About
OwnGrown is a site dedicated to the home vegetable gardener showing some of what can be achieved by anyone - even if there is space for only a couple of pots.
The information is based on climate conditions in central England. Some seeds are sown in pots inside (tomatoes, chillies etc) and then moved outside in May / June but, apart from that, everything is grown outside.
In general organic methods are used throughout the year and the aim is to be as self sufficient as possible.
Seeds from the last year’s crop are used the following year in some cases but most are bought
Compost bins provide all the required compost and the weekly clear out from the chicken house into the bins gives all the manure needed. Additionally, the 9′ sq chicken run is dug out to a depth of 4-6″ about twice a year and added to the vegetable garden. This is then replaced with wood ash, bark and anything else suitable leaving the chickens with a relatively mud free base when wet. This will rot down in time for the next clear out. Chickens are extremely easy to keep and very useful but keep them well away from your vegetables - they will eat many of them.
The vegetable garden is split into easily managed beds a little over 1.2m (4′) wide which means the whole bed is easily reached without ever having to walk on and therefore compress the soil. There are three beds about 6m (20′) long and another three about 8m (26′) long and a small bed for herbs alongside a hedge. This is the scene at the beginning of April with little showing except some Garlic on the right.
This is the same scene only three months later
How much you grow depends on the space available and much can be done with the smallest of areas or even some pots on a balcony, terrace or windowsill. Many plants can be grown in pots and also be attractive - particularly herbs but also tomatoes, chillies, peppers, aubergine.
Many beginners are too concerned about lack of knowledge, site suitability and similar things. One way or another something can be grown. This photo was my start in 1978 with absolutely no knowledge and a small city garden. Look hard and at the far end on the right are runner beans which produced large crops and lettuce, french beans, were grown at various stages on the left. The soil was rubbish - full of rubble etc - and the area was a little dark but somehow most things we tried worked - maybe not perfectly but still worked!