New Garden Trends
Incredible Edibles
Create a gorgeous garden that not only looks good, but tastes good too!
In case you haven't noticed, veggies are back in a big way. Encouraged by TV programmes like Jamie's School Dinners, more people are setting aside parts of their gardens to grow their own salads and greens. Organic vegetable sales are booming and so is the whole concept of grow-your-own! Getting your five-a-day doesn't have to be dull - yes, food grown in your very own garden is healthy, as cheap as chips and can look stunning too.
Creating your own vegetable plot is easy, no matter how big your garden. If you're really serious, you might want to consider renting an allotment. For most of us, however, just a couple of square metres of border can provide plenty of fresh food and, with a little thought, will add to the look of an outdoor space. If you only have a patio or window sill, pots and containers are the perfect home for a variety of vegetables.
The most important thing to remember is that it's not all about carrots and potatoes - there are plenty of edible plants that look stunning and with a little creativity, you can turn them into a display to be proud of.
Wherever you choose, prepare the site by digging it over and incorporating plenty of organic matter like rotted manure or compost. Finally, decide on the kinds of crops you want and plan out your plot.
An alternative for small gardens is to use cloches. Made from glass or plastic, these sit on top of your vegetables. For a good selection, including a handmade Victorian style design used by the National Trust, visit Harrod Horticultural.
Alternatively, you might prefer a more traditional tool as shown here. Sneeboer tools, for example, have hand-forged stainless steel heads and ash handles. Check out a range of Sneeboer tools at Harrod Horticultural.
Creating your own vegetable plot is easy, no matter how big your garden. If you're really serious, you might want to consider renting an allotment. For most of us, however, just a couple of square metres of border can provide plenty of fresh food and, with a little thought, will add to the look of an outdoor space. If you only have a patio or window sill, pots and containers are the perfect home for a variety of vegetables.
The most important thing to remember is that it's not all about carrots and potatoes - there are plenty of edible plants that look stunning and with a little creativity, you can turn them into a display to be proud of.
The perfect plot
Creating that perfect plot isn’t difficult. You’ll need a sunny space that’s sheltered from wind. If you want to grow fruit or sun-lovers like tomatoes or aubergines, you should choose a south-facing wall that will act like a sun-trap. As shown at Chelsea, many gardeners now prefer to plant vegetables in flower beds, to make the best of ornamental varieties and to use flowers to help keep pests off the veg.Wherever you choose, prepare the site by digging it over and incorporating plenty of organic matter like rotted manure or compost. Finally, decide on the kinds of crops you want and plan out your plot.
Glass is great
The most reliable way to grow a healthy crop from seed is under glass. With a greenhouse, you can sow seeds earlier and plants are less likely to be damaged by frost or insects. They will continue cropping into the autumn too. But greenhouses aren’t cheap, so think about buying secondhand and check out your local paper or Ebay.An alternative for small gardens is to use cloches. Made from glass or plastic, these sit on top of your vegetables. For a good selection, including a handmade Victorian style design used by the National Trust, visit Harrod Horticultural.
Tool up
Selecting the best tools for the job is even more important when you grow veg. You’ll have a lot of digging to do and you’ll be working hard to suppress weeds too. If you want to save money, it might be best to go for a combination tool system - one in which a single handle can fix onto a variety of different heads such as hoes, rakes and weeders. Combi-systems are available from Gardena and WOLF Garten.Alternatively, you might prefer a more traditional tool as shown here. Sneeboer tools, for example, have hand-forged stainless steel heads and ash handles. Check out a range of Sneeboer tools at Harrod Horticultural.
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