A blank canvas

[anarchistinslippers]

Hello all, hope you're all well..

I've recently had a chat with a neighbour about gardening. She's, I'm guessing, 60 odd or so and simply doesn't have the ability to do much herself. I told her about my interest in gardening, self-sufficiency and so on, and how we're limited in what we can do as we only have a tiny strip of ground and a whole lot of patio. We have several pots and growbags on the go at the moment, and have tomatoes, (a few) carrots, sunflowers, irises, rocket and mint (as well as various other flowers) growing nicely and today I bought some courgette seeds.

Basically, she has extremely generously let us use her front garden (which until I gave it a bloody good kicking to this afternoon was overgrown with weeds and clogged with stones and masonry) to grow pretty much whatever we want. It's a patch about 2 metres square. I will obviously run everything by her before planting anything and am more than happy to give her a share of whatever we do grow. The soil here is rather sticky and clay-ish.

Question is.. what DO we grow?!

Emily has warned me that it shouldn't be anything edible, as people are likely to pinch whatever it is. I guess she has a point, as we are one one of the main roads of the village. I would like to grow a few things tho, some things pretty, some things practical (herbs, for example) Any ideas? Ta very much!

[becks77]

What great news and a fab idea to share the land well done you. We have grown edible stuff in our front garden and it has been mainly ignored and we are on the main drag to the local primary, so if you feel you can grow what you like and enjoy. Clay soil can be got round or put in raised beds perhaps,........

[Green Aura]

Maybe you could combine attractive and edible - things like beans (dwarf ones unless her windows are very high ) also asparagus is beautiful and courgettes form that really pretty umbrella with big yellow flowers - and the courgettes are not that visible as they usually get hidden by the leaves.

[Bev_B]

Not sure if its too late to plant potatoes but I'd put some in the back as I can't see people would go digging up someones garden for them.

[anarchistinslippers]

Some nice ideas guys and dolls. Thank you!

[Peggy Sue]

Potaotes would be a good idea, help to break up the soil a bit and give you a nice start for next year. Gooseberies are not too nickable, people don't like the thorns and they are happy in clay (mine is anway )

[happy place]

maybe some rasberrys as mine dont seem to mind the clay but i supose they are a bit tempting to pop one in your month as you pass by so if reach able from the road they may disapear