I have some JA's which I am stuck for room for but perhaps harvesting might be a problem if they grew, do you think it would be enough to get a few for next year to replant somewhere else.

Clmate is probably hotter  and  growing season definately  longer than UK.

XX Jeannine

[jennym]

If you can't tie anything to the fence, you might just have enough space there to put some posts and wire in, then maybe you could try thornless loganberry or blackberry, maybe grape?
JA's might cause a problem if they go mad, but you could try a few in the wider bit so you can dig them out.
Angelica grows tallish, it's handy for candying for cakes etc.
It's probably not quite the right time to try, but I'd be tempted to have a go at some rhubarb, to grow really just for thinnish tender stems as possibly the raised bed and fence would almost act to semi-blanch it?
Bush quince, Chaenomeles japonica mgiht be worth a try too, for edible fruits, they're pretty tough, and you can sort of shape them into a fan like flat form.

[Jeannine]

I do have  little rhubarb plants from seed this year just a couple of inches tall, but when I picture my old rhubarb patch it would not fit. Sadly we cannot put anything in that would grow over the border line and all fruit would. I would go for a grape at the wide end but they have to be planted a foot from the fence so that is out too.

I guess I need to get a life LOL

Thank you for the help.

XX Jeannine

[euronerd]

would it be any use for growing a few things you want to save seed from, to lessen chances of cross pollination?

[goodlife]

Jeannine...you have just a perfect spot for that big clump of chives that you got....just split it up into smaller clumps and spread them about... ;)

[Robert_Brenchley]

I had a bit like that, and put a row of BB's in it.

[Mushy Pea]

Hi Jeannine,

You could plant a few low ground covering herbs like thyme, marjoram and chamomile that would keep the weeds down but also smell nice as you brush against them.

:D

MP

[Jayb]

I'd be tempted by a selection of herbs  :)

[Digeroo]

I think the herb idea sounds good.  You could put small things like chives at the narrow end and bigger things like sage at the other.  Sage comes with red or variigated leaves.  Maybe even a small bay though it would need to be keep pruned.  Parsely always lookds fresh.  What about strawberries they would fit in a narrow space?  Or sweet peas or even mangetout - a small variety.  A small variety of calebrese.  A row of carrots?

If you were a little closer I have lots of thornless loganberries you could have but mine are enormous each plant is a couple of feet across and that is not considering the long fruiting stems. 

[Jeannine]

Yep, I think you have all sorted it out for me..thank you. I CAN put the big clump of chives there, why didn't I think of that, then use the gradually narrower strip for other herbs..

You are a great bunch you know

Thanks a million, I am off to plant.. hi ho hi ho... XX Jeannine

[chriscross1966]

Tree onions at the wider end?... They look as mad as a lorry, so a fine ice-breaker for conversations with other plot-holders and makes good pickles from the topsets too cos they're as hard as bullets and don't go mushy in the vinegar.
For dual purpose how about Nigella?...  attractive annual flower, plenty of colours available, self-seeds like billy-o but easy to spot and weed out , and you get kalonji seeds for flavouring naan bread (and anything else that tastes good when naan-flavoured, like roast potatoes for instance)

chrisc