Successional sowing - any websites?

[shonam]

We're just in the process of planning a veg patch in the back garden. Have my plan for the raised beds done. Going to order the wood for the beds tomorrow. Its just what to put in them...

Is there a website that might give me an idea of how to make the best of successional sowing and catch cropping to get the most from the limited space we have in the garden. Got a shoebox full of seeds and not sure what to plant when/where to get the most out of the garden. I'm hoping to be ready to start planting by the middle of next week.

Any advice would be really appreciated.

Shona :)

[shonam]

[1066]

Hi
I've found successional sowing is quite tricky. I'm planning on doing carrots, spring onions, salad leaves, pak choi, peas and french beans this year. It's trying to figure out how long things take to get to maturity and then being ready with the seed packet or seedlings to follow on. And obviously you have to take into account varieties etc.
I can't remember seeing any specific sites realting to it. Although you could try TeeGee's website, he has a calendar of when to sow / plant, not sure if that deals specifically with successional sowing or not though!

What did you have in mind to sow/plant?

1066

[GodfreyRob]

Shonam, 1066
Have a look here for an article on following one crop with another:

http://www.thevga.co.uk/the_shed/howto/article2.cgi

This idea of following a veg with another from a different family is built into my Home Grown Live! website to help with choosing suitable veg and recording what you do over successive years  (http://www.thevga.co.uk/hgonline/).

[1066]

thanks for the link  ;) . But what I'm on about is having a steady stream of lettuce or peas that will last me throughout the summer, which so far has yet to happen!!

[GodfreyRob]

To get a continuous supply of lettuce you need to look ahead and think how many you might want to eat say in the average week.

If its 4 then ideally you want 4 maturing each week. Sowing 12 seeds every 3 weeks would mean that in 12-14 weeks time you could start using them.

The period from sowing to harvesting stretchs out as you move from summer to autumn though.

I would treat peas in the same way - perhaps a 5 ft row every 3/4 weeks would give you a succession rather than a glut (although they are easy enough to freeze).

[1066]

that's what I'm on about - thanks GodfreyRob  :D  Trouble is I just have to get round to doing it  ::)

Now as to catch cropping...... that's another ball game!

[GodfreyRob]

that's what I'm on about - thanks GodfreyRob  :D  Trouble is I just have to get round to doing it  ::)

Now as to catch cropping...... that's another ball game!

The secret to catch cropping is to make the most of your available space without wrecking your crop rotation plans (not wanting to run the risk of encouraging peasts, diseases or end up with a starving soil).

Again using veg families you can safetly do this (the article mentioned before does cover this).

[1066]

shonam - sorry for hijacking your thread  :-[ - I hope some of the info is useful for you too  :)

[elvis2003]

that's what I'm on about - thanks GodfreyRob  :D  Trouble is I just have to get round to doing it  ::)

Now as to catch cropping...... that's another ball game!

I had post it notes up in my greenhouse last year to remind to keep on sowing (how sad am I) but it did work!

[TonyD]

i have just been on www.stokesseeds.com website, and with every seed variety they give the amount of days for maturity. go to the site and click on Canadian because they have longer daylight hours similar to ours. allow a few days because their summers are usually drier and hotter and you should have some guide when to seed for succession, i have checked with some of my former customers and have found direct seeding bunch carrots 10/14 days . lettuce sown in modules in the greenhouse 7 days.
this year i am seeding Nantes every 14 days for bunching and Amsterdam for storage/freezing for the winter.
hope this helps  Tony D

[shonam]

Thanks for the advice. I'm going to sit at the weekend and have a proper look through the websites as they're really useful - just what I was looking for. Thank you. x

[1066]

I had post it notes up in my greenhouse last year to remind to keep on sowing (how sad am I) but it did work!

Not sad, you found a way that works for you, I think it's sound advice!   ;D  ;D  ;D