AIBU to rip flowers out of my garden and plant edibles?

[Cookiecrumblepie]

As above. Thinking of trying my hand at growing some veg and maybe buying a dwarf apple tree, but I wonder if this will make my garden look like an allotment, or whether a lot of people grow veg at home?

95% of the plants in my garden are edibles - herbs and fruit. Haven't tried my hand at veg yet. Looks like a garden and not an allotment

Growing fruits and vegetable is a lot of fun and a great hobby. However-unless you have at least a quarter allotment (or equivalent sunny space in your garden) and a lot of time, you're going to spend more money than you save. Even if you do have the space and the time, it will take a few years before you start to realise any savings. You have to invest in equipment and learn how to maximise your yield. Most people end up with about four radishes and a single broad bean their first year before they get things sorted out 😅. The only allotment holders I know who grow enough to save (or say they save) significantly on their grocery bill are the oldies who are out there all the time working their arses off and who have years of experience and knowledge of what grows and what doesn't and how to get the most out of their patch.

I have a quarter allotment that's 50 metres away from my house that I spend at least 4-6 hours per week on (and much more than that at certain times of year when I'm transitioning to a new season) . I don't see that as a cost because I enjoy it, but I could pick up an extra half day of work (freelance consulting gubbins) and that would pay for far more vegetables than I could grow in a year.

For me, growing regular beetroot and onions and carrots and potatoes that I can get at Tesco isn't really worth the bother. Those are the cheapest part of my shopping, anyway. So I have worked out over the years what grows well in my particular location that would be expensive or hard to find and I focus on that. I try a few new things every year but my standard collection includes broccoli raab (AKA rapini, an italian green that's amazing on pizza or in pasta), mizuna (Japanese leafy green), raspberries, strawberries, beetroot and carrots in unusual colours, big white German radishes, asparagus, rhubarb (forced under a couple of buckets so it's bright bright pink and tender), and I always try for artichokes even though they only really work out half the time.

I planted 3 raspberry 10 years ago, they send out runners and expand every year, I now have two raised beds full and they are very prolific, also very expensive to buy. I've had no joy with carrots or tomatoes so given up on them but lettuce, rocket, perpetual spinach, beans and peas all seem to grow without much attention and potatoes are delicious. I've planted a couple of gooseberries last year too, unfortunately birds stripped them clear one night as I was waiting for them to reach peak ripeness so I'd advice netting over soft fruits, I have a kind of netted tent that fits one of the raised beds. 🍒🍓

Just seen you ask for what ti grow. I have no green fingers but these seem to be thriving in my garden: raspberries, redcurrants, strawberries, pears, greengage plums, bay leaves, chives, sage , mint, parsley, apples., crab apples. Gonna add an apricot tree and pumpkins and courgettes this year.

I grow veg, but space is limited, so I don't bother with cheap-to-buy stuff like potatoes and carrots. Courgettes (pick them as babies if you're worried about getting overwhelmed) and cucumbers give a great return, and garlic is fun, since you can harvest them, dry and plait them together to use through the winter. Tomatoes are patchy, but an excellent chutney ingredient for all the green/misshapen ones.

Herbs are great (buying fresh herbs is expensive, the supermarket pots always die and I end up chucking away half of the cut packs). I think they are the only thing that actually save me money.

Think about what you'd most like to eat - I long for asparagus, but it takes several years to show a return. Or what you can process into long lasting products. An apple tree will give you all the dried apple rings you could ever want, soft fruits can be made into liqueurs, etc. Tbh, I think it's hard to actually save money on buying veg, once you've factored in time,dealing with pests, stuff failing, etc, but you can have lovely fresh stuff, make nice treats to share and give as gifts and maybe break even if you're lucky.

Jeff/Geoff Hamilton wrote a good book on this. I think it was called ' The cottage vegetable garden'. My copy has long since disappeared but it did give some good tips about pairing edibles and flowers.

What about an espalier for your apple tree(s)? Really reduces the land take whilst upping output

Came on here to read people telling you how magic mushrooms are illegal to grow in this country but you insisting anyway.

I'm not sure if I'm disappointed or relieved 😌

Sorry this is sort of off topic but someone mentioned that the supermarket herbs in the plastic pots always die - this is because there are approximately eleven thousand plants in each pot, which is way too crowded for long term survival. They are absolutely fucking DOUSED in fertiliser to get them big and bushy but that only gets them so far. If you do want them to live on, take them out of the pot, gently pull all the separate plants apart, and choose a few to replant. If it's basil, you don't even need to do that - just cut a few pieces and root them in a glass of water for a few days and then plant them out in well-draining soil.

You'll usually have luck with basil, rosemary, oregano, and thyme and mint of course but be careful about sticking that in your garden unless you want an ALL MINT GARDEN. Chives, coriander, parsley, and dill are a bit more delicate but still worth a try.

If you're looking primarily to save money, then concentrate upon soft fruit. Raspberries, blueberries, strawberries etc.