Vegetables for a small plot

[shouldbe]

I have a box in the garden about 4 x 3ft and only about a foot deep which I would like to plant some veg in with the kids but is that going to be possible in such a small, shallow space? Never grown anything other than tomatoes before and am clueless. Any advice welcome
TIA

We have 3 garden troughs where we grow vegetables. Last year we grew courgettes (sp) which are great and really easy to grow. You could also plant butternut squash around the edge and let them trail over. We also grew spring onions in our troughs last year. They were delicious, but very strong!

Thanks Littlefish I like courgettes so they'd be great - never really eat butternut squash but it sounds good...what do you do with it? (sorry if being dim!)

We have converted out garden into veg plot - have planted:

radish
carrots
onions
rocket
swiss chard (ds2 chose it!)
beetroot
spring onions

We are growing strawberries and cherry tomatoes in pots/hanging baskets too.

Its a bit of an experiment tbh but they are growing madly already!

I would avoid things like pumpkins as they take over your garden and if not careful will grow over the house LOL

Ohhh, thanks Octo - we've got a pot for strawberries and someone else mentioned rocket to me as easy to grow so I'll add that to my list. I have such a small space my worry is that it simply won't be deep enough for plants to grow well enough...want to give it a go though, esp while the lo's are keen.

Butternut squash are delicious. You can just peel, chop and roast them with a bit of olive oil. They're yummy served with roast chicken.

Alternatively, you can roast them and then add them to risotto.

I put loads of veg (courgettes, squash, chopped onions, whole small tomatoes, augergine etc) in a roasting dish and then just roast them. Delicious with almost anything. I also blend loads and use it as a pasta sauce.

There is also a fabulous Jamie Oliver recipe for Butternut Squash stuffed with rice, sun dried tomatoes and I think, spring onions. Delicious.

That sounds yummy, littlefish - thanks

I have two 3' square veg plots and ds1 loves helping grow veg. I would recommend either a couple of runner bean plants or a couple of dwarf french bean plants as there is always the fun of searching to see if any of the beans are ready to pick yet.

Thanks Dozeynoo
Can most of these things be planted straight out or should I be borrowing some greenhouse space from somewhere? (told you I was clueless!)

get 5-6 reasonable size pots and put one sweetcorn plant in each - keep them in a group not a line (help pollination). Keep them well watered - if it is going to be a hot summer you should get a good crop - and kids love eating sweetcorn that they have picked themselves.

I start most things (other than carrots, parsnips and beetroot) in pots on my kitchen window. From there they get moved to the back bedroom window (its a bit cooler) for a couple of days and then out into the cold frame for a a couple of days before planting out.

I find things need to be a reasonable size before I submit them to the harsh conditions of the garden - cats, pigeons, slugs and children etc.

Great Must try to go to garden centre and get some seeds in the next day or tow and get sowing It sounds as though I may need to invest in a cold frame too...

those new seeds that come on a tape are brill (no thinning out)

ohhh - they sound great - will hunt out some of those

OK, have bought some seeds (courgettes, tomatoes, runner beans...think that was it...)and a small butternut squash plant ...oh, and some strawberries ..and some chives...lol, think that was it for now. Kids are excited (and so am I )
Will get them started over the weekend and find a space on a sunny window sill