South facing raised beds

Hilary9

What could we grow in south facing raised beds here in dry Norfolk as water buts not giving enough to keep the vegetables normally grown here enough. Anything considered, thanks 

Allotment Boy

Growing veg, when the water butt runs dry, I turn on the tap, it's the only way. 

Plantminded

Mediterranean herbs like basil, oregano, rosemary, sage and thyme would do well.  If you'd like flowers, lavender and nepeta are other options.  They'll all need to be watered regularly during their first growing season while the roots get established. 

AnniD

I think @Dovefromabove is near your area, perhaps she can advise 

Dovefromabove

Thank you @AnniD .... yes we're not that far away and garden on very free-draining gritty loam.  We enjoy growing our own vegetables and in years like this we have no alternative but to use the hose now that the butts are empty. 

We currently grow salads, tomatoes, courgettes, winter squash, runner beans, broad beans and Swiss chard, and sometimes broccoli and cavalo nero too.   However my daughter @WonkyWomble , with an eye to the future as I get older, has suggested that we start an asparagus bed ... we know it's happy in this sort of soil, there's not a lot of physical work through the year once the bed is planted, and the main demand for water comes in the spring when there's usually more of it around ... and we still get the thrill of 'growing our own food' which is important to us ... and we do love asparagus.  

So that's the next project here ... 

Hilary9

Thanks for this, thought I had replied but obviously not! Will follow up on the Beth Chatto route so thanks for that tip too. 

StephenSouthwest

I've noticed that the chick peas are more drought resilient in the dry raised bed. A bit marginal for harvest though - 2 or 3 chick peas per plant!

I've taken to deep mulching, which I scrape back if there's any rain.

Hilary9

Thanks for this, think we may all be thinking differently going forward now as it becomes much drier. Lots to consider .