We're contemplating a move from South East England to the East Midlands.

Can anyone tell me what veg, etc. grows well in the area, and how it differs from the South East?

What are growing conditions like? last frost date, etc.

My couple of gardens in the E Midlands were both clay soil, but obviously that is going to vary over the region.  I'm now in E Anglia and my garden is predominantly chalk over clay, but even so, the soil conditions vary from one end of the garden to the other.  I think all you could do is wait until you move (if you go ahead) and see what you've got and then plant accordingly.  I'd say weather is very similar, maybe a bit wetter (E Anglia is meant to have the least rainfall in the country, but I'm not convinced!).

If you move to a built up area, the frosts aren't so hard; if you're out in the sticks and your garden is more open, then beware!  Like SE, last frost can be whenever!

Sorry not to be more specific, but any area is going to have variations, and you won't know until you get there.

 C

Thanks Corina,

Something I'd not thought of. We'd likely be moving from predominantly urban to somewhere more exposed to frost. You're right: the topography is just as important as the geography.

Will have to ask Mrs bunyip to budget for a larger greenhouse.

My soil is 2 feet of loam on top of sand gravel and marl. I am in Town (Rugby) and the veg garden suffersfrom morning shade.

The last 3 years have been varied to say the least. This year my Toms came to nothing wheras 2 years ago I grew the vines to about 15ft layering them down. 6 varieties including beefsteaks yielded heavily along with sweetcorn and runner beans.

I am still picking runners from a late June secon sowing and have previously picked them up to mid November.

Last year there was no hungry gap as I was picking Kale,sprouts and PS Broccoli throughout winter and spring. This year my seed came to nothing.  Mice?

Our winters are not as severe as the SE's so you should enjoy some very productive gardening up here.   Good luck Bunyip

Last frost date  mid may this year.

Oh and peas and broad beans love these wet summers up here.

Hi Barbara

Normally if growing them outdoors you would plant early varieties in feb march april and earth up the shoots until danger of frost has past.

IF YOU GROW THEM IN POTS you could do the same. However if you can protect them with fleece or an old blanket when frost threatens or move them indoors you could start them in Jan if they are in a sunny southfacing place.

I have heard of them being planted now using small potatoes boaught for eating(you cannot buy seed potatoes at this time of year) and they would be ready to eat for Christmas. They will grow anytime the temperature is above 8 to 10 degrees. You will have to cover them an wrap some protection around the pot.

Good luck!

Thank you John for your helpful advice.  We are going to try small potatoes to eat at

Christmas.  Nothing venture, nothing gain.   Incidentally, for the very first time we have

planted onion sets.  We have very little space between established Shrubs and heathers

but we have got 80 in and they are growing fine, so that will be interesting in May

or June.

Hi

This Summer we had run out of garden space and wanted to try growing our own veg, I was reluctant to sacrifice any of my beds so we grew veg in a variety of containers.  Peas and beans all did well in some wooden troughs, sweet corn didn't like them.  Tomatoes grew in every type of container you can imagine, all did well,  potatoes grew in tubs and large old sacks and did quite well. Cucumbers grew in large ex paint tubs (well cleaned of course) and did very well.  The area looked quite weird but cares?  Any other ideas gratefully received.

        Hello folks,beetroot looks lovely growing in the flower border,leeks and garlic too ,they dont look out of place and do not take up much space .            joyce