The New Vegetable Garden
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In 2021 it was decided to enclose the 3-heap compost beds into a single 8 x 3 metre raised vegetable bed encompassing a new compost
area (and a dead maple) within it. It was ready for late seeding in the spring and planted with potatoes, courgette, runner french beans, Spanish Garlic, Butternut Squash, white onions, leaks and Swiss chard all interspersed with Borage for the bees.
The gap in the bedding allows the wheelbarrow to bring soft garden waste to a new compost pile in the middle of the bed. Cuttings and waste from the vegetables is simply hurled onto the compost without the need to move far. The bottom 70% of the compost heap is then dug back into the bed in early Spring to complete its decomposition 'in situ'.
The Vegetable Garden
2016 Update:
With dwindling yields from the vegetable garden and the need to top it up from the distant compost heaps, it was determined to leave it to become a "nectar patch", wild and haphazard providing a mecca for summer insects. It now hosts three fruit plants and a further 20 species of nectar rich flowering plants and a host of happy nectar seeking insects. It buzzes in July and August..
The 50 square metre vegetable garden evolved over 8 years from the previous owners' bonfire heap into a productive produce area. Its primary feature is the organic home-made compost which is added to it every year. It has metre-high rabbit proof perimeter fencing, recycled paving slab footpaths [including some 1960's swimming pool edging slabs recovered from a neighbour], a gravity fed rainwater butt and a small fast composting bin.
The wholly organic, pesticide-free, herbicide-free garden uses only natural light, natural temperatures and home grown compost. All water is rainwater. All watering is by watering can. All weeding is by hand. Pest management help is available from ladybirds, blackbirds, thrushes and marigolds.
The only nutrient supplement is a little, Blood and Bone two weeks before planting in spring every 3 or 4 years to complement the composting.
A typical plot plan has been:
| 2010 | 2011 (Planned) |    |
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| Vegetables | Asparagus Early Potato (Arun Pilot) Main Potato (Desiree) Shallot Red and White Onion 2 Varieties of Garlic Broad Bean Climbing French Bean Courgette Rocket Leek Lettuce Swiss Chard Tomato |
Asparagus - Main Potato (Desiree) Shallot Red and White Onion Garlic - Climbing French Bean Courgette - Leek Lettuce - Tomato Radish |
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| Fruit | Raspberry Gooseberry Rhubarb |
Raspberry Gooseberry Rhubarb |
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| Flowers | Sunflower Delphinium |
Sunflower
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