Geurilla Gardening, sort of

[DominicJ]

Theres a large patch of waste ground being my house, about an acre, some trees, some weeds, some grass, some fridges, that kind of stuff.

Seems a shame to have it there and for me to not profit from it, so I was wondering what I could plant there.

I originaly considered some fruit bushes, but thet would likely fall prey to birds and vandals, and £100 of fruit bushes isnt exactly low cost.
Garlic may work, I could easily pop round and plant a few garlic cloves every week.

What do other people do.
I was thinking maybe root veg, carrots, parsnips, but wasnt sure if I'd care enough to walk round and check on them.

If it self propagating that would be good.

Right, so I want something thats cheap, requires no effort on my part, is worth growing, and will plant new selfs.

[The Riff-Raff Element]

If it were me I would not discount fruit bushes entirely, in particular raspberrys. If you happen to know someone with patch already they should be able to provide you with some suckers that - with a spot of rooting hormone - should spread like made. You will lose a proprtion to birds to be sure, but most varieties fruit when there is plenty else to eat: I no longer bother netting mine.

And to the casual passerby they look just enough like brambles from a distance to provide some protection.

[Annpan]

I wouldn't go for root veg, as you'd need to dig over the ground a bit and get it down to a nice workable condition...

Some hardy herb bushes (lavender and rosemary) might be good. How long are you planing to live in the area? I would consider a lidl apple tree but don't expect any fruit on the tree for the first few years. I agree with the fruit bushes too - and £100 pound is way to much to spend - get yourself down to a pound shop, or brag a few cuttings/ runners as mentioned

If you can get yourself a polybag full of horse poo empty that and stick a courgette seed on top.... these things look pretty weird to unknowing townies.

[marshlander]

How about a permaculture edible woodland garden - with it's trees shrubs, perenials and bulbs it sounds ideal for your situation. Had a quick search or info - here's an example http://www.pfaf.org/leaflets/woodlandedge.php

[Rosendula]

I would go for stuff you can plant once then 'forage' from, rather than having a veg patch. It might not go down to well with other people (neighbours, the land owner/council, etc) if you were to be out there 'gardening' on a regular basis. Of course, you know the people you live amongst best, I'm just going by what my own neighbours are like. I agree with Riff Raff Element that raspberries are a good choice. You only need a few and they spread fast. I only had a small patch of them, and although the birds got some, I still managed to pick enough for my family to get fed up of them. Once planted, they're a pain to get rid of, and they spread far and wide, so plant them a good distance from gardens. I also agree with the apple tree suggestion, and perhaps one or two other fruit trees. Maybe some rhubarb, asparagus - that sort of thing. 'Permanent' crops that need very little work, and you can just harvest from.

[DominicJ]

Can we attach pictures some how?
Or is it safe for me to PM you enough of a postcide to get an idea of what I'm looking at? You arent going to steal a kidney are you?

Already got some Raspberries I'm considering moving, but not sure how to propagate them, have to check my books.

Re: £100
I was going to go and buy 100 of them at £1 each, well, in for a penny in for a...

"I would go for stuff you can plant once then 'forage' from, rather than having a veg patch."
Thats what I was hoping for really.

Theft isnt really a problem, my neighbours probably arent aware theres a stage of food before ASDA microwave meals, random vandalism is, if I planted a row of trees(in, I admit, public land), a row of teenagers would come along and break them.
I doubt I'll be there long enough for trees to be viable, but I'd happily plant them anyway.
And, also, I may try and annexe some of the land...

[Ellendra]

Plant things with thorns, they can defend themselves somewhat.

I know someone who used to plant seeds by mixing them with clay, rolling the clay into balls, and then discretely tossing the balls (after they'd dried) as she walked. Rain dissolves the clay and the seeds sprout. Works best with plants that are easily mistaken for weeds, and that reseed easily.

[moocher]

what about strawberries,if you can keep the birds off them or growing herbs that are reduced in the supermarkets,try making a clearing in middle of some brambles and growing maize or runners up young trees.

[julieq]

I wonder about things which are naturally invasive, mint for example and veg like Jerusalem Artichokes

[Green Aura]

Have you read Timeless Simplicity - bit bonkers IMHO - but he does a section on gardening in disused areas and hiding / disguising it so you don't get it nicked. Might be worth having a look at for your situation.

I think I've still got a copy, if I can find it and you fancy a swap for something - apart from the last chapter which really is mad there's quite a lot of useful stuff.

[Clara]

How about innoculating some of the dead wood with mushroom spores - you can get dowels from Garden Organic, but I bet there are loads of other places too.

[sheena]

I have found that raspberries and redcurrants give a good yield and can be surrounded with gooseberries, which can be quite a deterrent(should one be needed depending on the people around you.)
These can be easily accessed in the majority of pound shops and take very little effort.
I have also used lavender which I have used in recipes and in soapmaking.

[bodrighy]

We have recently moved into a cottage here in Cornwall and the garden, approx 120 x 60 has been cultivated with shrubs, a pond, rockery etc but niot touched for at least a year. We intend, this year to guerrila garden in and around what is already here until we find out what we have got. Plenty of bulbs is all we know at the moment. Root vehg in the beds, beas around and through the shrubs, rhubarb by the pond (easier to live with and tastier than Gunnera ) squashes, courgettes etc in the rockery and a rasberry hedge to fence of our neighbours bee hives from the grandchildren.

Pete

[frozenthunderbolt]

myrtus ugni. excellent plants

[bodrighy]

myrtus ugni. excellent plants

Never heard of that one before. Chilean Guava (I googled it) sounds like one worth getting.

Pete