If it’s maximum flavour for minimum labour you are after, forget about vegetables
When it comes to the questions I get from beginner gardeners, edibles still often come out at the very top of the list in terms of “must haves” for new plots. They are also usually alongside the desire for low-maintenance schemes, which look great all year round and provide a haven for wildlife – something I can identify with 100%.
What is surprising (to me personally, at least) is the apparent far greater interest in growing vegetables over fruit. For every question I get on starting an orchard, for instance, or potting up strawberries on a patio, I would estimate there are easily five or more asking for advice on onions, spuds or carrots. It’s something that most of my mates who work in horticulture have remarked on at one point or another.
While people can be put off by the rules of pruning, these are actually simpler than you might think