Focus on… Planning the plot
DECIDING what fruit, veg and herbs you’re going to grow on your plot this year is the most exciting part of having an edible garden. But making a list of what you like and then shoehorning it in willy-nilly is just setting yourself up for disappointment. We know that ornamentals such as rudbeckias enjoy the sun, rhododendrons need acid soil, and clematis like cool roots – but what do our edible crops thrive on? This is where savvy planning is essential.
A place for everything
Fruit, veg and herbs have their preferred growing conditions, just like ornamental plants do. Head gardeners of estates years gone by would assess their walled kitchen gardens, then plant accordingly. Identify your warm sun-traps and place heat-loving tomatoes, chillies, sweet peppers and
