Veg Patch Help Please
Tom Shaw
Posts: 1
Hello
I need some help with my vegetable patch. It is about 3' wide and 20' long but is situated next to my neighbour's fence behind which are 2 leylandii trees.
These trees as you might expect are taking most of the nutrients and water away from the plot. I have tried adding homemade and multipurpose compost to the plot but it hasn't made much difference.
Anything anyone can advise or should I give it up as a bad job? If not veg anything else anyone can advise to grow in the space.
0
Posts
No need to give it up as a bad job, if people can garden in balconies on skyscrapers, im sure we can get this to work
you could dig a trench along the fence line and then line it with a fabric that the roots can't get thru, and if that 'accidentally' kills the leylandii all the better.
Hi Tom, I know how much of a problem this can be. A couple of suggestions that do work:
Go for raised beds as suggested by Edd but before you put them onto the soil, put down a heavy duty weed suppressant fabric. Then fill the beds with new top soil (yes, it's a faff but it will be worth it).
With 20 feet length you could easily get 4 raised beds which would give you a 'crop rotation' plot. Before planting in the 1st season just use a general fertilizer like 'Growmore'. Keep the beds well watered throughout the growing season.
Secondly, grow veg like carrots and parsnips in square pots (the bigger the better). I always grow mine like this despite having room in the veg plot. If you grow them in 75/25 sand to soil you'll get great results - no splitting. Pak choi and lettuce also work well in pots.
Don't give up on the veg as nearly all gardens have their issues and most can be resolved with a bit of thought. Good luck with the new season!