I have brain drain...

[k@ren]

Hi People,
My brain is hurting. I have never been any good with maths or getting things to lodge in my head. I have read untold items about rotations and need some very simple way of organising the data so my head can understand it.

My garden is only 25 x 20 and I have borders 2 foot wide running down both sides, which have been planted with fruit bushes. I have managed to make a bed (thanks for all your help and encouragement )about 6 x 3 I know it is small but I have planted it with cabbage and brocolli.

How many beds do I need altogether is it 2, 3,or 4 or more... Is there a way I can divide the garden up to allow for rotation on such a small scale. And still keep a small lawn. It seems that whatever I try to plan by the time I plan for pathways etc the beds are too small to warrant the effort

I keep reading contradicting things and just need some basic guidelines to follow.
thanks
K@ren X

[k@ren]

[Icyberjunkie]

Karen,  try the link below, it should help.   Iain

http://www.gardenaction.co.uk/fruit_veg_diary/veg_planner.asp



On second thoughts have a read of the thread I started "When does rotation need to be used" that will not be that far away from this one.  There is some good advice in there and apparently the link above is not that good.  It should still give you some idea though.

[fbgrifter]

this is the link that icyberjunkie meant:
http://www.keirg.freeserve.co.uk/diary/tech/rotation.htm

however, if you only have a small plot there's nothing wrong with having just the one bed and mixing it all together, just like you would any border in the garden.  and vegs that equire very different soil conditions can be grown in containers.  there are no hard and fast rules.  you can fit quite a lot of veg into a small space!

[weedin project]

K@ren
I try to keep it simple as my brain ain't as young as it once was....
I have 4 beds and basically stick to 4 groups of plants - e.g. spuds in one bed, sweetcorn, squash and beans in another, onion family in another, and "the rest" in the final bed (this year I'm taking a chance with tomatoes - the chance being that if I get disease then it'll only be 2 years before the spuds get planted into the same bed).
Although I've got photos to help my brain, I also know after 6 months of this year that they are in the following order - corn, spud, onion, toms.  Next year they'll still be in the same order, but the spuds (first ones planted) will be one bed along (where the corn is now).  As long as I can remember where I put the spuds the previous year, I should be OK.

[Mubgrub]

As Joy Larcombe says: "Don't loose sleep over rotation". ;D 

Remeber you don't have to have just one thing in each bed, you can intercrop slow growers with faster growing things to use the space more efficiently.  Or, you could plant half a bed with one thing and half with another if space is short or you only want a few plants of a certain veggie.
Good luck and keep at it! ;D

[redimp]

this is the link that icyberjunkie meant:
http://www.keirg.freeserve.co.uk/diary/tech/rotation.htm

however, if you only have a small plot there's nothing wrong with having just the one bed and mixing it all together, just like you would any border in the garden.  and vegs that equire very different soil conditions can be grown in containers.  there are no hard and fast rules.  you can fit quite a lot of veg into a small space!

I felt certain I had posted that link last night - must be going a bit mad.

[Icyberjunkie]

Would that be due to brain drain then?   EEEEEEEk  do you think it might be catching......

[weedin project]

Good luck with the spuds - I put a little row in last weekend of self-chitted ones that I dug up along with the edibles.  They could be ready in about 3 months - early/mid October for nice new spuds?

Nothing ventured, nothing gained ;D.

[muddygirl]

we started last year with our allotment and tried so hard to do every thing 'right'. we did ok but felt the pressure of the all seeing eyes of experts at our site who although keen to help all had totally different and conflicting advice!
this year we are more laid back and are taking in the advice but doing what feels right for us at our own speed. we have the 4 basic sections, spuds, roots, brassicas and others and have looked at companion planting to make us feel a little more intellectual. (I don't know alot about it but you could try looking at square foot gardening for tips you might use in a small space)
my own feeling is that if you just get out there and plant stuff  something will grow!
good luck!

[fbgrifter]

redclanger>>  u r not going mad...i pilfered your link!   :-*

[redimp]

Thanks for the reassurance - I have spotted I posted it somewhere else and have now emerged from my customary darkened room  ;D