A very exciting day but more guidence needed

[redwellybluewelly]

I've posted before about trying to get out derelict garden under control, I've a preschooler and new baby and feel completely overwhelmed with the sheer amount of work needed before I can even begin to look at planting schemes!

Anyway. We finally found a gardening team willing to come and help, they are going to do a big blitz (theres two of them) over several days, and then a regular slot. They are happy for my DH (and me when children allow) to labour alongside them and they even complimented me on my garden plan. The aim is to have the bare bones of the garden done by October with planting taking place in spring.

So. My questions for MN gardeners are;
If you were planting an edible courtyard in pots and containers what would you plant? I'd like colour and scent as well as useful edibles! We already do it to some degree with a few chives, herbs, tomatoes, patio courgette but I'd like to make it better.

Another area will be a sensory garden with different textures, scents and colours for a child that puts everything in her mouth so need plants to be non toxic of possible. I.e. no berries. Any ideas or resources for this section would be very gratefully received as although we won't plant up until spring next year if I can buy smaller plants now and nurture them for a year we'll save money.

I'm really excited.

it is exciting

Peas, mange tout, salad, chives, sage, thyme, figs, raspberries, 'edible flowers' nasturtium, some roses,

homecooking.about.com/library/weekly/blflowers.htm
www.thompson-morgan.com/edible-flowers
theedibleflowershop.co.uk/

That sounds lovely. I was late starting them off this year but am having success now with French beans, courgettes and cucumber, covering steps outside the kitchen door. They are in pots called Autopots which are self watering and make things really easy, though expensive to buy at first.

There is gong to be a fair bit of watering if you're growing edibles in pots so think about putting in sme water butts and have an outside tap to make things as easy as possible. Strawberries and blueberries (ericaceous soil) would be good too.