help with some veggie gardening

[mumblecrumble]

Hi folks, by the time it stopped snowing I had a back injury so am really late with planting veg this year... I have some patches in the garden I usually plant with certain things but they are either now more expensive than they would be to buy as produce if that makes sense.

So, I have a long, skinny, knee high raised bed against a sunny wall that has strawberry plants at the bottom that are there all the time. usually have runner beans up the wall. can't find them any cheaper than nearly £2 a plant which is much more than I can get the finished beans for. what else could I grow?

also have 2m square raised bed that has overgrown. just about cleared of weeds and it is really fertile, sunny and against another wall. I am not able to dig spuds up, but is it too late for carrots from seed? what else might be good?

I also have a large pot, about 60cm diameter, knee high, thinking of potting up some herbs, some from rescued ones from the garden, maybe chives as I use lots..... I would love a new bay tree as my lovely bay tree that was 8 years old caught a fungus a few years ago and died. when is good too get a new baby one do you think?

focus is on edibles :-) many thanks

[PotteringAlong]

How about beetroot from seed? That's not too late.

Could you go to a car boot sale? You can often get fairly big but fairly cheap tomato plants?

[mumblecrumble]

been to a few boot salees and they all says its too late for beans...

BUT ExCITING!!! It seems the few pods left on the stalks last year, a few have fallen intot he soil and sprouted!!!! have collected the others and planted and will see what happens.

might pop out today to a nursery and see if i can get tom plants.... mayeb try carrots too.....

[throckenholt]

I don't think it is too late for runner beans - they don't get going until the weather gets warm - the ones we have planted are not yet ready to go out - and would have nothing if we put them out by now (except get massacred by slugs). What's to lose by sticking a few seeds in ?

[kernowmissvyghen]

It's not too late for French beans- start them off inside and they will be fine. I always grow the variety called Blauhilde, they are purple and I love the look and taste of them (go green when boiled though)

You could also consider fancy veg like fennel? That does well planted late as long as you don't live too far north for it to be happy?

And early peas sown now should give you a (small) late crop- also, everything grown successionally is worth a try- salad leaves, etc.

I am working on the basis this year that the weather is 6 weeks behind the calendar and planting according to that.... Yet to see how successful it will be, but our soil warmed up so late there was no point even thinking about sowing seeds till May.

[ProfYaffle]

I've just had a look at my 'Allotment month by month' book, it suggests that planting any of: Beetroot, broccoli, carrots, chicory, courgettes, fennel, french beans, kale, khol rabi, peas, pumpkins, runner beans, swedes, chard and turnips outside in June is OK.

[ProfYaffle]

I've also just remembered that Alys Fowler suggests planting a few late courgettes (July?) as they then come into their own just as the normal plants are getting ragged and dieing off. I did that last year and it worked well.

[mumblecrumble]

mmmmmmm courgettes.... I do miss Alys and Toby.... can;t be doing with Don any more.

Have had sccess with last year's pod beans - they are growing nicely!! Got four types of climbing toms to try out in a big pot moved near the back door for my daughter to watch. Big (ha! aprox 1.5m2) veggie bed is still getting cleared but hoping for carrot and raddishes.

mmmmmmm courgettes... I grew 1 a few years a go and took over the entire bed!