Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!
Growing edibles in our front gardens
Picking this up from another thread, I'm really interested in the front garden growing project that Hugh posted about here. Looks brilliant. Anyone up for anything similar here?
I'm having a go at peas and beans in mine if I ever get the seeds to germinate and thinking of tomatoes too. I've already got rocket going on the windowsill and herbs, but its time to get more adventurous I think after reading this blog. I noticed a neighbour in my street has got some of those growing sacks and some beans started off and walking down a Ladder street (only I can't remember which one) someone has started a veg patch. Last year, I saw courgettes in Pemberton Road. Come on, anything Islington can do, we can do...too, can't we?
Hugh has offered to put me in touch with Nicolette which I'd be interested to do if there were a few of us who were up for it.
What do people think?
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by hob on
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I cannot help thinking that after your hard work someone might think what a decent person you are and take the produce. With the recent metal thefts it may be sensible to plant something low in iron like cauliflowers or broccoli.
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Permalink Reply by Liz on
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They might, but on the other hand, there's money in metal but little joy to be had from a broad bean or a pea. Not when Iceland do a bag of them for a pound, boil for 3 mins.
Anyway, they've made a go of it in Blackstock Road so that might be one of things to ask them about.
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It would be fantastic if it was possible. I suppose I am getting cynical in my old age. I certainly know there is no comparison between peas straight from the pod and those imposters hiding in Iceland's fridge.
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Permalink Reply by pamish on
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When my veg box was robbed they only took potatoes and tomatoes, and left the weird things like jerusalem artichokes, so that could be an answer. They also stole a whole box of Seville oranges and I delight in the thought of them handing them out to their little starving children and then the faces of the little ones as they bit into the bitterest fruit known to womankind...
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Permalink Reply by JulieB on
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I seem to have collected quite a few seeds recently, from the innocent smoothie drinks I buy for my son and from eating at Wahaca which give you a little pack of seeds with your bill. I've been wondering where I could put them in our tiny garden so the front garden might be an idea. However we don't have soil at the front, do you think pots or window boxes would work?
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Leaves like rocket, lettuce etc and herbs will grow in window boxes. Big pots do work and you can do potatoes in sacks. My peas/nasturtiums/three cornered leeks seem happier being shoved in an old nappy bucket with some soil than the ones I tried carefully nurturing in pots. I'd say shove 'em in a grow bag and see what happens.
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Permalink Reply by Alison P on
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I'm trying potatoes out front in these special bags you can use - like big pots but fold up to nothing when you aren't using them.
There is that risk of getting stuff nicked - what has worked for me are using large v heavy containers and not having anything too delicate over hanging the wall ..
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Julie - we have concrete everywhere in our front garden but have planted loads in containers. Bigger the better, helps reduce the amount of watering and the likelihood of things being nicked!
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Permalink Reply by Christopher Fowler on
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Alison - We used to have concrete in the front garden too. I broke it up with a 4lb club hammer. Hard work but very satisfying.
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Permalink Reply by linka on
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We have the same problem.
Did you have any issues avoiding gas/water pipes?
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No - the concrete is about 3-4 inches thick (10cm or less) and the pipes are about 2-3 feet down (about 60-80cm). In fact, removing the concrete makes any access to pipes like that easier in the future. Also, you don't have to use a club hammer, of course. I used it because it was the most I could manage. A strong person might manage a sledgehammer, and, of course, you could get in a couple of workiemen with a pneumatic drill and they'd get it done in a day. And as to the concrete rubble, two options: hit it long enough with a hammer and it breaks down into sand and grit (which you can use to lighten up our heavy clay soil); or, just dig out big holes and bury it - it improves the drainage no end.
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Permalink Reply by Karin on
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I'd be interested Liz. I've been following Naomi and Nicolette's blog for a while. It's really interesting.
I've got tomatoes, herbs, zucchinio (fancy pants me!) strawberries, gooseberries and lettuces on the go. All veggies are small and in window boxes at the moment but I've got reusable grow bags to put them in later on.
There's a lady on Cavendish Road who grew loads last year including sweetcorn. I have a picture somewhere, will find it and post.
I have got quite a few spare seeds if anyone is interested.
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