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Make
Space for Vegetables
18 March 2003
 It
is amazing the quantity of vegetables that can
be grown in a small plot of ground or a raised
bed. The big vegetables such as cabbage and
kale can be planted among the herbaceous plants
and harvested
as required. Sow tall, bulky vegetables such
as peas and beans in the ornamental garden.
Train them to grow up home made willow tripods.
Try growing early potatoes in pots of compost
earthing up the stalks as they grow. By the
time you harvest them there can be 20-30 potatoes
in each pot. The pots can sit on the patio without
looking out of place.
 Having
spread the large vegetables around the garden
the plot for the vegetables won’t require
a lot of space. Sow a few lettuce at a time.
Two short rows transplanted to 5 inches in the
row with the rows 9 inches apart will provide
a lot of lettuce. Start using them early when
half grown taking every other one out of the
row to leave double the space for the remainder.
Between the lettuce rows sow spring onions sometimes
called scallions. They will have space to grow
and will be ready for use at the same time.
A few radish grown from seed go a long way so
don’t sow more than you need. If allowed
to mature before picking they will be very hot
to the taste.
 Carrots
and parsnips should be planted close to garlic
to help disguise their smell. It is the odour
of the carrot leaf which attracts the carrot
fly pest. It lays its eggs and the grubs tunnel
into the roots destroying the crop. A barrier
of horticultural fleece 18 inches high will
prevent them flying into the crop. Properly
spaced sowing will reduce the thinning required
and there will be less smell of crushed foliage.
Onion sets can be spaced at 6 inches in the
row with the rows 12 inches apart. Between the
rows sow a thin line of parsley. It is slow
to germinate and will only be bulking up as
the onions ripen for lifting and storage.
 Beetroot,
swiss chard, leeks and self blanching celery
are good vegetables for small areas. A few go
a long way. By sowing small amounts regularly
less space is needed and there is less waste.
Lettuce, scallions and small finger carrots
such as ‘Amsterdam Forcing’ can
be sown at two weekly intervals. Edge the bed
with lavender, box or thyme for that classic
look.
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