Topic: What have we learned?

[Biscombe]

To plant in succession! Would still be eating tomatoes and aubergine here in Spain If I had done that! DOH learning all the time!! BTY Great post!!

[sweet-pea]

I've learnt a lot that I hope I will remember for next year, but probably the most important thing I've learnt is not to sow so much of certain things like pak choi, rocket, but rather sow little and at intervals.
I've also learnt that using string as a climbing support for French beans wasn't a good idea so i shall be going back to using just canes next year, far more sturdy!

But I also agree with everyone else who've said how much they enjoy their lottie :-)

[Robert_Brenchley]

I think the trick with toms is to plant a range of varieties, so that one starts as another finishes. You may well be able to do the same with aubs, but I've only tried growing them the once.

[amphibian]

Things I have learnt.

1. Do not share an allotment with a friend, they only show up at harvest time.

2. Do not break your leg, it makes allotmenteering rather difficult.

3. Grow less tomatillos.

4. Grow more carrots.

5. Deer are evil.

6. This year has been really weird.

[RobC]

1  Try lots of diffrerent things - some will be successful others will fail.

2  Don't plant tomatoes too close together

3  Make life as simple as possible  - plants in the ground need less watering than those in pots

[Biscombe]

HI amphibian, I'm with you on the tomatillo thing!!!! I've got three plants packed with fruit and I don't like them much either!! Cape goosberry are different I'll grow more next year.

[Gadfium]

Enjoy whatever emerges.

One well-nibbled cabbage, twenty breadseed poppies wafting in the breeze, a trampled row of spring onions, a wall swaddled in beautiful but beanless Borlottis, the first cucumber, triffid too-late peppers... nature will out... sit back, smile, and enjoy the fruitless fruits of your labours, as well the fruited ones.

 :)

[busy_lizzie]

I am with Growmore on this, as it is best to remember that each year is different and it is not necessarily your fault if things don't grow as well as last year. But next year I will definitely not grow as many courgette plants.  :) busy_lizzie

[Trevor Holloway]

Food tastes better fresh.


Courgettes need little tending and seem to crop well - also have the added bonus of being able to be left to grow large for bulking up chutneys !

Squashes fill up spare space !

Grow more yellow toms - make yellow sauce !

[vee]

...that it's definitely swings and roundabouts.
 
Some things do well one year and others do less well, but the next year it's completely different.

I've learned to go with the flow(most of the time) and not worry so much. Nature has it's own rhythm and we just need to relax into it.

Slugs however are a different matter...

[Chris Graham]

........another thing

White butterflies do look nice but Enviromesh is a must!

[shirley B]

marymary, I have grown brassicas under enviromesh on frames made by O.H. for several years, excellant against butterflys, but this year white fly got in and multiplied by thousands, I couldn't cope, opened up and now have white fly on lace curtains.  :'(  UNhappygnan.

[Marymary]

I have never seen cabbage whites like this year, they are still about in their dozens & still laying eggs & hatching their horrid caterpillars even the chickens turn their beaks up at them.  Have just pulled up most of my PSB.  I did think the lesson was buy enviromesh but now I'm not so sure.  Anyone know of a biological control or any other solutions?

[Robert_Brenchley]

BT. I even had a Small White in the kitchen yesterday.

[Stork]

I have learned many amazing things. Like:

People in London will actually talk to each other!

You can grow brilliant melons in the UK.

Bindweed is the Devil's way of sending you pretty flowers.

In the countryside manure is free - in London it's far from cheap.

The mice eat your corn - but there's still plenty left, so why not share.

That it's fine to worry more about your carrots than what your boss thinks of your last presentation.

And most importantly that the Earth sustains us all and asks for little in return. Let's make sure we look after her a little better.

Stork. 

[cambourne7]

Things I have learnt.

1. Do not share an allotment with a friend, they only show up at harvest time.

2. Do not break your leg, it makes allotmenteering rather difficult.

3. Grow less tomatillos.

4. Grow more carrots.

5. Deer are evil.

6. This year has been really weird.

Agreed with it all espcialy 6 ! - is there anything you can make with tomatillos like a chutney that may suit the tart flavour?

[sally_cinnamon]

I've learnt:-

1  to try all the things you fancy, and even the things you don't - you never really know until you try!

2  to have an "experimental" area for trying one or two of the aforementioned things you don't really fancy cos chances are, the things you grow loads of, you in actual fact, DON'T like.  (tomatillos?  seem to fit into this point!)

3  not to be put off by "difficulty ratings" in books etc.  As has been said on here "plants want to grow!", even the difficult ones!

4  mistakes make for invaluable learning material.

5  that next year i will either improve my memory to remember and learn from my mistakes, or buy a book to write everything down!

6  vegetable growing is addictive and it will soon take over your life!  (in a good way)

7  A4A is the best!

8  lots of other things that i can't remember (refer to point 5!)

 :) ;) :D ;D :-*

[tim]

Large areas of either mesh or fleece are hell to handle.

Mesh - esp the fine stuff - is like a bucket of eels. Fleece will always lift off in the slightest breeze & get under your feet.

DO get help if you can.

[powerspade]

There`s always next year

[Squashfan]

Amen, powerspade!
Things I've learned this year:
Little and often is the way to go with allotments.
Try a row of something different. The row of chard is a delight this year. Also happy with broccoli raab tho it bolts easily. And grow for yourself - if you hate runner beans, don't grow them even if they're easy.
Plant some for the snails! They'll grab some anyway.
Don't panic. It's only an allotment, not bomb-building.
That being said, mesh and fortifications are necessary for brassicas. Get 'em up and then don't worry.
How to make chutney (yum).