Sallygarden Smallholding - The Forum For Sustainable Living

Hi there all,

I have decided to go all out and create an edible garden here in south Dublin. I don't have the space to grow large rows of spuds so I am going to requisition the front garden and some of the back, (leaving a little space for chickens and children!) and create a hanging/container/raised bed garden - most of which has to be edible.

So far this year I have small crops of beans, courgettes, potatoes, garlic, onion, scallions, herbs, still waiting for the tomatoes, and just planted a block of sweetcorn. Oh and lettuce, rocket and lollo rosso.

I would love to hear any thoughts on companion planting for containers and small raised beds though, as I'm always a bit too cautious and have liitle experience with fruit and veg growing?

Hi Egirl

That swells my heart to hear of urban veg gardens, especially when it's a regular garden, fantastic, you are a trailblazer! I'm positive that urban veg gardens will be hugely important in the coming years. I think that a group of 4 or 5 neighbours could do really well if they clubbed together and each garden grew a different set of veggies, then swap around at harvest time to expand what you have for your plate. Anyway, I'm rambling!

Companion planting. I'm doing it at the moment. If you are looking for books on this topic veer towards permaculture which mimics what nature does in the wild to maximise productivity, increase biodiversity, ensure resilience and preserve the soil ... and lots of other positive results as well! You say you've just splanted sweetcorn? Well you can grow other stuff in between the stalks ... I have mixed lettuce growing between mine, rocket might do well too, as would squash or courgette. Next year I'll harvest the corn, but leave the stalks to dry out where they stand and will then plant peas or beans amongst the ready made stalks/canes.

I have pot marigold, french marigold, borage and camomile growing with my toms. What about a small fruit tree in a raised bed, then planting a lower crop around it's base? I have a peach tree in the tunnel with coriander, thyme and dill around the bottom of it. Or a fruit tree trained up a wall if you have one?

When companion planting in a container, or anywhere else in anyscale from pot to field, just keep in mind that whatever you choose to grow should occupy the different layers. ie One tall thing (tree outside, or fennel/rosemary plant in a pot), a lower thing (a shrub or fruit bush outside, or parsley/sage in a pot) and a ground layer thing ... thyme etc. It's just about ensuring that each species occupies a different 'space' in terms of height. Climbers can be used too, to grown up trees for example. Passion fruit, hops and vines are good.

Try something perennial, that means you only plant it once and can harvest year after year. I love jerusalem artichoke, but plant it in a contained area, a small raised bed maybe a metre squared would be plenty cos it will spread and spread otherwise. It grows a couple of metres high, maybe more so is a good screen, but dies back in winter then appears again in spring. Globe artichoke is also a great edible perennial.

Let us know what you decide to do,
Rebecca

Hi again! I've been away on hols so sorry for delay in replying.

I've been happy with the growth so far but this cool wet weather is not helping. My biggest problem is light. We have a shaded part of the garden which houses the chickens but an east facing wall that has failed me for growing veg this year. Toms are growing well now and I see lots of lovely squashes beginning.

I have a number of iceberg lettuce and courgettes in beds under a green net 'tunnel' but they haven't grown much in two weeks. I wonder are they getting enough light, I might revert to netting, which is less dense.

Ive decided to invest in an arch, probably wooden, over which I will grow nasturtiums this year and when they are finished I'll plant something else, preferrably edible. It will be situated in semi shade with evening sun, any suggestions for edible climbers? The arch will also server to support a gate to the chicken run, finally solving my access problems.

Now I have to come up with an acceptable and attractive idea for two raised beds in the front garden, where I think I will grow mostly herbs and salads. I am thinking of two interconnecting circles, with log roll as the border, filling the interconnecting section with french lavender???

I like your idea of the fruit tree in a raised bed, I have a large yellow broom taking over a sunny raised bed in the back garden and hope to strip the bed and refill before autumn, by which time I hope to have sourced a small fruit tree that I can train along the line of the bed, allowing access along the narrow path to the side.

Full of plans and have to start putting some into action, though it's hard in this weather, and with empty coffers after our holiday.....

Plans sounds fantastic.

Morello cherry is a good edible plant to grow on non south facing wall, they even do well on north facing walls! You could train it flat up the surface.

Other edible climbers? Kiwi fruit; there are some outdoor varieties available and they are good croppers.

Gorse is a nitrogen fixing plant, and I think broom being in the same family is too. So small varieties in amongst a veg/fruit garden are excellent to improve soil fertility.

The arch sounds great. Hops is another perennial great climber and you can stuff pillows with the hops to aid sleep!

I have a blackberry and dewberry arch. I love it. Kiwi would work, if the arch was strong. I am NOT a handy person, so the dewberries and blackberries worked well on my "slapped together " arch. Goji berry grows rather tall and might be useful, at least in conjunction with something that could grow with it, like honeysuckle or morning glories.