I'll be moving back to Hereford in only three weeks (thank God, I want my house back!) and given that Spring is advancing rapidly one of the first things I'm planning on doing when I get back there is heading to a garden centre and buying a few bits so I can get sewing and growing, certainly by day 2 of my return, possibly even day 1, if circumstances conspire to allow it!
Needless to say, I am keen to get on with it...
Garden First!
I'm on an allotment waiting list, and I think I'm at the top, so I need to make the call on that, and once I'm in I can pretty much grow whatever I want, a half plot would be sufficient for the time I've got to put in, but initially I'm going to focus on getting my small garden up and running...
I've got a garage wall at the back against which I can lean a 'growing wall' - so a vertical structure, maybe even just a strong trellis, on which to support some basic plastic pots is what I'm going to go for.
Not sure what watering strategy I will use... irrigation is yet to be determined, but that's one for early summer, not spring, I can manage hand watering until it gets hot!
A large picture of my little garden, still plenty room!
What to grow...
I'm going to target high-cost items that are relatively easy to grow and do well in pots and this means, roughly in order to cost in the shop...
- Strawberries - I'll go for 6 mature plants to start and then 10 smaller ones to get ahead with next year. I want LOTS of strawberries.
- Two blueberry shrubs - these will sit at the bottom of the structure, in large pots, too heavy for the structure itself, but I figure I need something at the bottom!
- Cherry Tomatoes - again to sit at the bottom, I might just go for one growbag's worth which will be three plants.
- Bush style Cherry Tomatoes - bottom rung of the trellis.
- Salad greens of various varieties - rocket, pak choi, spinach, and I don't mind a bit of lettuce.
- Spring onions - very easy to grow and tasty!
- Chillis. Not sure what variety yet
- Classic herbs - basil, tyme, oregano, mint, rosemary, sage, chives, at least all of those!
So it's mainly soft fruit, leaves and herbs to start with. Keep it simples and work up!
Purchase wish list
I figure I'll need:
- Seed trays and modules for starting.
- Seed compost mix and vermiculite
- Small watering can
- Trays for the seed modules to sit in
- Maybe a cold frame too (my indoor space is limited)
- Wood and bits for my pot-wall.
- Some fleece in case of cold nights during May.
- Plenty of 3 -10" pots, and a few larger ones.
- Maybe some gravel for the bottom of the pots.
- The seeds and plants themselves!
- A brush to keep things tidy.
- mister - to gently water the seeds in the seed trays.
I kept back a few basic tools such as my secs and hand fork so I'm O.K. for those for now.
It's annoying to me now that I gave away a fair chunk of gardening stuff when I moved to Portugal (for free!) which would be perfectly good for use now had I kept it, but this is life, now I'll just have to buy it back.
I'm going to go in light initially as I'm hoping to pick up some cheap stuff over the coming months second hand. There's a huge second hand market in gardening equipment after all, it is one of the nation's biggest hobbies, after all, with a decent turnover of people either losing interest or not being able to garden anymore due to illness or death, but let's not get too morbid here!
Final thoughts
I had thought about planting NOW and then driving with small seedlings to Hereford, but that's a transportation nightmare: the less I have to take and pack/ unpack the better!
For the same reason I don't want to rush out now and buy equipment, although now I am sitting here thinking... hmmmm.. I COULD go buy some packets of seeds! That wouldn't do any harm at all, maybe I will!
It will be a slightly late start to the season, I'll be starting mid-April, but even by then there will be plenty of plants that should be planted naturally around that time.
And it's been such a muted, cold, damp miserable March so far there really wouldn't have been any advantage to getting an early start anyway TBF, so I think every gardener is looking at a delayed start this year anyway!
I'm just looking forward to getting stuck in!
What a great project and I can tell you’re itching to get stuck in. Will be great to hear how you get on. Go for Hungarian Hot Wax chillies they’re nice!
Cheers I may just take yr advice!
I grew some a few years ago and I ended up with a bumper crop to the point I gave some to friends and family. Too many for me! My wife is allergic to them, so I’ll chop some up and add to my own salad, curry or whatever and keep them well away from her food prep.
this year I went for flowers, but some nice cherry tomatoes, yeah, totally, I've seen them bags of seeds, maybe i get one. Need some sticks to let then grow and hang though.
Ah yes bamboo canes, one to add to list for me!
Ha ha!
An allotment is a great idea. @countrysid was saying they are very cheap where he is. Thinking to get one myself too.
Bit of a commitment but so enjoyable, I had one before and it was a source of joy, for sure!
Don’t know why I’ve never tried strawberries, I should look into that. Our garden produces lots of raspberries though. Over the course of three seasons, we tried several varieties of blueberries but they were a complete failure. They just didn’t seem to like our soil, even if amended.
Raspberries are fantastic, like a weed but delicious.
Shame about the blueberries, but not everything grows everywhere!
Very cool if you make that! Come and do our garden next
I'll come help you get set up, for sure!
Nice as it is just mud lol
Oh on second thoughts eerr I might be washing my hair whatever day!
I'm also trying to figure out how to organize my new garden, what to plant and above all how to do it well in the available spaces.
They are spaces similar to yours from what I see in the photo, perhaps a little larger but slightly and on the ground all will hold, however, it is a part of the garden that I left especially for cultivation and a vegetable garden.
I'm waiting to read developments... you made me want to plant strawberries, I definitely will, lots of strawberries!
I hug you!
Cheers, strawberries are GOOD after all!