Topic: Help Needed! Seedoholic ! How many varietys do I really need?

[carbonel11]

Sorry that should be seven rods ( spot the newbie), also had a near miss when the spell check tried to change my brassica bed into a brassier bed!

[Tee Gee]

As Deb says; The trouble is eliminating them the next year, not so easy

The way I do it is;

Firstly let me tell you all that I order my seeds in Oct/Nov i.e. at the end of the season.

I sit down with my seed storage tins and seed catalogue and go through the catalogue in alphabetical order and ask myself a series of questions such as;

On variety X;

1) Do I need these?

2)Have I any left from last year?

3)When I last grew them were they any good?

4)If the answer is yes! it raises the question do I need more?

5)If yes I tick the box if No! I don't tick the box.

6) If the answer to Q3 was no and I have some left, I bin them!!

This stops the temptation of sowing them come sowing time [Been there have you  ::) ]

Once I have been through my left overs and ticked the essentials, I then have a look at a few different varieties of things that I normally grow, and somethings that I have never grown before, and tick a few of these.

I post my order and thats it;  I buy no more

This is a picture of how my seeds look at the beginning of a season i.e. Now!

[Borlotti]

I think we all tend to buy too many seeds, the pictures on the packet are just so tempting.  Also I tend to plant too many plants too close together, how many courgettes can one eat, give away.  Remember some seed packets have hundreds of seeds in them.  Oh well, at least it isn't gambling or spending money on wine or ciggies and a packet of seeds can be cheap if you shop around.  Do I really need 500 beetroot, but it is all good fun.  It is a miracle really when you look at a tiny seed, just planted tomato seeds on window cill and can hardly see them, and they grow (I hope) into lovely plants.  I bought the blight resistant ones, more expensive and not too many seeds but 20 plants should see me OK.  Only have one allotment, with all the seeds could take over the whole site!!!!!

[nilly71]

Welcome to the forum :)
I'm the same as you, took on the allotment in early September with no seeds, joined here and now have:

30 verieties of beans
9 corgettes
6 carrots
5 egg plants
7 onions
4 peas
9 peppers
14 squash/pumpkin
10 tomatoes
3 turnips (we never buy turnips :-\ )

and loads of other stuff 2/3 verieties of each

I have half a plot and have no idea what i am going to grow first ;D

I've just bought a small chest freezer from ebay for the shed just to make sure i have somewhere to store all the access veg :o

It's all your fault...you lot ;)

Neil

 Forgot about the fruit trees/bushes: 12 trees and 10 bushes :o

[cleo]

And welcome from me

My name is Cleo and I`m a seedaholic-------------

[shirlton]

Tee Gee you are far too sensible. ;D

[carbonel11]

That website link that Barnowl gave earlier is great. The company do seeds cheaply in smaller quantities ( just right for me) so you can buy more varieties and types for your money and your not overloaded with seed you don't need. Wish I'd known about it earlier but will deffo use for next year , and yes I've just seen a few more packets of things i might not be able to do without  :o ;D
Thanks Barnowl  :)

[Sparkly]

I am terrible for buying seeds and am tempted by the catalogues, in the shops and websites. I have far too many seeds to actually grow. I did have a sort out at the start of the year and gave a load away in a seed parcel. I can't help myself, but it doesn't really matter. Seeds are not that expensive in relation to other things and it keeps me happy.

[valmarg]

Many thanks for all your warm welcomes. I am now wondering if I've got a spare smidgen of space on the lottie to squeeze black kale in !!!!!! :o........... or maybe I could put it in at home .................. Fraid you all ain't been much help on the seed addiction  ;D but it's nice to know I'm in good company :)

I'm sorry if we've not been terribly helpful with your seed buying.

The basics are, look at what space you've got.  What do you like to eat.

We only have our back garden so we don't have much room.  Potatoes (other than in tubs for first earlies are a no no).  We don't have room for onions, much as we use them.

We have two greenhouses, a 20' x 12' and a 10' x 8'.

Believe me, I've been there.  It is soo difficult.

When you look at the catalogues, they are so tempting, and I would have to be the first to confess that I succumb.

Grow what you know you like, not what seems nice.

Grow your 'tried and tested', and then get more adventurous.

valmarg

[1066]

I've just bought a small chest freezer from ebay for the shed just to make sure i have somewhere to store all the access veg :o
Neil

That has to be the definition of an optimist !!! deinitely a glass half-full!

Oh, and welcome carbonel11   ;D

[saddad]

We have two large upright freezers in the shed... but still have no space.  :-X

[Jeannine]

I buy them all.. it is much cheaper than Radley handbags...welcome.

XX Jeannine

[woodypecks]

.....it is not just seeds with me .....ok I,ll own up ....I bought 7 of those bargain fruit trees at the supermarket.....all my housekeeping money !  Still we can live on PANCAKES cant we !    :D  Debs

[carbonel11]

.....it is not just seeds with me .....ok I,ll own up ....I bought 7 of those bargain fruit trees at the supermarket.....all my housekeeping money !  Still we can live on PANCAKES cant we !    :D  Debs

LOL Good luck with planting the orchard  ;D  I must admit I've been sorely tempted myself only thing saving me is our Allotments don't allow trees. :) I did buy a couple of fig trees from wilkos for home though. What varieties have you got for your fruit bowl needs ?