Growing for one person ?

dooozie2000

Hi all..
I currently live alone and have started to fancy the idea of growing some veg and/or fruit. I'd hate for there to be much waste so, Im looking for ideas on what I could grow that wouldn't yield too much. Ideally something I could pick for at least few weeks. I have a decent size garden but I'm thinking of growing in pots at the moment. I'm guessing its too late in the year to start now ? The only gardening I have done is cut my grass and water hanging baskets.

Thanks.

didyw

I recommend you try rocketgardens.co.uk.  You can buy veg in plugs that you can then plant into your containers or prepared veg patch.  This will enable you to have just a few veggies of different varieties according to your taste without all the faff of sowing seed, transplanting etc.

JennyJ

You could sow salad leaves, beet, rocket etc to cut small for baby leaves, once this very hot spell is over (lettuce in particular doesn't germinate well when it's this hot). Sow a pot every 2 or 3 weeks for continuity. A couple of weeks ago I was in Wilko and what's left of the seeds were marked down so I bought several packets which will keep me going for the rest of the summer easily. There's probably time for radishes if you like those.

For next year, many tomato varieties ripen their fruit gradually over a couple of months (not the ones developed for commercial use like Roma, which tend to ripen all at once for easier harvesting). A couple of raspberry canes are giving me a handful or so every few days at the moment (they're young so I think they'll do better in future). If you want to grow new potatoes in pots/bags you can stagger the planting so they aren't ready all at once. If you like courgettes, one plant in a big container should give you plenty for one person.

WonkyWomble

Or you could donate surplus to a local food Bank or soup kitchen, also a good way to meet kind like minded folk. 

Loxley

Second the idea of growing salad leaves; it's really convenient to pop out to grab a few leaves whenever you need to rustle up a salad. Far better than the slowly browning iceberg lettuce in the fridge drawer

Dovefromabove

If you know someone nearby in a similar situation you can grow beans and they can grow peas … you grow tomatoes and they grow cucumbers etc … then you can swap. 

scroggin

WonkyWomble said:

Or you could donate surplus to a local food Bank or soup kitchen, also a good way to meet kind like minded folk. 

@WonkyWomble, have food banks starting taking fresh produce, we've found they wouldn't take ours. Even a Care home at the end of the road wouldn't take anything as they couldn't guarantee provenance!
Luckily we have plenty of neighbours who are grateful for any excess 😊

scroggin

If you are looking to grow in pots then, if you like them, blueberries are a good idea, just remember to use ericaceous compost. 

Chris-P-Bacon

Try veg that you can leave in the ground - stuff like kale, turnips or beetroot or even Swede if you have room. Or perhaps things you can freeze easily - dwarf French beans.
You can sow these now & get a crop - all bar the French beans will last into winter (the kale will last into Spring with luck)

Allotment Boy

scroggin said:

WonkyWomble said:

Or you could donate surplus to a local food Bank or soup kitchen, also a good way to meet kind like minded folk. 

@WonkyWomble, have food banks starting taking fresh produce, we've found they wouldn't take ours. Even a Care home at the end of the road wouldn't take anything as they couldn't guarantee provenance!
Luckily we have plenty of neighbours who are grateful for any excess 😊

Someone from our Allotments takes surplus to a food bank they are happy to take it apparently.  I don't know which one it is. 

Allotment Boy

I agree about growing salads. It's not too late for some French beans, climbing ones blue lake or dwarf,  ones, look on back of pack for sowing dates. Many garden centres,  sell strips of small veg plants. More expensive than sowing seed but will give you a head start.