Growing veg in a city garden.

Hi,

I'd like some general advice on growing veg in my garden. I live in london and have quite a big garden which is mainly paved, but one side has quite a long bed that I've cleared to grow some veg.

Last year I'd cleared half of it and managed to grow some courgettes and runner beans (not huge amounts though). This year I've got more space and quite a few pots that I can use.

The sun hours aren't great due to a very tall house at the back of the garden, but not too bad.

Does anyone have any ideas of what may thrive in such conditions? I'm getting some flowering plants in to encourage the bees, as we barely saw any last year.

Katie.

 

I have a terrace/patio, whatever you like to call it. I grow veg in pots and grow-bags (I get the grow-bags from the Organic Gardening catalogue).
Last year I had so many tomatoes I was able to make four jars of chutney!
Courgettes do OK, also got lots of runner beans, which were delicious.

I always grow rocket and chard, also lots of herbs.
Did you know you can eat nasturtiums? The flowers and the leaves. They look good in with the tomatoes as well.
Good luck!

 

Threen

I also suffer from a partially shaded veg plot but have had good results with lettuce, French beans, summer cabbage and leeks. This summer, I'm going to try carrots as well.
I think the key is to plant veggies that grow quickly.

In a previous garden, my veg plot was in full sun and although most things thrived, a few didn't seem to like it e.g. spinach. I might well try spinach this year too, to see if it likes the shadier situation I have now.

 

Thanks for those tips, and I like the idea of things that grow quickly - it makes sense I guess. Leeks are a very good idea.

Will give the nastusrtiums another go - last year I planted them too close to the courgette plants and they didn't do too well what with spending their lives under the shade of giant leaves!

Thanks.