Anyone growing veg northern scotland?

[Ovalina]

Are there any people trying to grow food way up north? What sort do you grow and what do you not bother with?

I grow garlic really well up here, but onions and shallots don't seem to do well at all. I have the space to grow lots of asparagus but am not sure if will survive - anyone grow asparagus?

We have great carrots, potatoes, swede all the brassicas and legumes. Leeks can bolt as does celeriac.

[Green Aura]

Hi Ovalina, whereabouts are you? We're in north-west Sutherland but have only been here just over a year so last year was our first effort.

Our neighbours, however, seem to grow just about everything, with protection from high fences. We've started a hedge to provide some protection from the wind - that seems to be the biggest problem. And we've got a polytunnel, much to their amusement. It's stood up to the winds thus far

Runner beans seem to be particularly difficult - something to do with the winds. But this year we'll try them in the polytunnel. Our carrots didn't do particularly well - but that might be down to us.

We're still lush with kale and brussel sprouts - I'm going to have to pull them out before they're finished at this rate.

[Ovalina]

Oh hi Maggie, I must put my location on my avatar! Yes we're plagued with strong winds. I wouldnt attempt to grow runnerbeans outside yet - the windbreak is establishing itself albeit slowly.

We had amazing mangetouts and climbing french beans in the polyt. last year - didn't manage to grow any kale as all my seeds blew away the year before

We're still pulling carrots and neaps and eating tatties from store.

I suppose its a bit farfetched expecting asparagus to grow isnt it really?

[Green Aura]

Hope not, Ovalina. I'm planning my asparagus hedge for next year! Although it may be more of an asparagus carpet as where I want it gets 80+ mph winds fairly regularly.

[Ovalina]

An asparagus hedge eh? Now I'm intruiged. Which variety do you grow Maggie, was it from seed or crown?

Just looked at your ww - holistic therapies how lovely! I'm trying to go all natural as well. Have been a bit of a herbalist myself for years.

[Birdie Wife]

Hi Ovalina,
I'm about the same latitude as Green Aura but I don't have a polytunnel sadly. I haven't been brave enough to try asparagus but I grow all the same things as you - my onions haven't been too bad though, but some are suffering from an unidentified soil pest which means they don't store very well (tatties too). I also grow broad bens and peas very successfully, though they probably need sapcing further apart than recommended as most of the peas succumbed to mildew last summer. Soft fruit does really well under a net - blackcurrants and raspberries especially.

[Green Aura]

We tried it at our old house in Manchester - asparagus crowns bought from the farmers market. We only had it a couple of years so only harvested a few spears the second year but it grew to a nice feathery break between two parts of the garden It was really pretty. Then we had the garden landscaped and he chucked it all out!

[Ovalina]

Well I don't think I could manage without my polytunnel, I know they're incredibly expensive for a bit of plastic but we think its the best investment we've ever made.

I've ordered two different asparagus varieties, one early which will be grown in the PT and a mid to late season will be grown in a sheltered area. I'll let you know how they develop.

Just taken delivery of some jerusalem artichoke tubers, which I'm keen to try as well.