Allotments 4 All

Allotment Stuff => The Basics => Topic started by: dave61 on December 07, 2008, 16:40:45

Title: small garden 14ft x 6.5ft
Post by: dave61 on December 07, 2008, 16:40:45
hi all  i am planning to put two raised beds in my very small back garden and as i am a total beginner i would really like some advice on what i should be planting  :-\ many thanx
Title: Re: small garden 14ft x 6.5ft
Post by: dtw on December 07, 2008, 16:49:31
I've heard of square foot gardening for small areas.
I don't know much about it, except that it's marked into square feet squares!

Somebody more knowledgeable will be along soon.


Welcome aboard.  :D
Title: Re: small garden 14ft x 6.5ft
Post by: OllieC on December 07, 2008, 16:52:39
Welcome aboard, new Dave!

One of the biggest limitations in my small back garden is the amount of light it gets - only the S facing wall gets lots of light, so I have my mini greenhouse against that & do early toms & salad.

In the raised beds, safe bets include beetroot & plenty of salad... But how much light do you get?
Title: Re: small garden 14ft x 6.5ft
Post by: manicscousers on December 07, 2008, 16:57:11
Hiya, dave, welcome to the site  ;D
www.organicgarden.org.uk/SqFt
hope this works, I'm practising putting links on here
Title: Re: small garden 14ft x 6.5ft
Post by: dave61 on December 07, 2008, 17:01:35
thanks will have a look god you people are quick i am using the space as a practice area whilst waiting for my efficient council to come up with an allotment area for the town 2nd name on request  12 months ago grrr
Title: Re: small garden 14ft x 6.5ft
Post by: Lauren S on December 07, 2008, 17:13:45
Hello Dave and welcome from me also.

I know what it's like to wait for an allotment. I was on my council list for ten years (They had no site ). When they did open some 24 half plots I was number 11  :'(. So I moved waiting list to another village, I only had a wait of 8 months.

You could always put up an ad to perhaps share a garden. You cultivate it in return for some produce to the garden owners. They would be glad of you doing the work in return for some fresh produce.

Lauren
Title: Re: small garden 14ft x 6.5ft
Post by: dave61 on December 07, 2008, 18:24:29
thats a great idea the estate where we live has got a few oaps whose gardens are getting a bit much for them will deffo give that a try any oaps no offence meant there are a few lazy young ones aswell but i wouldnt ask them
Title: Re: small garden 14ft x 6.5ft
Post by: dave61 on December 07, 2008, 18:26:56
by the way manic scouser your link worked thanks
Title: Re: small garden 14ft x 6.5ft
Post by: manicscousers on December 07, 2008, 19:34:33
brilliant, at least one of the 3  I put on works
Title: Re: small garden 14ft x 6.5ft
Post by: pigeonseed on December 07, 2008, 20:51:20
in a small space I personally avoid root crops and go for height - cucumbers and squash climbing up bamboo wigwams, tomatoes, beans...

They make your garden nice and green as well as giving good yield in limited space.

Title: Re: small garden 14ft x 6.5ft
Post by: star on December 07, 2008, 20:54:25
Hello and welcome from me too Dave ;D
Title: Re: small garden 14ft x 6.5ft
Post by: dave61 on December 07, 2008, 20:59:43
thanx for the great welcome from you all glad i found this site ;D ;D
Title: Re: small garden 14ft x 6.5ft
Post by: thifasmom on December 07, 2008, 22:19:58
Quote from: pigeonseed on December 07, 2008, 20:51:20
in a small space I personally avoid root crops and go for height - cucumbers and squash climbing up bamboo wigwams, tomatoes, beans...

They make your garden nice and green as well as giving good yield in limited space.



i practice a little of the square garden methods, don't feel competent enough to properly advise, but i grow root veg in the beds as well as in containers (potatoes), carrots and beetroots are grown successionally in their own squares (which can be doubled up) as well as on the dividing lines of the squares if I'm running out of space.  I also grow my companion plants on those dividing lines.

have to also agree with growing as much as you can vertically as it creates more space.              
Title: Re: small garden 14ft x 6.5ft
Post by: kt. on December 08, 2008, 00:45:09
Carol Kleins book - "Grow Your Own Veg" has some helpful sections on square foot gardening.  Diagrams and what to plant where and when.  Though the book retails at £17 - WHSmiths usually sell it for £5.

Amongst my allotment books my OH bought me this last year.  I personnaly think it is ideal for what you are after:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Vegetables-Small-Garden-Simple-Success/dp/1405316829/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1228696840&sr=1-6
Title: Re: small garden 14ft x 6.5ft
Post by: cornykev on December 08, 2008, 18:05:38
Hi Dave and welcome to the Ayslum.  :P      ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: small garden 14ft x 6.5ft
Post by: manicscousers on December 08, 2008, 19:20:42
just found seed for a 'lilliput garden from plants of distinction,
we're building some small beds at home so I'm going to have a go at them with a bush type squash  :)
special price, too  ;D
Title: Re: small garden 14ft x 6.5ft
Post by: dave61 on December 11, 2008, 10:53:25
me and the oh have decided on the square foot method and are going to find the space at the end of our decking ideal for another two beds so we will have 4( 4x4)ft beds. Should get me started with a lot of effort and even more luck . thanks to all for the great advice and links(manicscousers) ;D
Title: Re: small garden 14ft x 6.5ft
Post by: Lauren S on December 11, 2008, 14:14:46
Don't forget you can also grow veg in pots on your deck too. Alot of the veg have attractive flowers too i.e squashes and runner beans. Pretty as well as scrummy

Lauren  :D
Title: Re: small garden 14ft x 6.5ft
Post by: dave61 on January 04, 2009, 14:22:17
i have just bought a small walk in "plastic" greenhouse and  was wondering what seeds you would recommend that i could start growing and when the best time to start would be i have just got some tumbling tom seeds for my baskets do you think a propagator would be a good purchase? ??? ???
Title: Re: small garden 14ft x 6.5ft
Post by: debster on January 04, 2009, 15:35:09
Hiya Dave i only have a garden although a little larger then yours, this year i am going to try some of the hestia dwarf stringless runner beans designed for a container.
i will grow some others too but i have a very large patio and pathed area i like to make the most use of too , if you would like a few of these seeds im happy to send you some.
debs ;D
Title: Re: small garden 14ft x 6.5ft
Post by: dave61 on January 04, 2009, 16:10:19
that would be really great ;D if you would like some of my tomatoe seeds let me know how do you go about doing this 
Title: Re: small garden 14ft x 6.5ft
Post by: saddad on January 04, 2009, 16:25:35
I grew Hestia in a small window box last year, had raised them for the sale but they didn't go. a 25p pack from Wyvale. The 1/2 dozen plants did well, enough beans for a couple twice or three times a week a peak production, but do need bvery regular watering...
Welcome to the Asylum Dave
Title: Re: small garden 14ft x 6.5ft
Post by: debster on January 05, 2009, 22:29:33
Dave you have a pm
;D
Title: Re: small garden 14ft x 6.5ft
Post by: dave61 on January 06, 2009, 09:46:05
thats great thanks so much ;D ;D