Best position for a vegetable patch
 

Hello everyone

I am new to gardening and new to this ng so apologies for the
elementary nature of this question.

My husband and I have recently moved to the Loire Valley in France and
we are lucky to have a spacious garden for the first time. We would
very much like to grow fruit and vegetables but don't really know
where to start.

I have bought some RHS books and I think I have a fair idea of how to
prepare my patch and sow my seeds. However, I don't really know where
to put my patch. We are lucky in that we have enough land to put the
patch wherever is best.

We are thinking of starting with a very small patch and we have bought
some lettuce seeds and seedlings to get ourselves started. We also
have some strawberry plants but I would like to eventually grow runner
beans, peppers, tomatoes etc.

I would say that the climate here is very much like the south of
England although the winters are slightly colder and the summers
slightly warmer. I have been reliably informed that we have had our
last frost but we have bought a polythene tunnel cloche just in case.

Any advice would be gratefully appreciated.

Many thanks

Jo

Best position for a vegetable patch
 

Jo wrote:
Hello everyone

I am new to gardening and new to this ng so apologies for the
elementary nature of this question.

My husband and I have recently moved to the Loire Valley in France and
we are lucky to have a spacious garden for the first time. We would
very much like to grow fruit and vegetables but don't really know
where to start.

I have bought some RHS books and I think I have a fair idea of how to
prepare my patch and sow my seeds. However, I don't really know where
to put my patch. We are lucky in that we have enough land to put the
patch wherever is best.


Ideally, somewhere in full sun, but sheltered from wind. A gentle south
facing slope would be lovely if you can get it.

Best position for a vegetable patch
 

Jo wrote:
Hello everyone

I am new to gardening and new to this ng so apologies for the
elementary nature of this question.

My husband and I have recently moved to the Loire Valley in France and
we are lucky to have a spacious garden for the first time. We would
very much like to grow fruit and vegetables but don't really know
where to start.

I have bought some RHS books and I think I have a fair idea of how to
prepare my patch and sow my seeds. However, I don't really know where
to put my patch. We are lucky in that we have enough land to put the
patch wherever is best.


Ideally, somewhere in full sun, but sheltered from wind. A gentle south
facing slope would be lovely if you can get it.

Best position for a vegetable patch
 

On 15 Mar 2004 00:40:03 -0800, (Jo) said:

] Hello everyone
]
] I am new to gardening and new to this ng so apologies for the
] elementary nature of this question.
]
[snip]
] I would say that the climate here is very much like the south of
] England although the winters are slightly colder and the summers
] slightly warmer. I have been reliably informed that we have had our
] last frost but we have bought a polythene tunnel cloche just in case.
]
] Any advice would be gratefully appreciated.
]
] Many thanks
]
] Jo

Hello Jo,

You're in a lovely place to make a garden, many more days of sunshine than
just up north where we are, near Alencon in Normandy.

Beware of wind, otherwise, try to find a place where the soil is nice and deep.
Shouldn't be hard where you are. And that is open to the south for sun, of
course.

Whoever told you that the last frost is passed should have their head examined.
Don't believe it for a second. It will be unusual if you don't see some at least until
early-mid-april. Here we leave the tender tub plants in the tunnel until may 1,
anyway.

-E

--
Emery Davis
You can reply to
by removing the well known companies

Best position for a vegetable patch
 

On 15 Mar 2004 00:40:03 -0800, (Jo) said:

] Hello everyone
]
] I am new to gardening and new to this ng so apologies for the
] elementary nature of this question.
]
[snip]
] I would say that the climate here is very much like the south of
] England although the winters are slightly colder and the summers
] slightly warmer. I have been reliably informed that we have had our
] last frost but we have bought a polythene tunnel cloche just in case.
]
] Any advice would be gratefully appreciated.
]
] Many thanks
]
] Jo

Hello Jo,

You're in a lovely place to make a garden, many more days of sunshine than
just up north where we are, near Alencon in Normandy.

Beware of wind, otherwise, try to find a place where the soil is nice and deep.
Shouldn't be hard where you are. And that is open to the south for sun, of
course.

Whoever told you that the last frost is passed should have their head examined.
Don't believe it for a second. It will be unusual if you don't see some at least until
early-mid-april. Here we leave the tender tub plants in the tunnel until may 1,
anyway.

-E

--
Emery Davis
You can reply to
by removing the well known companies

Best position for a vegetable patch
 

On 15 Mar 2004 00:40:03 -0800, (Jo) said:

] Hello everyone
]
] I am new to gardening and new to this ng so apologies for the
] elementary nature of this question.
]
[snip]
] I would say that the climate here is very much like the south of
] England although the winters are slightly colder and the summers
] slightly warmer. I have been reliably informed that we have had our
] last frost but we have bought a polythene tunnel cloche just in case.
]
] Any advice would be gratefully appreciated.
]
] Many thanks
]
] Jo

Hello Jo,

You're in a lovely place to make a garden, many more days of sunshine than
just up north where we are, near Alencon in Normandy.

Beware of wind, otherwise, try to find a place where the soil is nice and deep.
Shouldn't be hard where you are. And that is open to the south for sun, of
course.

Whoever told you that the last frost is passed should have their head examined.
Don't believe it for a second. It will be unusual if you don't see some at least until
early-mid-april. Here we leave the tender tub plants in the tunnel until may 1,
anyway.

-E

--
Emery Davis
You can reply to
by removing the well known companies

Best position for a vegetable patch
 

On 15 Mar 2004 00:40:03 -0800, (Jo) said:

] Hello everyone
]
] I am new to gardening and new to this ng so apologies for the
] elementary nature of this question.
]
[snip]
] I would say that the climate here is very much like the south of
] England although the winters are slightly colder and the summers
] slightly warmer. I have been reliably informed that we have had our
] last frost but we have bought a polythene tunnel cloche just in case.
]
] Any advice would be gratefully appreciated.
]
] Many thanks
]
] Jo

Hello Jo,

You're in a lovely place to make a garden, many more days of sunshine than
just up north where we are, near Alencon in Normandy.

Beware of wind, otherwise, try to find a place where the soil is nice and deep.
Shouldn't be hard where you are. And that is open to the south for sun, of
course.

Whoever told you that the last frost is passed should have their head examined.
Don't believe it for a second. It will be unusual if you don't see some at least until
early-mid-april. Here we leave the tender tub plants in the tunnel until may 1,
anyway.

-E

--
Emery Davis
You can reply to
by removing the well known companies

Best position for a vegetable patch
 

Jon wrote:

Ideally, somewhere in full sun, but sheltered from wind. A gentle south
facing slope would be lovely if you can get it.

Thanks for your reply, Jon. Yes, we do have a south facing part of the
garden we can use but it also very exposed to wind as it faces open
land (farmer's field next door). The other side of the house is much
more sheltered but only gets the sun in the morning.

Which side would you recommend?

Thanks

Jo

Best position for a vegetable patch
 

Jon wrote:

Ideally, somewhere in full sun, but sheltered from wind. A gentle south
facing slope would be lovely if you can get it.

Thanks for your reply, Jon. Yes, we do have a south facing part of the
garden we can use but it also very exposed to wind as it faces open
land (farmer's field next door). The other side of the house is much
more sheltered but only gets the sun in the morning.

Which side would you recommend?

Thanks

Jo

Best position for a vegetable patch
 

Jon wrote:

Ideally, somewhere in full sun, but sheltered from wind. A gentle south
facing slope would be lovely if you can get it.

Thanks for your reply, Jon. Yes, we do have a south facing part of the
garden we can use but it also very exposed to wind as it faces open
land (farmer's field next door). The other side of the house is much
more sheltered but only gets the sun in the morning.

Which side would you recommend?

Thanks

Jo

Best position for a vegetable patch
 

Jon wrote:

Ideally, somewhere in full sun, but sheltered from wind. A gentle south
facing slope would be lovely if you can get it.

Thanks for your reply, Jon. Yes, we do have a south facing part of the
garden we can use but it also very exposed to wind as it faces open
land (farmer's field next door). The other side of the house is much
more sheltered but only gets the sun in the morning.

Which side would you recommend?

Thanks

Jo

Best position for a vegetable patch
 

Thanks Emery

As I mentioned in my reply to Jon, the nice south facing part of our garden
is very open to the wind. I am not really sure what damages plants mo
lack of sun or lots of wind!

Thanks

Jo

Best position for a vegetable patch
 

Thanks Emery

As I mentioned in my reply to Jon, the nice south facing part of our garden
is very open to the wind. I am not really sure what damages plants mo
lack of sun or lots of wind!

Thanks

Jo

Best position for a vegetable patch
 

Thanks Emery

As I mentioned in my reply to Jon, the nice south facing part of our garden
is very open to the wind. I am not really sure what damages plants mo
lack of sun or lots of wind!

Thanks

Jo

Best position for a vegetable patch
 

Thanks Emery

As I mentioned in my reply to Jon, the nice south facing part of our garden
is very open to the wind. I am not really sure what damages plants mo
lack of sun or lots of wind!

Thanks

Jo

Best position for a vegetable patch
 

"Jo Hall" wrote in message
...
Thanks Emery

As I mentioned in my reply to Jon, the nice south facing part of our
garden
is very open to the wind. I am not really sure what damages plants mo
lack of sun or lots of wind!

Thanks

Jo


Make the windy side less so by planting taller fruit bushes and fruit trees
on the field side to act as a screen. Then you'll have the best of both
worlds. Reducing the wind is possible. Increasing the sun isn't unless you
move the house!

--
Martin & Anna Sykes
( Remove x's when replying )
http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~sykesm

Best position for a vegetable patch
 

"Jo Hall" wrote in message
...
Thanks Emery

As I mentioned in my reply to Jon, the nice south facing part of our
garden
is very open to the wind. I am not really sure what damages plants mo
lack of sun or lots of wind!

Thanks

Jo


Make the windy side less so by planting taller fruit bushes and fruit trees
on the field side to act as a screen. Then you'll have the best of both
worlds. Reducing the wind is possible. Increasing the sun isn't unless you
move the house!

--
Martin & Anna Sykes
( Remove x's when replying )
http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~sykesm

Best position for a vegetable patch
 

"Jo Hall" wrote in message
...
Thanks Emery

As I mentioned in my reply to Jon, the nice south facing part of our
garden
is very open to the wind. I am not really sure what damages plants mo
lack of sun or lots of wind!

Thanks

Jo


Make the windy side less so by planting taller fruit bushes and fruit trees
on the field side to act as a screen. Then you'll have the best of both
worlds. Reducing the wind is possible. Increasing the sun isn't unless you
move the house!

--
Martin & Anna Sykes
( Remove x's when replying )
http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~sykesm

Best position for a vegetable patch
 

"Jo Hall" wrote in message
...
Thanks Emery

As I mentioned in my reply to Jon, the nice south facing part of our
garden
is very open to the wind. I am not really sure what damages plants mo
lack of sun or lots of wind!

Thanks

Jo


Make the windy side less so by planting taller fruit bushes and fruit trees
on the field side to act as a screen. Then you'll have the best of both
worlds. Reducing the wind is possible. Increasing the sun isn't unless you
move the house!

--
Martin & Anna Sykes
( Remove x's when replying )
http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~sykesm

Best position for a vegetable patch
 

Thanks Martin - great idea.

Jo

Best position for a vegetable patch
 

Thanks Martin - great idea.

Jo

Best position for a vegetable patch
 

The usual advice for the UK is a sunny spot although some edible plants
accept shade OK. It's possible that being further south, some
traditional British vegetables won't do so well. Radish may not do so
well in high summer and some lettuce may bolt. On the up side, you
should be able to grow some heat-loving plants that are difficult in the
UK. On the downside, your colder winter weather might kill some UK
winter veg.

Suggestions:

1. Find out what other people are growing locally and how.
2. If you can read French well enough, buy a gardening book locally.
3. Use UK gardening instructions but read between the lines to adapt to
your area.

Steve Harris - Cheltenham - Real address steve AT netservs DOT com
A useful bit of gardening software at http://www.netservs.com/garden/

Best position for a vegetable patch
 

The usual advice for the UK is a sunny spot although some edible plants
accept shade OK. It's possible that being further south, some
traditional British vegetables won't do so well. Radish may not do so
well in high summer and some lettuce may bolt. On the up side, you
should be able to grow some heat-loving plants that are difficult in the
UK. On the downside, your colder winter weather might kill some UK
winter veg.

Suggestions:

1. Find out what other people are growing locally and how.
2. If you can read French well enough, buy a gardening book locally.
3. Use UK gardening instructions but read between the lines to adapt to
your area.

Steve Harris - Cheltenham - Real address steve AT netservs DOT com
A useful bit of gardening software at http://www.netservs.com/garden/

Best position for a vegetable patch
 

The usual advice for the UK is a sunny spot although some edible plants
accept shade OK. It's possible that being further south, some
traditional British vegetables won't do so well. Radish may not do so
well in high summer and some lettuce may bolt. On the up side, you
should be able to grow some heat-loving plants that are difficult in the
UK. On the downside, your colder winter weather might kill some UK
winter veg.

Suggestions:

1. Find out what other people are growing locally and how.
2. If you can read French well enough, buy a gardening book locally.
3. Use UK gardening instructions but read between the lines to adapt to
your area.

Steve Harris - Cheltenham - Real address steve AT netservs DOT com
A useful bit of gardening software at http://www.netservs.com/garden/

Best position for a vegetable patch
 

The usual advice for the UK is a sunny spot although some edible plants
accept shade OK. It's possible that being further south, some
traditional British vegetables won't do so well. Radish may not do so
well in high summer and some lettuce may bolt. On the up side, you
should be able to grow some heat-loving plants that are difficult in the
UK. On the downside, your colder winter weather might kill some UK
winter veg.

Suggestions:

1. Find out what other people are growing locally and how.
2. If you can read French well enough, buy a gardening book locally.
3. Use UK gardening instructions but read between the lines to adapt to
your area.

Steve Harris - Cheltenham - Real address steve AT netservs DOT com
A useful bit of gardening software at http://www.netservs.com/garden/

Best position for a vegetable patch
 

Thanks Steve - and everyone who responded to my post.

I have chosen a plot which is south facing but is next to a small hedge so
that the patch can be protected from the winds that come off the field next
door.

Thanks again

Jo

Best position for a vegetable patch
 

Jo wrote:
Jon wrote:


Ideally, somewhere in full sun, but sheltered from wind. A gentle south
facing slope would be lovely if you can get it.


Thanks for your reply, Jon. Yes, we do have a south facing part of the
garden we can use but it also very exposed to wind as it faces open
land (farmer's field next door). The other side of the house is much
more sheltered but only gets the sun in the morning.

Which side would you recommend?

Thanks

Jo


Definitely the south side. If you only get sun in the morning in the
sheltered part you'll end up disappointed. You will probably need to
create some shelter though. If you want to create a living windbreak,
you'll probably need to create some shelter with a temporary fence to
get it off to a good start.

Best position for a vegetable patch
 

On Mon, 15 Mar 2004 16:33:42 +0100, "Jo Hall"
wrote:

As I mentioned in my reply to Jon, the nice south facing part of our garden
is very open to the wind. I am not really sure what damages plants mo
lack of sun or lots of wind!

Definitely lack of sun. Nearly all veg and herbs require "full sun"
which means at least 6 hrs/day of direct sunlight. More is better.
Your lettuce might be ok on the shady side, but beans, peppers,
tomatoes, etc. need lots and lots of sun.

Best position for a vegetable patch
 

On Mon, 15 Mar 2004 16:33:42 +0100, "Jo Hall"
wrote:

As I mentioned in my reply to Jon, the nice south facing part of our garden
is very open to the wind. I am not really sure what damages plants mo
lack of sun or lots of wind!

Definitely lack of sun. Nearly all veg and herbs require "full sun"
which means at least 6 hrs/day of direct sunlight. More is better.
Your lettuce might be ok on the shady side, but beans, peppers,
tomatoes, etc. need lots and lots of sun.

Best position for a vegetable patch
 

On Mon, 15 Mar 2004 16:33:42 +0100, "Jo Hall"
wrote:

As I mentioned in my reply to Jon, the nice south facing part of our garden
is very open to the wind. I am not really sure what damages plants mo
lack of sun or lots of wind!

Definitely lack of sun. Nearly all veg and herbs require "full sun"
which means at least 6 hrs/day of direct sunlight. More is better.
Your lettuce might be ok on the shady side, but beans, peppers,
tomatoes, etc. need lots and lots of sun.

Best position for a vegetable patch
 

On Mon, 15 Mar 2004 16:33:42 +0100, "Jo Hall"
wrote:

As I mentioned in my reply to Jon, the nice south facing part of our garden
is very open to the wind. I am not really sure what damages plants mo
lack of sun or lots of wind!

Definitely lack of sun. Nearly all veg and herbs require "full sun"
which means at least 6 hrs/day of direct sunlight. More is better.
Your lettuce might be ok on the shady side, but beans, peppers,
tomatoes, etc. need lots and lots of sun.

Best position for a vegetable patch
 

On Mon, 15 Mar 2004 16:33:42 +0100, "Jo Hall"
wrote:

As I mentioned in my reply to Jon, the nice south facing part of our garden
is very open to the wind. I am not really sure what damages plants mo
lack of sun or lots of wind!

Definitely lack of sun. Nearly all veg and herbs require "full sun"
which means at least 6 hrs/day of direct sunlight. More is better.
Your lettuce might be ok on the shady side, but beans, peppers,
tomatoes, etc. need lots and lots of sun.

Best position for a vegetable patch
 

The message
from Frogleg contains these words:

On Mon, 15 Mar 2004 16:33:42 +0100, "Jo Hall"
wrote:

As I mentioned in my reply to Jon, the nice south facing part of our garden
is very open to the wind. I am not really sure what damages plants mo
lack of sun or lots of wind!

Definitely lack of sun. Nearly all veg and herbs require "full sun"
which means at least 6 hrs/day of direct sunlight.

LOL. Have you visited the northern half of the UK, Frogleg? :-)

Janet.

Best position for a vegetable patch
 

The message
from Frogleg contains these words:

On Mon, 15 Mar 2004 16:33:42 +0100, "Jo Hall"
wrote:

As I mentioned in my reply to Jon, the nice south facing part of our garden
is very open to the wind. I am not really sure what damages plants mo
lack of sun or lots of wind!

Definitely lack of sun. Nearly all veg and herbs require "full sun"
which means at least 6 hrs/day of direct sunlight.

LOL. Have you visited the northern half of the UK, Frogleg? :-)

Janet.

Best position for a vegetable patch
 

The message
from Frogleg contains these words:

On Mon, 15 Mar 2004 16:33:42 +0100, "Jo Hall"
wrote:

As I mentioned in my reply to Jon, the nice south facing part of our garden
is very open to the wind. I am not really sure what damages plants mo
lack of sun or lots of wind!

Definitely lack of sun. Nearly all veg and herbs require "full sun"
which means at least 6 hrs/day of direct sunlight.

LOL. Have you visited the northern half of the UK, Frogleg? :-)

Janet.

Best position for a vegetable patch
 

The message
from Frogleg contains these words:

On Mon, 15 Mar 2004 16:33:42 +0100, "Jo Hall"
wrote:

As I mentioned in my reply to Jon, the nice south facing part of our garden
is very open to the wind. I am not really sure what damages plants mo
lack of sun or lots of wind!

Definitely lack of sun. Nearly all veg and herbs require "full sun"
which means at least 6 hrs/day of direct sunlight.

LOL. Have you visited the northern half of the UK, Frogleg? :-)

Janet.

Best position for a vegetable patch
 

On Tue, 16 Mar 2004 17:28:02 GMT, Janet Baraclough..
wrote:

The message
from Frogleg contains these words:

On Mon, 15 Mar 2004 16:33:42 +0100, "Jo Hall"
wrote:

As I mentioned in my reply to Jon, the nice south facing part of our garden
is very open to the wind. I am not really sure what damages plants mo
lack of sun or lots of wind!

Definitely lack of sun. Nearly all veg and herbs require "full sun"
which means at least 6 hrs/day of direct sunlight.

LOL. Have you visited the northern half of the UK, Frogleg? :-)

No. Just London. However, because it's darker there in winter,
there'll be *more* sun in summer, no? I do stand by my advice -- the
more sun, the better.

Best position for a vegetable patch
 

On Tue, 16 Mar 2004 17:28:02 GMT, Janet Baraclough..
wrote:

The message
from Frogleg contains these words:

On Mon, 15 Mar 2004 16:33:42 +0100, "Jo Hall"
wrote:

As I mentioned in my reply to Jon, the nice south facing part of our garden
is very open to the wind. I am not really sure what damages plants mo
lack of sun or lots of wind!

Definitely lack of sun. Nearly all veg and herbs require "full sun"
which means at least 6 hrs/day of direct sunlight.

LOL. Have you visited the northern half of the UK, Frogleg? :-)

No. Just London. However, because it's darker there in winter,
there'll be *more* sun in summer, no? I do stand by my advice -- the
more sun, the better.

Best position for a vegetable patch
 

"Frogleg" wrote in message
...
| However, because it's darker there [ the North] in winter,
| there'll be *more* sun in summer, no?

???

*More * than what? The south? If you mean this as it sounds, then no:

Northern England is 'darker' than Southern England in winter. It's also
darker in summer and any other time of year. It's darker because the sun is
lower in the sky and so hits the ground more obliquely which means there is
less energy from the sun per square metre.

During our summer, we get more sun relative to the southern *hemisphere*
because of the angle of the earth's axis relative to its orbit, but because
Britain isn't near the equator, it all gets sunnier at the same time during
summer and darker at the same time during winter. And because Northern
Britain is further from the equator than Southern Britain, it's always
darker up north :-(

--
Martin & Anna Sykes
( Remove x's when replying )
http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~sykesm

Best position for a vegetable patch
 

"Frogleg" wrote in message
...
| However, because it's darker there [ the North] in winter,
| there'll be *more* sun in summer, no?

???

*More * than what? The south? If you mean this as it sounds, then no:

Northern England is 'darker' than Southern England in winter. It's also
darker in summer and any other time of year. It's darker because the sun is
lower in the sky and so hits the ground more obliquely which means there is
less energy from the sun per square metre.

During our summer, we get more sun relative to the southern *hemisphere*
because of the angle of the earth's axis relative to its orbit, but because
Britain isn't near the equator, it all gets sunnier at the same time during
summer and darker at the same time during winter. And because Northern
Britain is further from the equator than Southern Britain, it's always
darker up north :-(

--
Martin & Anna Sykes
( Remove x's when replying )
http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~sykesm