Our vegetable garden is a labour of love. When we moved in in 2015 we discovered a rather overgrown area close to the house.... a little investigation revealed that it was a lost and neglected stone walled vegetable garden. Probably having a history dating back to at least the 1700s but it seems the previous owners had tried to work it, and had given up in vain. We have found some interesting items amongst the piles of household 'compost', broken chicken coups, brambles, partially constructed beds and fallen trees. Below is a brief pictorial journey of the vegetable garden since 2015.
The plot is a really good size and more than capable of sustaining our family of four at 32m x 4m at its largest points. For that, we are very lucky. Our house and land are on the north facing part of the hill but, as with all parts of the land, the vegetable garden sees sunrise and sunset all year round with direct sun from behind February to end November. This in itself poses problems as it isn't like our suntrap of a south-facing garden we had prior to moving here! We are quite exposed and the walls of the vegetable garden give the ground and plants some protection from wind and frost - that I am sure is no coincidence as the hill-dwellers of yesteryear were pretty savvy. This is especially useful, as when it is windy....it is VERY WINDY! But contrary to popular belief, frosts are not commonplace... we are in our own little micro-climate and often see the frost in the valley. We did however suffer -10 Celsius in the rather rough winter of 2017/2018 but managed not to lose a single plant.
The soil on our little hillside is mainly a red marl but it seems someones hard work and years of working this plot means that it is already quite good. The soil tends to become waterlogged (we are the first flat-ish area on the hill and have the heavy clay base underneath) and further matter needs to be added to ensure that it is nice and fertile so we have decided to create raised beds all though the garden.
So here's the plan anyhow:
1. Fig bed under-planted with crocus
2. Seating area with potted herbs
3. Herb bed
4. Rhubarb bed
5. Cold frames
6. Tomatoes / peas / beans
7. Greenhouse, shed and potting area
8. Three rotation beds
9. Fruit cage