My question goes out to mainly the people on here who are in thier second or third year of having their plot, but any thoughts from anyone will be useful.
What are you doing differently this year from what you did last year when it was all new to you?
For instance I spent ages picking and buying seeds early only to find the same items alot cheaper had I only waited a while (£2.80 for onion sets that I could have got yesterday in Wilk's for 99p)
Have you learn what and how much you need/eat?
I am growing stuff we don't normaly eat on the off chance we may, seeing as I've grown it. I am growing squash and pumpkin but have never even tasted either. So that may be something I may change next year.
There must be lots more things you lot out there have done and thought, I 'll do that different next year that you would like to share with me and the other newbies on here. Who are all waiting seed packet in hand/ seedling in greenhouse waiting for the weather to get warmer.
planning is the best advice I can offer.
1. Only grow what you like and in a succession to allow for the amount you can eat.
2. Plan you allotment, I use a 4 cycle rotation system
3. Plan you planting schedule to account for space available and the amount you can use.
4. shop around for seeds - Lidl and Wilkinson's are a lot cheaper than catallogues, although some stuff is not available
hi Gary, I've learnt that I need to sow far more plants than I actually think I'll need to allow for birds, mice and slugs ... lost lots of plants last year. Also, I started my main sowing end March / April which was too late for some things and therefore I didn't get a good crop (aubergines being the main one I can think of).
The soil that I manured is much better than the soil that I didn't and this year I'll be making a bigger effort to get homemade compost and leaf mold to start conditioning it.
Feeling much better prepared this year, but there are always lots of things to learn and improve upon.
hi gary, the one thing i can think of is that its okay to buy cheep seeds and onion sets to experiment with. but this year i've studied various seed catalogues, and chosen vegs that will suit my site, time constraints, and tastes.
and don't forget, if you grow too much of something or find out you don't actually like the taste, you will probably find another person on your site that you can do swapsies with! ;D
Dee
I'm on my 16th year and I'm still learning. The end of seasons seeds, @Oct/nov in Wyevale and other Garden centres are a great way to get seeds... 25p a packet, some worth £3 on the back!
;D
I'm in my third year and I've started experimenting with crops I've never grown before as well as the regular ones. I'm really looking forward to this year.
I spent a fair while searching online for the vegetables which suit my plot and more importantly, my taste.
What is most valuable is the information I am learning from here. It's great to be able to talk (well, type) to so many others who are willing to share their knowledge. It makes you realise how little you really know!
Sorry this should have been in "Basics" and not in here can I move it?
The biggest lessons I've learned are: -
1) Sow successionally.
2) Don't sow too early!
3) Don't try to do too much in a day (unless it's weeding!!)
4) Don't get too dis-heartened when cabbage whites/pigeons/slugs/flea beetle/carrot fly eat all yer crops!
This year we're going to try to grow more of what has been successful in the past (this is the 3rd year) ie new spuds, onions, parsnips, beetroot, garlic, leeks, beans (all types), lettuce (loads), pumpkins(the kids loved em last year), courgettes, tomatoes, squash & soft fruit.
We struggle to grow carrots, swede, cabbage & broccoli although we will still try. We are also going to try new crops for us like sweetcorn & spinach this year.
Patience, perseverance and persistance. If at first you don't succeed, sow again as there is still time. And don't panic! All of a sudden, spring is upon us and I go mad and sow sow sow. This year I am determined that I will SUCCESSIONAL SOW! ;D
Last year, my first, I was busy planting the fruit bushes and asparagus and it took up a lot of time. My plot had been a field which had been ploughed so digging the furrows was hard work in fact about 1/4 of my plot is still furrows with weeds. All the spare ground including the undug bit I used to grow kaboucha Squash (you can see my harvest to the left) and we are still eating them.
I didn't manage to get much else in except shallots, leeks, radishes, courgettes, tomatoes, raddichio, spring onions and a few carrots in a container. The broad beans got chocolate spot and were inedible. I'm hoping to have more this year but the weather has held up preparation and I've bought more raspberry canes so have yet more fruit to get in!
I have a feeling I'm not going to get as much as I would like done again this year.
Second year. Last year we got the allotment in Spring and it took a while to clear, so there was a lot of 'panic' seed buying and planting. We found the main constraint was space because it's not a very big plot (55ft x 25ft).
Each year we will have a better idea of which veg work for us, so the strategy is to cut out or down on those we grew too much of (e.g. celeriac) and those that were too space hungry in relation to the crop (e.g. PSB) and grow several more varieties of each type of veg we like to identify one or two at most to keep planting over the years to come and get into a simpler routine.
I'll still try to grow new varieties (but in small quantities) and least one odd vegetable each year - last year Malabar climbing spinach, this year Thai pea aubergines and strawberry sticks (courtesy of Sawfish)
The important thing is to keep a record - you'll never remember everything you did and when you did it
I'm in year 5 but still learning every day.
What I'll be doing differently? Spending more time in preperation to save time later on, whether thats in soil preperation of building structures.
What do I grow? About 60% staple foods, 20% stuff thats enticed me in catalogues, and 30% flowers, that way its always new and exciting for me.
This year I've taken on another plot which is about 200' from the old one but because of the geography of the site I now see people that I've never seen before. I reckon I've had at least 8 people come up to me and say 'oh you may be full of enthusiasm now but just you wait, its hard work you know etc etc'. I like to let them carry on for a few minutes before I tell them that I've had a plot of 5 years already and havent got disheartened yet. It does annoy me though that newbies could be disheartened by such banter and I dont really see the point of it.
Each year I enjoy my plot more, each year I swear I wont make the same mistakes, but most years I do. :-\
For me, it's been work with the soil you have and don't waste time & effort on things that just don't do well in the soil or conditions you have. Don't be a martyr to palnting & sowing times if you have a busy life, it goes in when you have time & the weather is favourable, not when it says so on the packet. And lastly, what's a few weeds, tch, stuff still grows. ;)
I've had my allotment for 30 years. Tend to grow what I know will do reasonably well. Have a terrible time growing onions due to "white rot" but love the challenges nature throws at us. ;)
Hi. This is my third year on my allotment and I would say that I have learned a lot from the first couple of years.
Firstly, it is better to feed the soil rather than the plants! In my first year I had really poor soil as the plot had been neglected for over 10 years and had all sorts dumped on it. Last year was better after lots of muck applied, and this year I am hoping for best crop yet......weather permitting.
Secondly, plan what you want to grow and when you need to sow. Follow the instructions on the seed packet - but also take advice from fellow allotmenteers who can give you a better idea of when to sow/transplant in your area.
Thirdly, only grow what you know you and the family will eat - and grow successionally to make sure you have your favourites for as long as possible. And do experiment with different veg etc. but in small quantities....just in case you don't like them much.
And finally...don't try and do everything at once you only get backache, don't get disheartened when your leeks grow no bigger than spring onions.....tell everyone they are baby veg. And most of all the thing I have learned is that growing my own veg is the most relaxing, rewarding and enjoyable thing I have done for years. So much so I have taken on a second allotment this year!
I'm into my third year. The thing I did differently this year was to start my digging a lot earlier. (I'm still clearing ground in which to plant). Having finished at around New Year, I'm now able to 'sit back' and take it easy knowing that there is no digging that I have to do. Just keeping on top of the weeding. Much easier. Advice - start earlier.
Our seventh year. There's not much more to add to all the sound advice above, is there? But for me, the main things have been:
a) Keep records, both notes & plans. You won't remember from year to year.
b) Every year is different, so if one crop does badly one year it might do well next year. (Conversely, of course....)
c) Experiment, but only with one thing at a time!
d) Enjoy it! (And keep learning!!!!)
Trevor
We are starting our 2nd year, and the things we have learnt so far are:
1 How much we hate couch grass.
2 Never put trays of seeds where the dog can get them.
3 Should have started preparing the beds a lot earlier.
4 Do not start sowing seeds the minute the packet says you can.
5 Do not sow most of the packet of tomatoes, they will mostly germinate and you will run out of room.
6 Don't put pots with beloved blueberry bushes where the dog can get them.
7 Most importantly, have fun and try not to kill the dog!
we are into year 2 you can see wht we got up to on our site www.lottieblogs.co.uk (http://www.lottieblogs.co.uk).
However the main differences are variations of the seeds and varieties grown however keeping the best from last year to make the best possible combinations.
Our biggest change is more mulching
More mulching - absolutely, much more mulching, thanks to SS's advice - forgot to mention that.
Also, if you have flying rats you will need a vegetable cage to protect your brassicas.
We're starting our second full year, plus we had half a season in 2005. This year for the first time we've grown some tulips for cut flowers. We've also planted fruit trees and bushes over the winter months, so we're beginning to think longer term. I'm building a fruit cage. We've extended our raised beds.
As for varieties, we'll grow loads of tomatoes and beans, just as we've done in the past two years, but we're also going to try a few new things (to us) such as fennel and celery. If they don't work, well, too bad.
Second year for me and i'll be growing more as last year I lost alot due to slugs, birds, just dying etc so thats what i'm doing this year sow more of everything maybe in two sowings.
Most has been said already
1) Water the plants at the bottom of the stem rather than on the leaves so they dont burn.
2) When you plan - plan to sow early late and main crop of as many varieties of veg as you like to eat. It keeps your plot active, keeps you in food, & if it is full of veg - there is less room for weeds to push through.
3) Dont forget about inter-cropping with quick growing veg. (to fill gaps as you harvest stuff out)
4) Permenant paths are now in my preferred position.
5) If you can - dont have all your water barrels in one corner of the allotment. I have some on opposite corners. Saves carrying.
6) Experiment with something new each year - be it fruit or a different veg. If you dont like it - at least you have tried it ;)
Second year for us too - and the old boys said we wouldn't last! ;D
1. Panic less - if it grows it grow if it doesn't, stick something else in.
2. Plant much more sweetcorn - just too delicious not to :)
3. Plant less cabbages - there is a limit to how many you can eat in a week :-X
We are already finding the planting diary we used last year (as recommended on A4A!) really helpful to avoid the mistakes of last year. Leeks in the airing cupboard - what was i thinking
;D
I think I am on about my 23rd year and I haven't got it right yet and I don't expect I ever will ???
But then again thats the beauty of it all, I think if I had it all stereo typed I might give up!!
Thanks for all of your replies all valuable infomation. If I and the other newbies have learnt one thing it is that no matter how long you've been doing it you don't get it right every time.
Mouseski. How much is much more sweetcorn? I plan a 12 feet by 4 feet bed for sweetcorn and one for minipop (for two of us but have had a few requests for spares). This is one of the things i am looking foward to most.
To any one courgettes. 3 yellow and 3 green agian for two. also requests for spares and I have the space should I plant more?
Gary
Preparing the ground.
Growing veggies that my family like.
Getting the sowing and planting times right.
Growing more carrots.
Patience when waiting to plant (frosts).
Keeping everything diaryed.
More hoeing less weeding.
Enjoy it don't let it become a chore.
Making use of the non rotation plants to fill the gaps
And finally as Coznbob says don't sow all the tomato seeds, I kept this one quiet but I had over a hundred tommy plants last year, bloody garden looked like a garden center. :o :o ;D ;D ;D
Quote from: gary on March 21, 2007, 19:34:30
To any one courgettes. 3 yellow and 3 green agian for two. also requests for spares and I have the space should I plant more?
I grew 2 yellow and 2 green courgettes last season and had them coming out of my ears - double figures some weeks, the size of marrows. Just two of us and we were swamped - even neighbours, friends and work colleagues started to avoid us when they saw the little monsters bulging out of carrier bags.
Quote from: gary on March 21, 2007, 19:34:30
Mouseski. How much is much more sweetcorn? I plan a 12 feet by 4 feet bed for sweetcorn and one for minipop (for two of us but have had a few requests for spares). This is one of the things i am looking foward to most.
We planted 24 plants last year in a 6 foot by 5 foot space (ish!). This year we are tripling production! Theres just two of us but it won't go to waste. We are even aiming to take a camping stove to eat it as fresh as possible. Mouth is watering at the thought. :D Will never touch the tinned stuff again!
How far apart did you put them, and how good was the crop? I always put my plants 18 inches apart, interspersed with the odd squash.
I have read else where that 12 inch spacing all round in a block is better but what do I know I have never grown it before!
Gary
I do the same as Robert ...
I put mine in a block, with three rows side my side, everything spaced at 18 inches, and a few squashes among the corn. The spacing really depends on the size your corn grows to.
THey were about a foot apart(started in loo rolls and then planted outside with plastic bottle hats until they established), in a block. there were three butternut squash rambling underneath.
We got at least two cobs off each. Going to attempt three sisters planting this year to make good use of the space. I don't know if this is good production but it tasted so fiiinnnnne
It sounds a pretty good use of the space if you got that many cobs.
Bit of advice re your sweetcorn, forgive me if I am preaching to the converted here, but there are a lot of newbies out there.
Planting corn early wil not give you better results, actually it is one veggie that dislikes it.The earlies have an internal time shedule, if you are starting in pots it needs to be timed so that from germination to planting out should only be about three weeks, they will stop growing in the pots and take a while to recover so transplant indoors into larger containers rather than keep them in little pots if the weather is iffy. It is better however to wait till the weather has warmed up and germinate and plant out quickly. If you direct seeds wait till the ground is warm.
If you are using the supersweet or sugar enhanced, it need even more heat to germinate than the usual corn ( 70f) regular corn needs 60F
They need to grow a certain amount of leaves within 30-40 days before they tassel even if the plant is not ful sized by then.
If planting direct,plant 4-6 inches apart in rows 30 inches apart with a minimum of 4 rows,so a block if you are not planting many. Don't plant in soil that is too cold , they will rot, you can cover with clear plastic till they germinate. USE treated corn to prevent rot if the weather is less than it's bets.It needs a lot of fertiliser,thin to 8-10 inches apart for regular corn, large varieties or doubles need 1 foot but not more as pollination can be hampered. Keep free of weeds till 1 foot high then let them go,Plants have very shallow roots, so don't cutivate too close.
Pick a variety that does well in a short season if you are north.
I start mine inside in May, so they can go straight out without a pause,when they are two -three weeks old.
Some varieties have to seperated from others.
Regular Corn. Hybrid or OP.Varieties can be mixed.
Sugar Enhanced needs no isolation from other varieties either in it's family or from the ones above,
Super sweets ( wrinkled corn)must be isolated from other types by 25 feet or both types will cross pollinate and the resulting corn will be starchy.
It is therefore useful on a lottie to know what your neighbour is growing.
. Hope this is of some use to someone.
XX Jeannine
Quote from: froglets on March 21, 2007, 11:32:19
For me, it's been work with the soil you have and don't waste time & effort on things that just don't do well in the soil or conditions you have. Don't be a martyr to planting & sowing times if you have a busy life, it goes in when you have time & the weather is favourable, not when it says so on the packet. And lastly, what's a few weeds, tch, stuff still grows. ;)
Agreed, absolutely.
Year 2 por moi and lessons that I've learned are:
- Just because you have an allotment your Carbs- & Protein-lovin' OH won't suddenly start to like veg. ::) ;D
- OH saying asparagus (or other veg) would be lovely suddenly becomes "asparagus is alright" when you announce that you're putting aside land for an asparagus bed to hold 20 crowns.
- Grow the stuff you love that is expensive (globe artichokes) or invisible (chard) in the dastardly supermarkets.
- Be aware that the changing weather patterns will also change your sowing times. I was still harvesting courgettes in mid October because of the weather.
- Don't sow too early or too much and the kitchen is not to be considered a greenhouse. Unless you are growing chillies...
- Your spine is for life, not just for shifting the manure delivery.
- Invest in some thick plastic to line the back of the car - keeps everyone happy.
- Spending an hour each weekday in the summer digging out rocks the size of a football is a genuinely great way to wind down after battling with your boss & the London traffic. Can't wait for the long evenings to return and this poxy weather to end.
- Courgettes & squash take up much more space than you imagined and can be difficult to give away...
- NEVER forget to take your water with you! Great handfulls of raspberries are lovely but don't make up for the dehydration.
- Weeds grow. Alot. Weeds laugh at you when you try to poison them. Some weeds can be eaten and who gets the last laugh then, eh? Mwahahahaaa!
- Mow/slash/burn weeds before they flower, that way they won't sow more weed seeds and you will also not upset your neighbours.
- Buying plug plants is not cheating.
- When the neighbouring plot holder has mesh cages and a son with a valid shooting license, take heed: pheasants and pigeons are a problem. Make some mesh cages of your own.
- Mulch, mulch and mulch some more.
- All those bricks and paving slabs will never lay themselves nor be enough to cover your paths. Give up and use cardboard, newspaper and straw.
- JCB strimmers are a pile of poo and will never work when you need them to.
- Stop fretting. The only people who have plots that look like Kew belong to people who practically live on their plot.
- If you're going to plan and constantly re-plan your allotment layout on work time make sure that you A: have your back to the wall ;D and B: send a copy home to work on when it's raining.
- If you're invited to the site's social highlight of the year, don't forget to turn up because the World Cup is on...
- Mum is a World Champion weeder of the highest order.
---
Jeannine - that's marvelous advice! Being a Newbie of the Complete Numpty variety, none of my sweetcorn worked last year. I hear everyone raving about them and find little tiddling plants that won't grow above 6 inches even though they were started in pots. Due to no greenhouse/windowsills I need to direct sow and will use your advice and see what happens!
Quote from: gary on March 21, 2007, 19:34:30
To any one courgettes. 3 yellow and 3 green again for two. also requests for spares and I have the space should I plant more?
Oh my GAAAAWWDD!! NOOOOO! Plant one of each variety ony - they'll probably feed a family of 30! I planted two of each (and I'm the only one who likes courgettes - but only when they're babys) and had a hard time trying to grab them all before they became proper courgette size (yerk :-\) or marrows ( :-X :-X :-X). The courgette flowers though are a glorious boon and many a flower was used for risotto/ tempura/ stuffed.
Great advice Jeannine,thanks, I have made notes - must protect and nurture my favourite crop :D
3rd season - so let's see ...
weeds don't take time off just cos you do!
pests are king and life is short so get over it and learn to accommodate them ;D
remember to harvest what you grow (D'Oh :-[ !!)
grow what you eat, but you might just eat what you grow so give something new a go!!
I have learned a lot from this, so thanks for all your input. I also hope other have also gleamed some infomation from this post, but I intend at the end of the year to ask everyone the question "What have you learned this year?"
One more bit of advice to add: label EVERYTHING. You won't remember what's in those pots, or recognise the seedlings that are coming up, believe me. Oh, and sow in straight rows and leave the markers in, that way you can tell seedlings from weeds.
Better to plant later - they soon catch up (I'm in Scotland).
Get the staples right and in the right quantities
Ignore OH saying "we'll never eat all that". Not only do we eat it all we frequently run out.
Try a couple of new things every year. We adore celeriac and swiss chard that we had never eaten before.
Research your recipes! ;)
Stay cool and let it happen. Do what you can.