Inspired to Garden Small

A couple of years ago I picked up a gardening book, Creative Vegetable Gardening, and ever since I have been enthralled by the prospect of one day developing my own potager. Living in rented accommodated like many Londoners poses specific challenges to creating a great garden space. How long will I live there? What will my landlord allow you to change? What is your budget? How much time do you have?

When we moved into our first terraced home last spring one of the first things I did was develop a small garden patch. Though it was already late in the planting season I was not discouraged. I selected vegetables and herbs that could be planted late (radishes, lettuces, carrots, basil, parsley, spring onions, spinach, beetroot) and bought seedlings for many others (beans, cucumber, corn, cabbage, pepper and tomato).

Though I still have a few edibles in the ground the growing season has about come to a close and it is time to assess and plan. I have already begun planning an expansion to the garden and selecting the vegetable, fruit and herb varieties for next year. Cabbages are a definite no for me as they take up valuable garden real estate, require too much maintenance and provide a meagre crop. More cucumbers will be grown as they are a real hit with the children. Aubergine is a beautiful plant and will be given a proper early start to enable it to prosper.