Grow Your Own Magazine

Morning All,

Ok, was trying with containers for some odds of veg but have managed to talk Mrs Chillimad into taking some of the garden.

I have cleared an area a mere 15' X 5' (We only have a small garden).

The subsoil is solid chalk, and there is only at the most 8" of topsoil to play with, as the area cleared is on a slope 15' running downhill with main path along one side and fence on other side.

Does anyone think it would make a viable veggy patch ?, if so what can anyone reccomend to grow ?.

I already have beans (in containers) that could be moved if suitable also Peas, Courgettes, Squash, tomatoes, and cucumbers,, my okra has just shrivelled up so thats the first of my failed attempts.

Any advice will be greatly appreciated

Hi Chillimad....I only have a small garden and approx 30 x 10' is devoted to veg and that includes a greenhouse...... we also have clay soil. We have overcome the problem with raised beds. So far I have one bed, which is quite deep about 30" and two more are planned. We filled the first with topsoil, bought locally by the ton (much cheaper that way). The veggies love it as it is deep and free draining and the soil is good......no need for digging either. Building raised beds could also help you to gain some level ground as they can be built up one end. I also use containers and my beans, peas, potatoes etc seem quite happy. good luck anyway....any space for veggies is better than none at all.

Raised bed definately the way to go, divide into small squares and plant close together (see 'Square Foot Gardening'. Dig into the chalk and incorporate into top soil (I've used a pickaxe before now), this will give you more depth. Visit you're local riding stables and get a few large bags of equipoo, ask them for old stuff that's well rotted. Use as a mulch on top of the soil and plant through it, eventually it will be mixed in to the soil. The acidity of the mulch will even out the alkaline of the chalk (that's my theory anyway )
Whatever way you go at it, it's always worthwhile growing even a small amount but you'll be amazed at how much you can grow in a small area.

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Thankyou for your reply.

So do you think that the 8" of soil would not be enough on its own ?, I cannot really build raised borders due to the shape/design of the garden. maybee small raised planters would work ??

You can grow in 8" but you can grow MORE and BETTER in deeper soil, and raised beds are by all accounts the easiest way to garden, once you've got it all set up. I'm new to it so I don't have much experience to compare, but it's what *many people* seem to say.

It doesn't have to be raised borders as such, you can have a raised bed of any size and shape, anywhere. In my front garden, due to a funny slope and a drainage cover etc I ended up with 4 beds all different shapes and sizes. One in the middle is 4ft square, another along the fence is 6' by 18" or so, there is one about 22" by 3'6" which is double depth because I wanted to put ericaceous compost in it and grow blueberries - and finally a little tiny one about 20" square which is just the right size for a wigwam.

It can be quite a project to design and build non-standard raised beds, depending on how many / how big and on how handy you are, but it's not difficult once you get going, and you don't have to do it all at once - as I say you can grow some stuff in the existing soil, and then maybe start building raised beds as and when you feel ready.

The other thing to remember if you want to go this way is that it's best if you don't have to walk on the soil when the bed is built, so you should be able to reach all parts of the bed comfortably by standing or kneeling next to it - about 4ft is probably the biggest width if you can get at it from both sides, or about 2ft wide if only from one side.

Well that's an idea to chew on, good luck with however you decide to go!

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Warning: I have a dangerous tendency to act like I know what I'm talking about.

Brilliant, I can see it now, so several RAISED planters basically,,, ok, need to get me some railway sleepers or something like,, quite excited now, seems like such a small space but I can only try,, thanks so much for your great advice..

Hello Chillimad, what you have already will grow fine in containers. In your 8" of topsoil you'll have no problem with salad crops and brassicas - and they might love the lime.
You could grow herbs, Pak Choi (wait until Aug/Sept now or it bolts) onions from sets,round carrots (Parmex) garlic (plant November) strawberries - in fact anything except very deep rooted crops.
If you're interested in levelling up into smaller beds Google under Square Foot Gardening.
Good luck with the project. Do let us know how you get on.

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From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs.

Thankyou Alice.
Now you have got me going,, I go through a ton of garlic each week,,, well not exactly but have a whole garlice with every dinner, never even thought about growing them,, are they difficult ?,, other item I eat an awfull lot of is mushrooms, always thought about growing them, but by all accounts they can be a bit of a waste of time ?..