In theory, underplanting of fruit trees - shady, windbreaking, run-off catching - with veggies - soil-cooling, well-watered - sounds lovely, but last year's attempt was too rushed, giving rise to plans to redesign this whole area with less immediate competition between fruit and veg.
But how can anyone who loves their veg patch and sees it (finally!) productive and healthy lose a whole growing season in the name of such redevelopment? Everytime I look over that now-flourishing patch, all I see is bare spots to plant into, and thoughts of new seeds and seedlings pressing to be planted out.
Have been struggling with the discipline needed in taking the long view in planning and redeveloping the gardening. Finally the penny's dropped: because we'll be away overseas for a year from next June, the redevelopment should be timed for them. Let any housesitters or tenants 'worry' about a non-producing veg patch!
What a breakthrough! So plans to layout boundaries and plant out shading fruit trees (which have already arrived from Diggers) might proceed, but no need to redo veg beds as such till we return home, winter 2012. Which will also give those poor fruit trees a chance to get a bit established.
So will start regenerating existing beds, continue removing herbs into the new herb bed (freeing up an extra bed for veg), and will create one new circular bed. Seedlings (lettuce, parsley, basil) and small tomatoes have been impatiently bought, but can go out shortly, with just a bit of frost protection needed to give them the best start.
Love the win-win solution. And bring on spring - or at least spring weather - to get those new veg in.
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