If you are considering one or two of our Veg Plant Collections to get your kitchen garden on the go this year, then this article will help to explain how much space you might need, as well as giving some tips on how to arrange the plants….
Root Veg Collection
What’s in the collection?
- Beetroot x 10
- Carrot x 20
- Celeriac x 10
- Parsnip x 10
- Swede x 10
Space required: Best suited to being grown in the ground/raised beds. Will need an area measuring approx 1m x 4m
Tips: Beetroot and Carrot can be planted 10cm apart. They are quite quick to grow so will be harvested first. Celeriac, Parsnip and Swede grow more slowly and need 30-40cm spacing. Put these slow growers at the back too, as they are taller.
Beetroot Mix
What’s in the collection?
- Detroit Beetroot x 10
- Bolder Golden Beetroot x 10
- Chioggia Striped Beetroot x 10
Space required: Can be grown in pots or beds. Will need an area measuring approx 70cm x 70cm
Tips: Plant beetroot 10cm apart. If growing in containers, a fairly shallow (15cm) rectangular planter will be great.
Gourmet Brassica Collection
What’s in the collection?
- Red Cabbage x 10
- Cavolo Nero x 10
- Curly Kale x 10
- Romanesco Cauliflower x 10
- Kohl Rabi x 10
- Purple Sprouting Broccoli x 10
Space required: Best suited to being grown in the ground/raised beds. Will need an area measuring approx 1.5m x 5m
Tips: Plant broccoli and cavolo nero at the back as these will grow much taller, and curly kale at the front. Leave 30-40cm between plants and be sure to cover with insect-proof netting to protect from pigeons and butterflies.
Pumpkin & Squash Patch Collection
What’s in the collection?
- Jack O’Lantern Pumpkin x 3
- Custard White Summer Squash x 3
- Waltham Butternut Squash x 3
- Uchiki Kuri Winter Squash x 3
- Sweet Dumpling Winter Squash x 3
Space required: If growing on the ground, allow approx 15 metres growing space (e.g. a bed measuring 2m x 7.5m)
If growing vertically, against a trellis or fence, you could pack the plants in a little closer, allowing 10 metres space, or grow them in big containers (15 containers, 1 plant per pot)
Colourful Courgette Collection
What’s in the collection?
- Green Bush Courgette x 3
- Atena Polka Yellow Courgette x 3
- Tondo Chiara di Nizza Round Courgette x 3
- Tromboncino Albenga x 3
Space required: An area of approx 1.5m x 4m – Tromboncino will readily climb, so can be grown up a trellis to save space.
Tips: You could grow this collection in pots – each plant will need a deep container, approx 30cm x 30cm, and Tromboncino will need a trellis to climb. The other varieties are fairly compact so would not need a trellis.
Pepper & Chilli Collection
What’s in the collection?
- Long Yellow Ringo Pepper x 3
- California Wonder Pepper x 3
- Habanero Orange Chilli x 3
- Hungarian Hot Wax Chilli x 3
Space required: An area of approx 2m x 3m, or 4 grow bags
Tips: Best grown in a greenhouse or polytunnel. If growing outside, choose a warm, sheltered and sunny spot – growing them alongside a wall works well for trapping and reflecting heat back at the plants.
Colourful Tomato Collection
What’s in the collection?
- Black Russian x 5
- Golden Sunrise x 5
- Gardener’s Delight x 5
Space required: 5 grow bags, or 15x individual 10 litre pots, or an area measuring approx 2m x 3m
Tips: Best grown in a greenhouse or polytunnel. If growing outside, choose a warm, sheltered and sunny spot – growing them alongside a wall works well for trapping and reflecting heat back at the plants. They will need support – a bamboo stake for each plant will do the trick!
Gourmet Bean & Pea Collection
What’s in the collection?
- Borlotti Bean x 10
- Cosse Violette Purple French Bean x 10
- Runner Bean x 10
- Sugar Snap Pea x 10
- Mangetout Pea x 10
Space required: An area of approx 1m x 5m
Tips: Choose a sheltered site out of strong winds. Climbing beans will need a frame – we’d recommend building an A-Frame from bamboo canes measuring 2.5m tall. Space them 20cm apart and plant a climbing bean at the base of each bamboo. Sugar Snap Peas will grow well up a 50cm tall pea twig or chicken wire. Mange tout will grow well up against a tall 2m chicken wire strip. Both pea varieties can be planted 10cm apart.
Quick Growing Salad Collection
What’s in the collection?
- Beetroot x 10
- Buttercrunch Lettuce x 10
- Little Gem Lettuce x 10
- Mizuna x 10
- Rainbow Chard x 10
- Salad Mustard x 10
- Spinach x 10
- Wild Rocket x 10
Space required: An area approx 120cm x 150cm. Great for raised beds, but you could use a medley of pots and grow bags too.
Tips: Space the Chard and Spinach 30cm apart, and everything else can be planted 10cm apart. Pick leaves regularly for a longer cropping time. Apart from the beetroot, these plants can all be grown in partial shade.
Greenhouse Collection
What’s in the collection?
- Tomato x 5
- Chilli x 6
- Pepper x 6
- Aubergine x 5
- Cucumber x 3
- Basil x 3
Space required: A greenhouse or polytunnel measuring approx 3m x 3m would be big enough to house these plants. Plant into the ground, or in pots/grow bags
Tips: Provide a trellis or bamboo cane to train cucumber vertically to save space. Tomatoes, chillies and peppers will need support as well.