If you have recently acquired an allotment or garden choosing which vegetables to grow can seem daunting. Here is a list of 10 tried and tested vegetables to grow in Scotland. These have all grown well in the Edible Garden at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Edinburgh.
1. Potatoes
2. Purple sprouting broccoli
3. Kale
4. Onions
5. Carrots
6. Beetroot
7. Chard
8. Lettuce
9. Peas
10. Broad beans
Peter
Living in central east Scotland on sandy loam derived from old red sandstone. For a small raised bed and trying to be organic and not use pesticides my experience / view with the above crops is as follows: –
Potatoes, peas and beans all take up too much space – fine if you have an allotment or similar. As I don’t want to use pesticides slugs attack any brassicas hence purple sprouting broccoli and kale are difficult to grow successfully. I’ve tried and not been too successful with onion sets. Carrots were also not too successful – carrot root fly and divided roots. I don’t like beetroot too much so cannot comment on this vegetable. Swiss chard and spinach or spinach beet have actually been one of my most successful vegetables. Lettuce also grows well as does radish although it’s not on the above list.
Angela Russell
What about runner beans? They are my favourite vegetable and I would really love to grow them. I would put them on a wigwam to save space, and I have a greenhouse for propagation. What is the best variety for West Scotland?
potato
what about runner bears
potato
beans*
Este
It would be helpful to know the varieties as that will make a good deal of difference.