Looking for garden ideas

[Frnc]

Hi, I have a garden about 50ft x 10 ft, long and narrow, hedge one side, fence the other. Mostly just grass. I tried growing potatoes in sacks but didn't get much. Not sure if they got some sort of blight. Anyway, I'm thinking about turning it over to grow edibles, either conventional veg or wild edibles. Looking for some ideas. I'm quite old and by back isn't too good, so I need minimal physical work. There's a biggish (birch) tree at the end, I might get that taken down. Ideas appreciated. Neighbour has an apple tree, so not sure it's worth duplicating that.

[ForgeCorvus]

While I don't know much about growing things I do know that you're going to get a load of questions

So, how is your garden orientated ?
Has it been ever used to grow veg that you know of?
Are any of the neighbours gardeners?

Several folks on here use 'no-dig' and 'square-foot' gardening (who'll probably be along soon) and then there are these of us who're just fumbling in the dark (guilty )

[Arzosah]

As well as the questions, there are a few standard answers ... perennials! Like fruit bushes, comfrey, flowers for the pollinators, herbs that will grow in shade (herbs are mostly perennials too), rhubarb. But a lot of it depends on what you actually like!

[Frnc]

So, how is your garden orientated ?
Has it been ever used to grow veg that you know of?
Are any of the neighbours gardeners?

Several folks on here use 'no-dig' and 'square-foot' gardening (who'll probably be along soon) and then there are these of us who're just fumbling in the dark (guilty )

The long side faces roughly ENE I think, so early afteroon sun hits it side ways. Basically not that sunny. I don't think any of my neighbours are into gardening much. I don't think it's ever been used for veg. I've heard of square foot gardening - sounds good, but sounds like quite a bit of cost and effort to get started. I'm not sure I'd be physically up to building the frames, although once done I suppose it would be easier.

[Frnc]

As well as the questions, there are a few standard answers ... perennials! Like fruit bushes, comfrey, flowers for the pollinators, herbs that will grow in shade (herbs are mostly perennials too), rhubarb. But a lot of it depends on what you actually like!

I like potatoes, just didn't have much luck last time. Also the usual basics like carrots, peas. Open to suggestion, but that's a good point. A lot of what I eat is quorn or some sort of soya produce. Something like a nut tree might be nice. Also I like salad, so lettuces or similar maybe.

[Arzosah]

Since you like salad, you might like to look at salad burnet https://www.eatweeds.co.uk/salad-burnet ... orba-minor the leaf arrangement is very distinctive - perennial salads! They've naturalised in my garden after me planting one. The soil is heavy clay, but they've also grown in cracks in the patio, they're amazing.

[Frnc]

Since you like salad, you might like to look at salad burnet https://www.eatweeds.co.uk/salad-burnet ... orba-minor the leaf arrangement is very distinctive - perennial salads! They've naturalised in my garden after me planting one. The soil is heavy clay, but they've also grown in cracks in the patio, they're amazing.

Looks good, also that it can be found wild, though not so much in my area. I use the BSBI map if anyone's interested. Just paste the name into taxon box https://bsbi.org/maps.

[Smudge]

Probably not what you want to hear but my stinging nettle crop has started to come through

They're easy to grow and are considered a Plant Superfood...

[Arzosah]

Ooh, that BSBI map is a great find, thank you!

[jennyjj01]

Hi, I have a garden about 50ft x 10 ft, long and narrow, hedge one side, fence the other. Mostly just grass. I tried growing potatoes in sacks but didn't get much. Not sure if they got some sort of blight. Anyway, I'm thinking about turning it over to grow edibles, either conventional veg or wild edibles. Looking for some ideas. I'm quite old and by back isn't too good, so I need minimal physical work. There's a biggish (birch) tree at the end, I might get that taken down. Ideas appreciated. Neighbour has an apple tree, so not sure it's worth duplicating that.

You've probably seen the thread viewtopic.php?f=21&t=17543
Full of useful advice. You'll soon figure who the experts and newbies are.

You are just at the right part of the year to get started. Google or search this forum for "dig free" gardening, "Charles Dowding" and give thought to adapting and adopting all sorts of containers for planters or raised beds, which could be as simple as scavenged paint pots or rubble bags.

If you like your greens, then you'll find salad crops the easiest. Spuds seem hungry for sunlight. I won't repeat all of that thread here, but if you can get some decent compost and a few planks, and a bit of cardboard, you can be eating your first crop 90 days from now without lifting a spade.

Oh.... and speaking of shade... google "sun mapping your garden" there's some handy websites out there.