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pics of our veggie plot/ Things to do differently next year
"shannie" wrote in message ...
Hi all, Im very chuffed with how our veggie plot has gone over the past couple of months, a lot of thanks due here to everyone who answered and is still answering my daft questions. If you'd like to see what it's like I've put some pics here, even put a pic of our first lettuce..lol http://community.webshots.com/user/shannie150 Shan Well done Shannie, I've been following your progress with interest since you first posted, as I was embarking on a very similar project to you -- though without all the kids and animals, which probably simplified my task. It is also my first year as a veg gardener, so it's all new to me. At the moment we have 4 varieties of potatoes doing well, onions, shallots, leeks, garlic, mixed leaves lettuce, beetroot, cauliflower, broccoli, carrots, runner beans, tomatoes, asparagus and peppers. On the fruit side we have strawberries and gooseberries, and we've planted two pear trees and a cherry. It's great to watch them all grow. The only failures are spring onions and the rhubarb, which just didn't appear, for some reason. I think I might have planted the rhubarb too deep. Apart from that, nearly everything is doing well, though I still can't decide if what might be carrots are just weeds! And that sums it up really. This year is really a learning process. Next year things will be done a bit differently. Which sounds like the start of a new thread. It's a bit early in the year perhaps, but what would people do differently next year after their experiences this year? Me? 1) Plant far fewer potatoes. I wanted some earlies, second earlies and maincrops but could only find them in large bags, so have ended up with about 150 potato plants. Next year I must find smaller bags, or find someone to share them with. 2) Have a better plan, and do more successional planting. Probably the most elementary error after quantity. I have made a second sowing of lettuce and spinach, but apart from that, I've planted too much of everything at the same time, so they are all maturing at the same time. Next year I have to plan it better so that I'm sowing/planting much smaller quantities but over a longer period of time. 3) Prepare the ground better before I start. This year we created the beds in March - it was a neglected lawn before that - and started planting pretty much straight away. The veg has done well, but next year it would be good to have more time to improve the soil beforehand. 4) Try some different techniques, in particular the no-dig method for potatoes, and some more containers. 5) Have some kind of pond in place for next year. We've not had a slug problem so far. I can only imagine that this is because there is no history of veg or other plants in that area, and so they don't yet know they are there! Next year I imagine they'll be wiser, so we want to encourage frogs and other slug-lovers to the area. Like you, I'm very grateful for the advice and encouragement I've had from the older and wiser hands on this list. I've not posted a lot because I've found a lot of the answers I need from searching back through the archives. Thanks everyone! Will |
#2
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pics of our veggie plot/ Things to do differently next year
Congratulations on a job well done
"will" wrote in message om... "shannie" wrote in message ... Hi all, Im very chuffed with how our veggie plot has gone over the past couple of months, a lot of thanks due here to everyone who answered and is still answering my daft questions. If you'd like to see what it's like I've put some pics here, even put a pic of our first lettuce..lol http://community.webshots.com/user/shannie150 Shan Well done Shannie, I've been following your progress with interest since you first posted, as I was embarking on a very similar project to you -- though without all the kids and animals, which probably simplified my task. It is also my first year as a veg gardener, so it's all new to me. At the moment we have 4 varieties of potatoes doing well, onions, shallots, leeks, garlic, mixed leaves lettuce, beetroot, cauliflower, broccoli, carrots, runner beans, tomatoes, asparagus and peppers. On the fruit side we have strawberries and gooseberries, and we've planted two pear trees and a cherry. It's great to watch them all grow. The only failures are spring onions and the rhubarb, which just didn't appear, for some reason. I think I might have planted the rhubarb too deep. Apart from that, nearly everything is doing well, though I still can't decide if what might be carrots are just weeds! And that sums it up really. This year is really a learning process. Next year things will be done a bit differently. Which sounds like the start of a new thread. It's a bit early in the year perhaps, but what would people do differently next year after their experiences this year? Me? 1) Plant far fewer potatoes. I wanted some earlies, second earlies and maincrops but could only find them in large bags, so have ended up with about 150 potato plants. Next year I must find smaller bags, or find someone to share them with. 2) Have a better plan, and do more successional planting. Probably the most elementary error after quantity. I have made a second sowing of lettuce and spinach, but apart from that, I've planted too much of everything at the same time, so they are all maturing at the same time. Next year I have to plan it better so that I'm sowing/planting much smaller quantities but over a longer period of time. 3) Prepare the ground better before I start. This year we created the beds in March - it was a neglected lawn before that - and started planting pretty much straight away. The veg has done well, but next year it would be good to have more time to improve the soil beforehand. 4) Try some different techniques, in particular the no-dig method for potatoes, and some more containers. 5) Have some kind of pond in place for next year. We've not had a slug problem so far. I can only imagine that this is because there is no history of veg or other plants in that area, and so they don't yet know they are there! Next year I imagine they'll be wiser, so we want to encourage frogs and other slug-lovers to the area. Like you, I'm very grateful for the advice and encouragement I've had from the older and wiser hands on this list. I've not posted a lot because I've found a lot of the answers I need from searching back through the archives. Thanks everyone! Will |
#3
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pics of our veggie plot/ Things to do differently next year
"will" wrote in message om... "shannie" wrote in message ... Hi all, Im very chuffed with how our veggie plot has gone over the past couple of months, a lot of thanks due here to everyone who answered and is still answering my daft questions. Shan Well done Shannie, Thank you *blush* and to everyone who had a look and gave similar praise and encouragement I've been following your progress with interest since you first posted, as I was embarking on a very similar project . It is also my first year as a veg gardener, so it's all new to me. At the moment we have 4 varieties of potatoes doing well, onions, shallots, leeks, garlic, mixed leaves lettuce, beetroot, cauliflower, broccoli, carrots, runner beans, tomatoes, asparagus and peppers. On the fruit side we have strawberries and gooseberries, and we've planted two pear trees and a cherry. It's great to watch them all grow. Isin't it just the best feeling!! The only failures are spring onions and the rhubarb, which just didn't appear, for some reason. I think I might have planted the rhubarb too deep. My spring onions are just not happening for me either, my rhubarb still looks the same as it was when it went in,in april, not dead tho, so still hopeful :-\ Apart from that, nearly everything is doing well, though I still can't decide if what might be carrots are just weeds! Oh boy do I know that feeling! And that sums it up really. This year is really a learning process. Next year things will be done a bit differently. Which sounds like the start of a new thread. It's a bit early in the year perhaps, but what would people do differently next year after their experiences this year? Me? 1) Plant far fewer potatoes. I wanted some earlies, second earlies and maincrops but could only find them in large bags, so have ended up with about 150 potato plants. Next year I must find smaller bags, or find someone to share them with. I have seven rows but haven't a clue about earthing them up, Im doing it with grass as advised but how much and when and whether to leave them grow or keep earthing them up, they're very long and leggy so I did it again, whether or n ot it's right I havent a clue. They're supposed to be so easy, but I just can't get a handle on em at all! 2) Have a better plan, and do more successional planting. Probably the most elementary error after quantity. I have made a second sowing of lettuce and spinach, but apart from that, I've planted too much of everything at the same time, so they are all maturing at the same time. Next year I have to plan it better so that I'm sowing/planting much smaller quantities but over a longer period of time. Agreed, agreed, agreed!!! Got carried away with all the seeds and a vague memory of 'waste not want not' now I have winter cabbage seeds to sow, swede and 50 sprout plants (grown from seed) and nowhere to put em!! If there's anyone from midland Ireland reading and they want brussell sprout plants free give me a shout 3) Prepare the ground better before I start. This year we created the beds in March - it was a neglected lawn before that - and started planting pretty much straight away. The veg has done well, but next year it would be good to have more time to improve the soil beforehand. Yup, me too. Got some farmyard manure 'maturing' in a compost box, all ready for next year. The advise and archive material here on nettle manure (horribly smelly..ugh!!) saved my life and plot this year 4) Try some different techniques, in particular the no-dig method for potatoes, and some more containers. I've recently gotten a glass house, so things will be different next year for me also, got to work out quantities and timing better tho. 5) Have some kind of pond in place for next year. We've not had a slug problem so far. I can only imagine that this is because there is no history of veg or other plants in that area, and so they don't yet know they are there! Next year I imagine they'll be wiser, so we want to encourage frogs and other slug-lovers to the area. The hole's dug, just waiting for himself to sort that one Like you, I'm very grateful for the advice and encouragement I've had from the older and wiser hands on this list. I've not posted a lot because I've found a lot of the answers I need from searching back through the archives. Thanks everyone! ditto! Geeze Will you saved me a lot of typing, you could be me, or is it I could be you?...lol......Im sure some of the old hands sometimes tutt tutt at my posts but hopefully listening to us 'infant' gardeners will bring back memories of how it felt " that first season".....such a nice feeling too! Shan Will |
#4
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pics of our veggie plot/ Things to do differently next year
In article , shannie
writes Geeze Will you saved me a lot of typing, you could be me, or is it I could be you?...lol......Im sure some of the old hands sometimes tutt tutt at my posts but hopefully listening to us 'infant' gardeners will bring back memories of how it felt " that first season".....such a nice feeling too! Am I an 'old hand'? I've certainly never tut-tutted at any of your posts! I may not have answered many (any?) of your questions, but you are one of the people I make a point of reading. My motivation for urg is two-fold: a) I love plants and talking about them, and to be able to make suggestions to less experienced gardeners and watch them gain confidence and take off and fly is wonderful! b) I learn such a lot! - a huge amount. OK, I don't ask many questions, but seeing the answers to other questions has given me *so* much extra knowledge. And of course the mere act of answering someone else's question is a learning process too - you have to get the subject straight in your own mind before answering, and think about why it all fits together, and sometimes the questions makes you think of something from a different angle, and sometimes you have to go and check your facts in a book .. And sometimes someone corrects you and puts you straight! I see urg as a sort of organic learning body. It's not a group of 'experts' advising a group of new gardeners. Rather, as we all chat together we *all* move forward together in our understanding and knowledge. -- Kay Easton Edward's earthworm page: http://www.scarboro.demon.co.uk/edward/index.htm |
#5
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pics of our veggie plot/ Things to do differently next year
"Kay Easton" wrote in message snip I see urg as a sort of organic learning body. It's not a group of 'experts' advising a group of new gardeners. Rather, as we all chat together we *all* move forward together in our understanding and knowledge. Lovely post Kay) O |
#6
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pics of our veggie plot/ Things to do differently next year
"Kay Easton" wrote in message ... In article , shannie writes Geeze Will you saved me a lot of typing, you could be me, or is it I could be you?...lol......Im sure some of the old hands sometimes tutt tutt at my posts but hopefully listening to us 'infant' gardeners will bring back memories of how it felt " that first season".....such a nice feeling too! Am I an 'old hand'? I've certainly never tut-tutted at any of your posts! I may not have answered many (any?) of your questions, but you are one of the people I make a point of reading. Thank you Gosh I hope I didn't offend anyone by using the term 'old hand' but when you compare my complete lack of knowledge on the growing of veggies to folk who've been at it longer, it just seemed the right phrase My motivation for urg is two-fold: a) I love plants and talking about them, and to be able to make suggestions to less experienced gardeners and watch them gain confidence and take off and fly is wonderful! Which is just what has been done for me I see urg as a sort of organic learning body. It's not a group of 'experts' advising a group of new gardeners. Rather, as we all chat together we *all* move forward together in our understanding and knowledge. Kay Easton A lovely way to describe urg Kay....perfec! Shan |
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