inspiration needed for my raised beds

[Blumkin]

I have 2 largish raised beds ready to be planted. But I'm stuck on what to fill them with. The dc have insisted on some strawberries and raspberry cane, but apart from that I'm clueless.

I need stuff that is idiot proof to grow, and preferably has a fast yield (so I don't want to plant something and then wait 9 months for something edible as I'm far too impatient)

Any ideas?

[Ihatethedailymail1]

Dwarf beans, courgettes, sweet corn, potatoes....tonnes of stuff!!

[TheCountessofFitzdotterel]

Leafy salady things - rocket, lambs lettuce and landcress have never failed me, and lettuces are good but if you have a lot of slugs the greener, softer varieties tend to get eaten.
Also, radishes are superfast.
Parsley, coriander, basil and chives are both easy and useful from seed.

[Liara]

What do you guys actually eat on a regular basis? Start from there and then see what is feasible.

No point in growing something if no one likes to eat it.

[kiwiquest]

Peas are easy to grow and freeze the excess. Courgettes are easy to grow but only plant them if you really like them. We get sick of them by end of the summer. Onions are good and easy to store. Broad beans and runner beans are also easy and freeze well. Herbs are always useful. Parsley, sage, rosemary, oregano will grow outside happily.
If you have the patience, celeriac and Jerusalem artichokes are also easy growers.
Parsnips didn't work well, we have clay soil and I think they prefer sandy. I've never been able to get dill or tarragon going.

[Blumkin]

Thanks for the replies. Went to the garden centre today and spoke to a gardening genius! I now have a herb section (mint, basil, space for more), a row of tomato plants along the back, a strawberry section and a whole load of spring onion and radish seeds. Plus a couple of sunflower seeds because they make me smile.

There is still enough space for a courgette plant but I will wait a month before I get one and plant it.

A friend cane round yesterday with some sad little cut off twigs and roots that will apparently grow into delicious raspberries.

[TheCountessofFitzdotterel]

Brilliant!
You know mint is a thug and tends to take over? It's a good idea to plant it in a pot or bottomless bucket sunk into the ground to keep the roots in their proper place.

Spring onions are indeed very easy unless you have bastard pigeons who pull them up

[Blumkin]

My mint bush is already looking rather sad and bare - I introduced my 6 year old to fresh mint tea and she's managed to drink her way through the entire bush already!