In the Garden

I've spent a lot of time over the past few weeks working away in the garden.  As you will recall, I have been making a new vegetable garden and I thought today would be a good time to reflect on all that I have done.

I'm turning a piece of meadow into the garden and have created about 19 new beds.  All the beds are about 7m x 1.2m (24ft x 4ft). The ground is heavy clay so I have had to do a lot of amendment mainly adding in sand and compost.

The site has the provision for another 11 beds which might get added next year.....

The layout of the garden is pretty straight forward. It occupies a square piece of land running roughly north west/ south east.   There are 4 corner beds, each quadrant shaped.  On the west side there are two beds run together to form one long bed, running at right angles to the main beds.  Apart from those, the rest of the beds are in rows of 3 beds running lengthwise.

Of the 19 beds, 18 have been prepared leaving just one bed still to make. More sand and more compost......

I have also been planting these beds extensively over the past couple of weeks.

At this moment, I have perennial beds planted with Asparagus, Rhubarb, Artichokes, Red Currant, Raspberries and Hazelnuts.  The quadrant shaped corner beds have been planted with shrubs to attract birds and insects, some evergreen and some deciduous, Bay, Cotoneaster, Kerria, Thyme, Flowering Currant, etc.

Here's a list of the vegetables already planted

Spunta Potato Binjte Potato Lollo Rosso Lettuce Joy's Cos Lettuce Oakleaf Lettuce Chicory Radish Bok Choy Ian's Red Cherry Tomato Sturon Onions Lillia Red Salad Onions Spring Onions Borlotto Beans

 

I also have lots of seedlings ready to be planted, including

Charentais Melon Queensland Blue Pumpkin Purple Ukraine Tomato Veeroma Tomato Golden Sunrise Tomato Capsicum Yellow Cornos Capsicum Kaibi Round Cavolo Nero Kale

 

 

In the herb garden this year I have

Bay Basil Chervil Coriander Dandelion Dill Hyssop Flat Leaf Parsley Garden Mint Peppermint Sage and something called aillette in France.....maybe a wild garlic.

 

Last year's vegetable garden is still in operation and has

fennel red cabbage Broccoli several varieties of Garlic Salad Onions Leeks Broad Beans and three varieties of Strawberries

and finally, I still have some seeds to sow, mainly beans cucumbers, melons and peas.

I think I'm likely to remain busy for a few more days yet....I'm so pleased that when Kate was here helping me get started on this project she insisted on having a table and chairs right in the middle of the garden