What can I plant now to make my vegetable patch look like it's used

[VenturaMabel]

Wonder if you can help me.

I began, like many others, as a lockdown gardener, full of enthusiasm. Unfortunately that enthusiasm didn't last long and my vegetable patch is now bare. I have weeded it though.

Problem is I'm putting house on the market next month and would like to make my abandoned vegetable patch appear used and interesting.

Are there things I could plant now to quickly transform it?

For something quick and easy, not requiring much effort to tend, I would switch to fruit. Plant dwarf/ miniature fruit trees such as apple, pear, plum; and fruit bushes such as gooseberry, raspberry, thornless blackberries. It's the right time of year for planting them. Nearer to April, add some strawberry plants.

brambleberries great name and excellent suggestion. Hadn't considered fruit

Agree with some fruit bushes and some strawberries maybe. I would also put up a couple of cane wigwams that can be used to support beans later in the year as will add some height .

I wouldn't spend loads of money on fruit trees for a garden when you are about to sell up. It's winter and gardens are generally bare at this time of year. Just leave it. An empty bit of garden wouldn't put me off a house.

Purple sprouting broccoli this time of year would look in place and like a nice used veg patch

Great book called 'veg in one bed' it is great for helping know what to plant when!

Best thing would be to dig it over and keep it clear of weeds. Make it look ready for use.

if you want to throw some money at it, then a row of strawberries and a row of brassica seedlings (netted against pigeons preferably).

Remember the people you sell to will probably pull everything out and turn it into lawn. Or decking. Or put a home office there. Or a trampoline. They won’t value the garden for the same reasons as you.

Some very good points. All responses much appreciated

Put up a twin row of bamboo canes, growing runner beans for the use of.

Dig it and pop some nicely done labels in! What about a herb at the end of each row...

We use that too! It has diagrams of what to plant when

I'd love to see an empty veg bed ready for use.

Rhubarb (just coming up now, so you can buy some in the garden centre) and some evergreen herbs, rosemary, bay and thyme.

If you can find broad bean plants in the garden centre it’s the right time for those to go in.

Broad beans are super hardy so if in garden centre will survive any coming cold weather. You could put in some dormant fruit such as raspberry canes and strawberries. Garlic plugs could go in. Onion sets could go in. Kale should be ready to go out. Swiss chard will survive frosts. Basically go to the garden centre and see what they have as if they have it it’s usually for going out now.
good luck!

I'd be happy that t just looked weeded & ready to use!

Just having a few beds that are clear of weeds and ready for planting will make you look like a serious gardener. I don't know where you are in the country, but if you don't have a buyer quite soon, you could plant some first early potatoes in the next few weeks. Also perhaps some early carrots and broad beans and maybe some salad. You won't need much to make it look like you're actively growing something. Don't spend a lot if you're actively selling. Look upon it as selling a potential garden. As long as its relatively weed free, you can leave the rest to the buyer's imagination.

I bought my house in winter with a bare veg patch and bare flower beds (previous owner only planted annuals for some reason). To me this was a bonus as I got a blank slate. I also wouldn't pay for fruit trees in a house you are leaving

I think the bean canes are a good idea but apart from that not much is going to grow much at this time of year (we had heavy frost last night). Although if you are eg in London maybe the potatoes would come through.
But you could make rows using a hoe maybe 3 inches deep and 8inches apart. Then it looks like something grows there.

I would buy a few herb pots in the supply and put them in the ground. Rosemary, thyme and sage should survive fine. Very low cost and doesn't matter if the next person wants to rip it all up. Most things are dormant or look very tatty at this time of year.

Just dig it over and leave it empty and tidy. I’d be very happy with that as a buyer.

Same here. Fruit trees would be of no interest.

How large is the bed?

Herbs - rosemary, bay, etc. and call it a herb garden so it sounds fancy and desirable.

As a gardener a well weeded veg patch is plenty. Don't go to any effort. It's obvious the new resident can plant what they like.

All your comments are much appreciated. Will make it tidy and create the illusion that things are growing.

Blueberry bushes have lovely blossom, they don't grow too fast so you could always dig them up when you move too.