Suggestions for low cost perennials and edibles?

Just wanted to update. Last summer was pretty depressing, lost the isotoma axillaris (all of them!). 5 to slugs and 1 to frost. The campanula got eaten, the mystery plant turned out to be chrysanthemum and that's like catnip for slugs... You get the picture.

But: I've been plodding on with herbs, my mum bought me some roses, some hellebores, siberian iris, Lilly of the valley and a mystery bare root job lot which turned out to be astrantia. This summer a number of plants I thought were lost to slugs put their head above the parapet - including the pretty little campanula, the Canterbury bells which never got going last year. I added sorrel, dill, courgettes and mangetout grown from seed.

Still not got phlox and brunnera that I want but they'll have to wait for next year probably. Some of the perennials I planted very early on I need to move as they are in the shadiest bed and it doesn't really suit them.

I thought not much has moved on but looking at the pics from last year there has been some progress (ignore the lawn, it's still shocking. Needs starting again but I'm not investing that level of bother in a rented property!)

Front to the left


Front to the right with scenic bins



Looking towards the house showing the lovely caryopteris, chilli plants in pots enjoying this weather outside, a black currant I picked up for £1 and silver jubilee rose in a pot (the others are in the middle of the lawn). And more courgettes. I didn't expect them to do so well and I am about to experience a glut I suspect!



Things have improved, really glad I have the pictures to compare otherwise I would never have seen it.

 

Looking really good, I like the idea of the courgettes being off the ground away from the slugs and snails, I may need to 'replicate' this in my garden too!

Have you ever though about nasturtiums or a wildflower mix? The bee's love them!

 

Oh, and get some Lavendar too!

 

Thanks! I have considered both wild flowers and nasturtiums... Missed the boat on nasturtiums this year. I wanted white ones so they didn't mess with my precious colour scheme ... :D the useless lawn on the right I do keep toying with removing and putting in wildflowers although I know it takes a while to properly establish/ some care. The French lavender I got from the market is just out of shot. I keep thinking I should do more with it, as I don't add to salads/food which is where my other herbs are going.

 

Probably not. It germinates in about a week, and in this warm weather it will be away in a month. You'll still get flowers on it this year if you sow some now.

 

I've found wildflowers pretty easy to establish. Bought a couple of packets, lobbed them in, raked them and kept them wet. Now thriving!

 

Eeeee I'm a lazy gardener :D have awoken from winter hibernation to start prep.

So, what have I learnt..there is one side of my garden which I need to treat as shaded/woodland and it's futile to pretend otherwise. With this in mind I have moved the poor geranium something or other that has clung on for two years but never really thrived.

I am buying the phlox and brunnera this march and putting them in that border! And will move the cyclamen as it's actually in a 'slightly sunny' spot now the neighbours have cut their hedge. Maybe buy it some friends (they're 3 for £1.50 at the market). No sign of the lily of the valley which I put in as bulbs last year. It may surprise me yet...my money's on the slug did it though.

Seeds... I enjoyed the dill so much, definitely growing that again, and may go for Russian or French tarragon too. Chives can't get a foothold at all, I have some in and they are consistently chomped. Maybe worth trying one more time...

Can I hope for a summer like the last? If so I would totally grow courgettes again, a rousing success. Do I risk growing some mini cherry toms in my wall planters?

All three mint varieties I have in (apple mint, Swiss mint and spearmint) are not thriving at all. All in different positions. I must be the only person in the uk who can't grow mint. I love it, could eat it by the handful. No handfuls to be had here.

I need to repot my beautiful roses I think. Got away with three in a pot (I know, I know) but won't this year. But am I too late? I have given the ones in the ground a (well rotted) manure mulch. I would have pruned them but neighbours cat appears to have taken it on itself to do that for me...thinks the roses are a scratch post as far as I can deduce.

I enjoyed my cornflowers. Before they got chomped. Might do a light scattering this year...or buy one of those mats and insert it into the pointless patch of lawn on the right of the garden?

I have probably killed what's left of worlds worst lawn anyway by scarifying & aerating in damp conditions. Seeded grass on bare patches five days ago. Didn't really cover over. No sign of sprouting. May need to rinse and repeat! I will then weed and feed in April.

Now, what edible things can I grow in shady conditions, in Yorkshire on clay soil?