Grow Your Own Magazine

I have been searching desperatly for a book that deals entirely with growing vegtables in a seaside inviroment please does anyone know of such a book.
Thank you.
Diana

Um there probably is. Try Amazon.
However I live by the Sea. Not quite on the beach but very close. I don't have any trouble growing vegetables. There's probably a bit more salt in the air but it's never been any kind of problem.

thank you for your reply I can only hope that the salt air does not cause me any problems as we are right on the beach and also the wind is a bit of a problem.

Hi Diana and welcome to the 'Vine
Don't have a book title for you but there is a website you may find just as useful - www.seasidegardener.co.uk

__________________
Rat

British by birth
Scottish by the Grace of God

Blog updated Wednesday November 13th

I grow most 'normal' veg (i.e. nothing particularly special for the seaside) and I don't have a problem. I don't live on the beach as you do, but I do live close to the beach and I have plenty of salty air to contend with (messy windows from the salty air all the time!).

None of my veg seem affected by the salt, but then again being that you're closer means the salty air may be more concentrated and might have an effect.

Have you tried growing veg in those conditions - what have you tried? What has given you problems?

I grow runner beans, peas, garlic, salad veg, brocolli, tomatoes, onions, herbs etc... plus rhubarb, strawberries and other soft fruit with no problems with the sea air.

All the best with your seaside veggie venture!

Cabbage family will do OK there Diana as they are coastal plants originally. The other thing to do is to grow a hedge that will dake the brunt of the salt ladened wind and give your veggies a bit of Shelter. One benefit you'll probably have a milder climate than inland I guess (unless your on Cape Wrath !!!)

I'd be suprised if someone hasn't written one. Failing that are there any allotments near to you? You maybe able to join as an associate member & buy stuff off them if they have a shop & pick their brains aswell !

__________________
ntg

Never be afraid to try something new.
Remember that a lone amateur built the Ark.
A large group of professionals built the Titanic

http://grief-encounters.blogspot.com/

What's your soil like? Is it very sandy? Sounds interesting at any rate. A friend of mine had a beach house literally on the beach amidst sand dunes and still managed to grow some rather odd things. he did grow herbs in containers however so you could certainly use compost to start with and get a compost heap going.

Thank you so much everybody you have really given me lots of hope, I am going to get the book from amazon but not sure if it covers much on veggies.
I am in fact going to live in Orkney so perhaps there is someone out there who also lives there? I wish I had joined this forum before as I am an avid reader of GYO.

Nice to have you here Diana and it's always better later that never

Be warned, we can get a bit addictive

__________________
Shortie

"There are only two lasting bequests we can hope to give our children; one of these is roots, the other wings" - Hodding Carter

Hi Diana,

I used to live in Orkney, the soil is very fertile and you should be able to grow all sorts of things - frost and snow is also uncommon there. The biggest problem you'll have will probably be the wind - it's very exposed, and plants tend to grow as high as the wall they're up against and no more! I lived on Papa Westray for two summers as the RSPB Warden and during my time there someone decided to set up a polytunnel and grow a few things - courgettes and strawberries mostly - to sell to the island shop. The veg was excellent!

I'm not sure if there are any Grapes on Orkney already, but the next nearest to you in location would proably be CaithnessGardener, who also grows in polytunnels, and Caithness is very similiar to Orkney in climate and geography.

We are sailing to Papa Westry on Friday - one of my favourite places. I will look out for the polytunnel!

It's in the centre of the island to the east of the shop. Hope it's still there. Wave to Rose Cottage for me if you're passing! It's the pink one. Don't know if my old veggie patch there is still going or not - I tried planting peas and carrots in May 2001 but then left at the end of August so never got the benefit sadly. I did have a small meal of baby peas the day before I left though! It was a great life.

BW - I think I saw it last year, as I sent OH into the shop so I could hover around to speak to someone about the polytunnel. Will look out for Rose Cotage - will try and get a pic!

hi Diana, am in the far south (Kent coast) but altho this is my first fruit/veg year, the salt air doesnt seem to be a prob. we have a drought order tho, which is much more trying...!

Diana - my biggest problem is the wind and I guess it might be for you too. Trying to provide a shelter belt is the most important aspect and from experience it has to be from species that are native to your area, but this takes time. I struggled with this - but the polytunnel has proved to be the saviour. It might be just what you need!

__________________
ntg

Never be afraid to try something new.
Remember that a lone amateur built the Ark.
A large group of professionals built the Titanic

http://grief-encounters.blogspot.com/

Yes wind is going to be my problem and as the garden (19 acres) has not been touched for years it is going to take me some time to get it started and I will start by making shelter. I have found another book called The impossible garden by Rona Steppanova, any body got it or read it.?

Yes Diana - I know Rosa. She gardens here in Shetland and runs a nursery. She does know what she is talking about, but I'm afraid I found the book a little disappointing in terms of help with regard to growing in an exposed spot. There is very little advice about creating shelter belts, etc. but more about what she manages to grow in the garden. But that's just my thoughts on the book. It is a good book, but probably not what I was expecting it to be.

I joined the local RHS group this summer and have been on a course (half a day) for creating shelter belts which meant I learnt was the best species to grow here and in August we have a tour of everyone's gardens. That has been very informative and I hope to learn alot that way and knowledge which is specific to Shetland. Possibly even things that are good here, will not grow as well in Orkney, but there will be other things that will.

19 acres - phew! We have 3/4 of an acre and I find that huge! You will have to get sheep in to cut the grass!

As you can guess we havent sailed to Orkney yet, hopefully tomorrow! Been too windy Off to Fair Isle today - now that's an exposed island ..........

but nice jumpers

__________________
ntg

Never be afraid to try something new.
Remember that a lone amateur built the Ark.
A large group of professionals built the Titanic

http://grief-encounters.blogspot.com/

Diana - we sailed around Eday and it is a beautiful island. Very rich and green on the east side with many farms and spectacular cliffs to the north. We had wanted to stop and pick up the visitors buoy, but the tide was racing through and it was like white water rafting

I spoke to a number of people in Orkney about gardening and they all reckon on gaining a degree over Shetland and various parts an extra degree over that. Some of the gardens in Pierowall in Westray were as much as 4 weeks ahead of mine and some of these folk were growing virtually in sand! Lots of veg and sweet peas and lillies in flower. So you may find you are in quite a sheltered place and do quite well.

Anyway - wish you well and let us know how you get on.

Nick - we spent so long in Fair Isle due to fog I could have knitted a jumper! Some great veg gardens there too as they have to be reasonably self sufficient.

I feel I am turning into one of those tv presenters that just LOOKs at gardens and nothing else. "Never mind the scenery - look at that ONION!"

Hi Jenny, I'm the same. When we go on holiday hubby is looking at the scenery and i'm looking into peoples gardens. Sad, isnt it.
By the way, welcome back.
Gabrielle.

Hi Jenny
So pleased you saw Eday on your holiday, I cercainly will let you know how we get on, we are moving in March 2007 and cant wait.
You will have to pay me a visit when you are next passing.

Nice thread. I've just got an allotment on the banks of the Menai Straits, which seperates Anglesey from the mainland, so I'm interested in what grows on the coast. It's maybe not quite as exposed as it might be, with some shelter from the island, but it does take a pounding from the North east wind. Main problem is, its basically subsoil, not topsoil at all, and incredibly stony, so that's the first job. I'm imagining a superb asparagus bed (eventually), as they are coastal plants originally. No polytunnels or greenhouses allowed unfortunately, but we do benefit from limitless supplies of seaweed fertiliser.

Hi rauni,

That's a great location you've got - well maybe not so much for veggies, but I love the coast around there. My OH comes from Holyhead and we visit his mum there regularly.

Shame you can't get polytunnels etc - what about walls? The old system in Orkney (and probably Shetland too - Jennie?) was for 'pickaquoys' on the coast, walls about 4' high arranged in rectangular shapes to give protection from the harsh winds.

One good thing is that you shouldn't suffer too much from frost where you are! I'll wave next time we're passing!