I had decided NOT to grow any veg this year because the constant failures were getting me down, but as March gets closer I find myself drooling over seed catalogues again.

Here comes the pity-me bit

Can anyone recommend ANYTHING edible that will grow at 916ft (don’t know meters!) above sea level in a wet and windy part of Cumbria? I also only have a 6 x12ft area to grow in plus pots at front of house which is largely shaded and a small lean-to greenhouse - plus the sun leaves the growing area at about 3pm even in summer!

Broad beans love it but I am the only one who will eat them! on the plus side my compost worms work very hard (probably trying to keep warm!) and I have tons of lovely compost to use up.

I did have an allotment which was great but the closest ones are 12 miles away so I gave it up and despite adverts in the papershop I can’t get anyone to rent me a bit of land with a sunnier aspect.

Any ideas???????

DD x

I don’t have much experience of your gardening conditions, maybe others further north will be along later to suggest things.

The veg that comes to mind that would probably cope okay are Leeks, Leafy veg - Spinaches, Kales, Beet - beetroots and leafy beets and Chards. I think they would all cope fine. Rhubarb would probably grow well too - so long as the crown doesn’t get waterlogged. Have you tried salad leaves before? Or maybe some of the Oriental leafy salads or veg. Some of the varieties of climbing french beans are quite hardy in winds, as long as you can have the framework windproof!

Hopefully someone else may have more ideas. Jacqui may have ideas as where she is I think gets pretty windy at times now, although probably not as high up as you are. Will think of anything else.

Good luck x

Wet and windy r us   Not as high as you are though but lets think… Remember you will be at least 3 - 4 weeks behind what those southern gardening gurus tell you on the media.
Raised beds are the best way to deal with our wet conditions - we have very peaty soil, but with an underlying clay base, so we need lots of drainage channels, so the raised beds are the most practical arrangements. Once our pigs go, that is what will happen in our front garden. You could divide your patch up into strips - in fact I think I might have a copy of Joy Larcombe’s vegetables from a small garden.  I will have a look and pm you if i do.  Or have a look at this thread on sqaure-foot gardening - lots of intersting comments and advice - including Cumbrian people http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/grapevine/vegging-out/square-foot-gardening-2012-a_62558.html
Wind shelter. - 50:50 sheep netting is the most popular wind break, but the good gardeners around here use a multi layered approach, with shelter belt planting at the edge, sheep netting around the plots, and then the raised beds. I have seen beds edged with a couple of layers of peat blocks as extra protection. Herb fennel is an excellent windbreak, but takes a couple of years to grow tall enough.
I have seen everything growing here very successfully.  Most things are raised in modules in a greenhouse or polytunnel and then planted out later - cabbages, kales, salads, chards all do well.  Garlic, onions, turnips and potatoes, leeks (mussleburgh is a stocky short and hardy variety).  Blueberries are good and you can never grow enough parsley or chives imo.  What about dwarf varieties - beans, kale, peas etc?  i grew dwarf peas last year, and they did well.  herbs in pots. 
Actually, thinking about it - it is always a good idea not to grow staples that you can buy cheaply, especially when you are short of space, so maybe try some fancy potatoes in a couple of bags, but get the spuds from the shops.
I don’t know what you could do about the sun - I suppose one good thing is that in the Spring and summer you will be getting a lot more light from early in the morning too .
Is there a community association where you are?  We had a great success with a community garden last year.  it was just a couple of large square wooden containers planted up with chard, perpetual spinach, parsley, herbs, nasturtium and various lettuces, and we were all free to help ourselves.  A bit like guerilla gardening.
Well, I’ve wittered on enough, not sure if any of it is any use, but I wish you well with your growing - this year will be the best yet. xxx

Thanks for the info advice Eden and Jacqui - I do follow your blog and I’m sorry to hear about your pig. 

I will def look at the website later when I can spend some proper time on it!  I had thought of just buying a huge (plastic) greenhouse to cover most of the space but last year the school greenhouse blew away and they are sheltered so maybe not lol!  Please don’t get me started on community gardens - the idea has been talked and talked about but alas our village is very much “locals” and “offcomers” and it nearly caused a (physical) fight.

Anyway lots to think about and I will grow SOMETHING this year I’m inspired again!

Thanks
DD x

Thanks DD - what a shame about the community garden too - I can imagine how frustrating that must be.  We are very lucky with our community.
You can buy small plastic tunnels, and we used them for years at our old garden.  We have just had our polytunnel delivered the other day, it will be going up in a fairly sheltered place but dh will be concreting the posts in - everything has to be tied down or concreted in here.
Hope you get something to eat from your garden. xxx

Wet and windy here too (sigh). My partner has spent several years trialling and saving seed of veg varieties which have been bred for cold climates and unfavourable conditions. If you’d like to pm me I could send you some seed to try.