Edible garden

Square metre of garden

Would you like to grow vegetables and herbs in a simple way, but are short on time or space? Then a one-square-metre vegetable patch is a good option. It’s also great fun for children. You can buy a ready-made frame from well-known DIY shops or make one yourself.

Square-metre vegetable plots yield a high harvest, are easy to maintain and are even suitable for balconies. Before you start sowing or planting, it is important to add good-quality (organic) soil to the planters.

Sowing your own seeds is the cheapest option. Would you like a quicker harvest? Then you can, of course, also plant seedlings in your one-square-metre garden. You can often start sowing from April onwards. Check the packet for the best sowing time, spacing and depth. As a beginner vegetable gardener, start with easy-to-grow vegetables such as radishes, cress, beans, beetroot, Swiss chard, leaf lettuce, shallots and garlic. By setting up a vertical trellis, you can make the most of the space. Tomato plants, beans and nasturtiums are examples of vegetables that can grow up the trellis. Make sure the largest plants are positioned furthest to the north, so that the other plants aren’t in the shade.

Edible urban garden

In an urban garden, you can easily grow edible varieties without the garden losing its ornamental value. There are, in fact, many (perennial) plant varieties that grow well in the Netherlands and are both attractive and edible. What’s more, it’s both attractive and beneficial to include flowers in your edible city garden. This is because flowers attract beneficial insects that pollinate your edible plants.

To achieve a high yield from a small plot of land, you can apply permaculture principles. Permaculture mimics nature by grouping together species that support one another. Perennial edible plants are particularly favoured, so that you don’t have to start from scratch every year. In addition, permaculture involves working across different (vertical) layers. This allows you to grow a wide variety of edible plants on a small plot of land. For example, you could plant a fruit tree and, in the herb layer beneath it, grow various types of herbs, lettuce and edible flowers.

In a small garden, as well as using plants in multiple layers, you can also grow edible varieties vertically. For example, you can grow tomatoes, beans and climbing pumpkin and courgette varieties on a trellis. This way, you can still achieve a large yield from a small patch of land. You can also use edible plants as hedges. Examples include the olive willow, yellow dogwood, Japanese rose, or single-styled hawthorn. You can also grow edible plants such as strawberries in (hanging) pots. In larger pots and tubs, you can grow various vegetables and herbs. Even vegetables that normally thrive in warmer climates (such as peppers, chillies and aubergines) often grow better in terracotta pots in the Netherlands than they do in the open ground.

Vegetable garden

Do you have more space? If so, you can plan a larger plot. It is important to ensure the soil is healthy. Most vegetables thrive best in moist, well-drained soil. Mulching (laying a layer of organic material on the soil) and avoiding digging promote a healthy and rich soil ecosystem. Mulching means you don’t need to add fertiliser. Applying permaculture principles ensures that your yield increases every year, whilst reducing the amount of maintenance work required.

By choosing as many perennial edible varieties as possible, you won’t need to resow every year. By selecting plants that support one another, you’ll minimise the risk of diseases and pests. You can extend the vegetable-growing season by setting up a greenhouse, sowing seeds in advance and preserving your harvest.
Easy-to-grow vegetable garden plants: courgettes, runner beans, carrots, beetroot, rocket, lettuce, Swiss chard, spring onions, basil, parsley, radishes, chives. It’s best to grow mint in pots (unless you want it to take over your whole garden).

Permaculture (perennials): Jerusalem artichokes, sorrel, common henbit, sea kale, palm kale, artichokes, Swiss chard, kiwi berries, sage, rosemary, fennel, apple trees, jostaberries, wild garlic and more.

If you rent an allotment or wish to set up a community vegetable garden in your neighbourhood, this also serves an important social purpose. People come together and children learn where their food comes from. To set up a community vegetable garden, you can submit an application to the green initiative.