Turning back garden into veg patch

[GinAndOnIt]

We've got quite a big space in the front garden which we're slowly clearing/transforming, and just a small garden out back.

We had planned a big veg patch out the front like next door but we're now thinking of turning the entire back lawn into the veg patch and keeping the front for the mature trees and borders. Is this a silly idea?

It's a raised grass area, with a small wall in front and a few steps going up to it in the middle from a small patio area. We have a table on the patio area, and don't use the grass area at all.

The back garden is also south facing, so does get the best sun. So I was thinking we could create a path (just a mown strip probably) from the steps to the back of the garden, and grow veg either side. Then it would be close to the kitchen too, which makes a lot of sense.

The only thing I'm worried about is what it will look like in winter - what do your veg plots look like? Will we just be looking at a big pile of soil for months?

I suppose that doesn't really matter, because we mostly have views of the front garden when we're sat inside, and we could pretty up the patio with pots or something maybe.

It just seems a bit extreme to dig up a whole lawn - would we be mad to do it?

I think you have to decide for yourself if you love it , and it fits in. Would taking it out unbalance the rest ? You are of course seeing the garden as is, rather than what it would be IYSWIM, so it can be quite hard to envisage.
Yes pine needles gradually acidify the soil, and it is probably very dry under there too . If its an old established one, its roots will be pulling the water from a distance. There is not much which will grow under that.

In my mind, I feel the garden will be really unbalanced, because one side of the path will be trees, and the other side low borders. But actually, maybe I need to think of our gardens as one big one - so trees on the outer edge either side, and our own borders in the middle. Just with the fence through the middle. Hmmm. I'll have to just see how it looks once the other stuff has gone.

In other news, my sweet pea seeds seem to have failed spectacularly! I planted them for overwintering and kept them warm, two seedlings appeared, and died the same day. I think perhaps they are a little too tricky for me yet

So near to finishing, and yet so far! I'm not sure what to do with the end bit at the wide end.. I don't really want it going all the back behind the juniper, so shall I just sort of make a soft slopey line towards the juniper to 'finish' it?

Have done this to it for now, does that look okay? Just a sort of curve into the juniper. Not that I'll ever really look back there once it's planted up.

That looks okay I think - have you left it wide enough to mow the grass, otherwise you may have problems, thats all. I would definitely leave the pine tree until all your planting is done and settled in. You cannot replant it once it is out ! You have been busy today ( I , on the other hand have not - been out gadding!)

NDN strims that part for us so cutting grass won't be a problem :)

How is it going Gin ?

Hi book sorry for the delay in replying!

We had a great productive weekend over the 5th November weekend, and the front is looking so much better.

The border has been completely dug, and I've started moving plants from the back down to the front. Had a lovely David Austin rose off DP as a birthday present so that will be put in the border too. We have planted most of the bulbs too, but still have a few that need putting in (we are a bit late now but never mind)

DP has also done a lot of hedge trimming, so the garden generally looks a lot tidier. He worked so hard over that weekend so now I just need to get on with digging the back garden!

Wow, gin, what a transformation! You must be so pleased. You'll really see it burst into life in spring.

I love the idea of GinDog watching you both work! Bet those piles of turf are interesting!

When you say 'watching us both work' I presume you mean 'watching DP work while I stand around and nag'

The turf was DP's least favourite job. My fault for not moving it as I dug, and leaving a huge pile instead. Hence the use of forklift in the background

Of course, it's all full of leaves again now, but I fell over twice in the garden this weekend so am now resting (again!) and I'll have a day of clearing again next week.

Can I put in a good word about swiss chard please. I love it. Rocket is good too. And Kale survives winter. These are so expensive to buy but easy to grow.

Oooo yes I love the look of chard! I need to start thinking of what veg to plant out back, so I'm not totally overwhelmed with it all come Spring.

Chard is fabulous. The green and white stuff is the toughest when it comes to cold, but the red stuff is more beautiful. It makes me happy to see that colour over the winter - not many other things are deep, deep red. I also love the crinkliness of cavelo nero kale. Especially when it is frosted. It just looks lovely.

You might be able to get away with sowing some broad beans now gin, if you're after something to put into your veg garden. You only get a short head start over ones planted in the spring, but one advantage is that they fix nitrogen for you over the winter and stop nutrients leaching out of the soil.

shove you sound just like DP - he's always going on about beans and nitrogen

Morning Gin - that is looking impressive!- And the casual - oh thats a forklift in the background
How lovely to get a rose too - I hear the David Austen ones praised all the time.
Agree with shove on broad beans !

Nitrogen fixation is amazing, though! All those bobbly nodules on the roots!