What to grow in the Scottish Highlands

[kyleighterry]

Hey guys,

I've moved to Scotland from Australia and I'm situated in quite a remote town called Roy Bridge.

Back in Australia, I used to grow quite a lot of vegetables (tomatoes, chillies/peppers, eggplants, etc) and instead of ordering vegetables/fruit from ASDA, I'd like to continue this passion here to save some money have some fun by growing food.

This brings me to my main question - what can I grow during the Spring and Summer seasons in the Highlands?

[arisaema]

Do you have a greenhouse? I've lived in a similar climate (Southern Norway), and neither chilies nor tomatoes do well in the open. What does do well are leafy vegetables, brassicas, neeps/swedes, potatoes... Marrows/zucchinis might work?

Get a few everbearing strawberry plants (I like 'Mara Des Bois'), some red and black-currant shrubs, and a couple of early fruiting, self-fertile plum trees (no idea what is available in the UK; Scandinavian favourites would be 'Czar' and 'Opal'). Depending on the local bird population cherries might be an option, and obviously apples and early ripening pears.

[Vinny 123]

I would be surprised if any Prunus would produce fruit very often, if at all. Prunus flower early and even in the south of England, late frosts frequently hit the blossom, resulting in no crop, not even sloes.

Some areas of Scotland are famous for soft fruits, but so far north, and presumably altitude as well? ?
(People also forget or are unaware, that in terms of temperature, Scotland has some very pleasantly warm, and usually wet, spots - not least along the west coast, where the Gulf Stream hits.)

There are good reasons why the traditional Scot's crops were potatoes, swedes, oats and barley.

Best option would be to find and join a local gardening/allotment-holder organisation, as well as keeping an eye open on what everyone else is already growing.

Keep an eye on local free ad's and ePay for either poly-tunnel hoops or a greenhouse - they are a pain to get rid of in most cases (usually when someone moves into a house with one in the garden that they have no interest in), unless they are skipped, so usually sell for peanuts. They do need to be close though, for obvious reasons of transport.

[arisaema]

Some areas of Scotland are famous for soft fruits, but so far north, and presumably altitude as well? ?

You'd be surprised to see how far north in Scandinavia plums are grown, and altitude would if anything likely just be beneficial, as it'd delay flowering. 'Czar' and 'Opal' should both do fine, 'Victoria' was hit and miss in my childhood as it often ripened too late.

[Vinny 123]

I live in the UK (English) midlands and plums are very hit and miss here (I inherited two neglected but young trees when I moved in 25 years ago). I have no idea of variety here, but Czar is certainly grown in the UK (possibly a commercial variety???).

Further north than here, I can only repeat what gardening programmes tell me and that is that stone fruits any further north than here are a lottery.

There is actually a very wide, active choice online, about gardening in Scotland - just a couple of examples - https://thecaley.org.uk/gardening-hints-tips/
https://ninewellsgarden.org.uk/2021/04/29/get-growing-a-scottish-vegetable-growers-guide/

[arisaema]

Fair enough, and you will have to excuse me for doing something I have always enjoyed - to argue back against "common knowledge"! Plums are grown widely in Norway, although they're certainly more common in the southern half. I would not hesitate to plant plums in the Scottish Highlands, considering how well they do and how common they are back home.

I found a video of plums being harvested in Finnsnes, a town north of Narvik, well above the Arctic circle. I will admit it's unusual enough to make the news, and the video is annoyingly only available to newspaper subscribers, but it shows just how adaptable plums are: https://tv.folkebladet.no/video/26656/her-hoester-ekteparet-nord-norske-plommer-fra-sin-egen-hage

[Vinny 123]

LLLLOL

@arisaema - we Brits would prefer to call it friendly, even vigorous, debate rather than argument! And we Brits would say that that is very healthy indeed!

So, very, very much will depend on local conditions in this case. Exactly how severe a frost at what time of year, exposure (to wind), aspect (facing N. S E or W). The variables are endless.......................... Plus, it so depends on what you want by way of a crop (and how big your freezer may be).

Stone fruits also = trees unless grown as cordons etc. (which may be the best bet if there is a position suitable), but trees = years......................
Canes and bushes will fruit within 3 years, if they like the position.

Stone fruits are also hard work on acid soils........................... arguably just not worth the effort.

[Maggi Young]

Hi  kyleighterry, and welcome! 
I suggest  Ken Cox' book :
Fruit and Vegetables for Scotland: A Practical Guide and History: What to Grow and How to Grow It (New Edition)
by Kenneth Cox (Author), Caroline Beaton (Author)
https://m.media-amazon.com/images/G/02/apparel/rcxgs/tile._CB483369956_.gif
320 page , publ. by Birlinn Ltd.

 Kenneth has also authored another book of pllants suitable for Scottish gardens......
Garden Plants for Scotland   by Kenneth Cox and Raoul Curtis-Machin.

[Robert]

Kyleighterry,

Yes, welcome to the Forum.

Maggi has given you a good start. Here are a few more resources that might be helpful.

Eliot Coleman has been farming in coastal Maine for decades. His books “Winter Harvest Handbook” and “The New Organic Grower” might have useful ideas to help you achieve your gardening goals. These books might be available from your public library system if there is one in your region. You will find that some of his knowledge was gleaned from farmers in Northern Europe. He made numerous trips to the region. Resources are close at hand.
https://www.fourseasonfarm.com

John Jeavons and the folks at Ecology Action have been helping small farmers and gardeners throughout the world for decades. You might want to contact them to see what resources are available that will be helpful in your region.
http://www.growbiointensive.org/

The Nearings accomplished are great deal under very primitive conditions. They pioneered the use of passive solar heated greenhouses and season extending ideas starting back in the 1930’s in the mountains of Vermont and then later in Coastal Maine. Scott Nearing sold part of his land holdings in Maine to Eliot Coleman. Mr. Coleman expanded on their pioneering work with passive solar heated greenhouses and season extension greatly – see resource above. Mr. Coleman is growing tomatoes, peppers and melons using passive solar greenhouses in a cool maritime climate. He was told this was not possible. I have been to the Nearings’ homestead in Maine. The ocean is right across the street from their place. There is lots of fog and cool weather during the summer. I have photographs of their place if you are interested. “ Living the Good Life” describes their experiences in the Mountains of Vermont. Continuing the Good Life” describes their experiences in Maine. Hopefully such books are available from a public library system.
https://goodlife.org

I have been in agriculture since I was a teenager – over 50 years now. You would not believe how many times I have been told, “you can’t grow this, you can’t grow that”. 99% of the time this has proven to be absolutely false. The last 1% will likely be proven false with more time and experimentation. Masanobu Fukuoka liked showing his fields of rice and mountain orchard to the naysayers and say “ The proof is ripening before your eyes”. No-till agriculture began with Fukuoka-San. This was said to be impossible and now it is practiced in some form almost everywhere on the planet. One thing I can tell you for sure is that if you follow the naysayers’ advice you will accomplish nothing. I am more than willing to discuss agriculture with you and give positive “can do” encouragement. You will succeed. Just be persistent and surround yourself with positive “can do” fellow gardeners! I look forward to learning about your successful accomplishments.

[Jasmin]:  Robert is my better half; hopefully I am his as well!  During our many years of marriage, we have done all sorts of gardening experiments.  I guess just building upon the experiments we did before we married.
     Although our climate has drastically changed, there was a time when our climate was much cooler.  Winters in the valley are no longer winters, and sadly the climate up in the Sierras is approaching this level of heating.  We farmed in Placerville in what was considered impossible conditions:  a cold pocket in winter, with heat trapped there in the summer.  The soil—if you can call it that—had the worst drainage, lying upon serpentine rock.  All beds and the orchard were terraced on the hill.  We still nurture the property.  I join my husband in encouraging you to boldly experiment, as we say, “Nothing ventured, nothing gained”.

[ian mcdonald]

Plums are successfully grown here in NE Scotland, people have so many they give them away. Apples also. A wide range of vegetables are grown but tomatoes, cucumber and peppers need green house protection.

[Mariette]

Gardening since 40 years in an area which is difficult for many plants out of certain reasons, I should always ask people gardening nearby what proved to be successful in their experience. Also, nurseries in Your area should be able to give advice which fruits and varieties will make sense. Having planted a reliable stock of fruit trees, berries and vegetables, You may be more adventurous trying others of interest, space permitting.