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Home grown fruit/veg suggestions please

Chris

So I have heard the reports that meat is high on the carbon footprint scale, although I believe chicken isn't sooo bad.

But I also received an email from an online 'heritage butcher' that I've used before. The owner is starting a campaign called 'Save our Season', to try and lobby for a seasonality tax. The idea being, we pay x for British Asparagus, and y (which is nigh on the same) for imported asparagus, when British isn't in season. I say asparagus... I do use lidls as well as waitrose... Laughing

But this got me thinking... his aim was it would promote reduced food miles, seasonal eating and quality/welfare. He also suggested that the commonly published footprints for various meats aren't what they appear... as they take into account the average food miles as well as cow farts...?

I'm not anticipating getting any livestock, but I am wondering how much of our veg I can grow myself?

Has anyone got some suggestions for useful things to grow? (That are legal!) I'm going to have another go at Trinidad Perfume Chilli's, and I've got a good stock of Red Bull sweet pepper seeds from the last couple of years. But trying to think of some more things to grow, in particular (but not limited to) those that tend to be imported (?)

I'm also tempted to have another go at growing mushrooms, but probably from a proper kit rather than grain spawn like I did last year...

Parents

  • Hello Chris,

    When I first got a garden, I wondered what to grow and thought it would be sensible to go for something expensive. So, I planted one of my favourites...... asparagus. Great!  I thought, but I had to wait about five years before I got anything edible, and then it was hit and miss for a few years.... and then, alas, nothing.

    A previous gardener had left me an enourmous and extremely productive rhubarb patch, but  I just can't stand the stuff, so that had to go. It was disgusting!

    On a more positive note, I decided to plant a fig tree. It took several years to fruit but I now pick fresh figs most summers. My only problem is the wasps, they really seem to enjoy a fig feast,  the little $%&@s.

    Happy growing,

    Ben

  • in reply to Ben

    Hi Ben,

    Yes, I've heard about the Asparagus issue, someone I know has taken years to cultivate a patch in his garden, and they have been hit and miss in the last couple of years, he says due to weather??

    My grandparents had a double plot allotment between them, well into their 80's! As well as a large chunk of a 0.5 acre garden dedicated as a veg plot. They were keen on their rhubarb (as well as the basics like runner beans) but I wasn't a fan of it either!

    Interesting to get the heads up on fig trees! I've currently got a grape vine growing up against my parents shed in a 35L bucket that acts as a large pot... I'm now wondering if maybe this isn't the greatest idea, as if it ever fruits, could make accessing the shed... interesting...

    Is there anything else you grow?

    I've been looking at a few websites (although from the links below you'd think I stayed on one site!!!) for seed and planting ideas. My list seems to be constantly changing, but I am particularly looking at the following plants (links the potential varieties):

    - Peppers (I've got some sweet pepper seeds from my last two Red Bull f1 crops, and some Trinidad Perfume Chilli Pepper Seeds I have left from an attempt last year)

    - Cherry Tomatoes (https://www.premierseedsdirect.com/product/tomato-cherry-artisan-pink-tiger-new/?attribute_pa_seed-count=10)

    - Red/Purple Spring Onions (https://www.premierseedsdirect.com/product/purple-spring-onion-lilia/)

    - Lambs Lettuce (https://www.premierseedsdirect.com/product/corn-salad-vit-lambs-lettuce-organic/?attribute_pa_size=2gm)

    - (Probably) A perpetual Spinach

    - Salsify (https://www.premierseedsdirect.com/product/salsify-sandwich-island/)

    - Samphire (https://www.mr-fothergills.co.uk/Samphire-Seeds_1)

    I'm also pondering lettuces and other bits. I may be moving at some point early this year though, escaping the parents house (again...) so I'm torn between starting off what I could do with planting, but doing so in buckets/tubs/trays, or waiting. My pepper harvest this year was very small due to a late start! I got 3 peppers, which I harvested in December having moved them indoors)

    Sorry for the essay,

    Chris

Reply Children
  • in reply to Chris

    Chris, you're very ambitious with your salad vegetables, which have never really been my thing, with the exeption of rocket.

    As I'm getting a bit older and slightly disabled I have had to ease back on the heavy work, so have trees, shrubs and a few flowers - large ones like giant poppies and seven-feet tall foxgloves. They can be fun as they attract a large number of bees, much more beautiful creatures than the aforementioned  wasps around the fig tree.

    Ben