How Much Food to Grow in Your Garden
If you are starting from scratch you should plan the location of items such as the greenhouse, tool shed, oil tank, coal or log storage, compost and rubbish bins, so that some sort of amalgamation is achieved, rather than an ever increasing number of small structures dotted around the site.
It is arguable that the actual saving through growing your own vegetables in a small garden is marginal. Perversely, the saving may be greater in the countryside, since the distributive system favours large areas of population and often results in cheaper and more plentiful vegetables in towns. Naturally, the more vegetables you grow, the more economic the proposition becomes.
Many small gardens include a fairly central lawn groundwork which sets off colourful flower beds. But where space is really limited a small area of grass will not be worthwhile-either visually or practically; a reasonable area of lawn in a simple shape looks uncluttered and is easier to maintain.
The type of vegetables you grow will dictate the size of the plot, and this will determine how near the house it can be. Potatoes, most root crops and fruit and vegetables which need forcing, such as rhubarb and chicory, all take a lot of space. Green vegetables, such as broccoli and spinach-which is useful since the ‘perpetual’ variety goes on and on-are often well worth growing. For a busy family with little spare time, it is perhaps best to concentrate on salad crops.
Ground cover such as heather or ivy is an alternative soft ground surfacing, especially over areas which are too small or steep for lawn but where you want to keep maintenance to a minimum. The use of ground cover need not be restricted to filling in spaces between beds or within beds. It can he employed to create bold areas of pattern, possibly combined with paving stones. At this stage in your planning there is no need to decide on the exact varieties of trees, shrubs and plants.
Many vegetables can be incorporated decoratively in the garden plan. Red cabbages look striking, runner beans can be grown up a fence, and artichoke plants are visually interesting and can be used to screen a compost heap, while marrows and courgettes are most attractive hanging over a wall from the edge of a raised bed. Raised beds look effective and can be worked into a terrace if space is limited; they are excellent for old people since they are far easier to work.
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