Hello From an Elderly Gardner in Derbyshire

[imogen tate]

Guess I am the grandmother of you all.
Lived in London most of my life and had a large garden where I grew fruit and veg as well as having a pond and shrubs, flowers and a lawn. My therapy from a stressful job.
Moved up here on retirement and settled for a communal garden, which I tended but wasn`t able to grow fruit or veg in. My own small garden immediately got a pond!
I borrowed land from neighbours and paid rent with produce. Most successful time being when I grew 8+ varieties of veg for several years.
I put my success down to 6X and starter plants from Marshalls.
My back gave in before my enthusiasm.
5 years ago I moved into a bungalow with a back garden that slopes except for a flat area on which I have put four 1 metre square raised beds. I grow two varieties of early potatoes and a couple of other veg in them.
The drainage in the garden is terrible and an apple tree and a cherry tree that I put in died after one fruitful year, I still have an apple tree and a pear tree that never has any fruit.
I also try to grow tomatoes in a half size raised bed.
And of course I have established a pond.
Sorry to go on so.
Although 78 I am aware that what I know about gardening is really very little.

[Lesley Jay]

Hello Imogen!! Welcome to our forum - it's great to have you with us!!

Have you tried growing veg in containers as well as in the raised beds? It's really good to have some containers right outside the back door. Mine is sheltered and a sun trap in the mornings so courgettes grow just great.