Who is growing what next year???

To start this off, I was given some seeds by my son to plant in 2009 -

Early Broccoli, Radish, Onions, tomatoes, lettuce, carrots and a few others that I can't remember.

As the seeds do not have to be planted by 2011, the plan is to have a couple/few raised beds built up and only plant a few seeds at a time, making sure that the soil is right for each type (I know broccoli needs firm soil, carrots need clear soil etc) to see how I can get the best out of them

So will need to start building a couple of small raised beds soon to get me started. I'm also waiting for the seed potatoes and potato grow bags to arrive from Marshal seeds

will let you all know how it all goes

I'm creating a small veg patch next year for the first time but things I know I want to grow will be tomatoes, zucchini, onions (white skinned ones pref), globe artichoke, salad leaves, sweetcorn.

Will try and write a picture story throughout the year detailing how things go.

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High Speed Dirt

B&Q have a deal on seed potato's at the moment. We have the barrels for them between the beds this year.

Change of plan this year for the garden based on what we learnt. The quality of the soil here is rubbish so we did a load of raised beds, the brocolli, cauli and cabbage didnt like them (mix of soil and compost) so they are going straight into the ground next year.

I'll do a proper list of what worked later but basically everything grew well, nippy's suggestion of self blancing celery grew really well, there is a link somewhere to the people who he recommended, thats who we got it from. Tom's are also going straight in the ground.

Oh, and we discovered that corriander doesnt regrow, when you want some you have to plant it, unlike other things you cant simply cut it and expect it regrow like some herbs do.

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A little sassafras, a little spearmint maybe.

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Lying outrageously on the internet since 2002.

As time goes on, I'm afraid we become less adventurous, although undoubtedly more productive! We grow what we can eat (or share), and especially things that can be preserved easily.

So ... lots of beans - broad beans, French climbing and dwarf beans, runner beans
Tomatoes - plum tomatoes for cooking, and Tigerellas and Gardeners Delight for eating
Onions - red and white, and shallots. Never did well with garlic, so won't bother with that.
Brassicas - oh, yes. Spring cabbage, brussels sprouts, broccoli, PSB. Caulis are difficult, and summer cabbage doesn't get eaten since there's so many other things around.
Peas - several varieties to extend the season.
Spinach
Leeks
Maybe some white celery (ie not self-blanching)
Roots - carrots, parsnips, beetroot. Not swede or turnip, which we don't really use. Maybe the odd celeriac.
Florence fennel
Courgettes (of course), but not other squash nor pumpkins
In the cold frames a few aubergines and cucumbers. Some hot peppers. Maybe a sweet pepper or two, but they're rather weather dependent.
Salads of course. Lettuce, radishes.

And we've got some globe artichoke plants that are quite productive.

No spuds, though. Too much work and too much space for too little reward.

And that doesn't count the fruit!

I'm putting in purple broccoli where the parsnips were and parsnips where the beans and peas were. The beans are going along the wall this time but I'm gonna try to stop them growing too tall this time. I have got garlic everywhere. I have some yellow tomatoes but last year I had blight so I might try them in the front garden in amongst the flowers, see if that helps. I also have some yellow courgettes and there is thyme and rosemary by the kitchen door. The strawberries in the basket were got by the vine weevil so I'm prepared to plant out some of the runners later in the year.

The main thing I will try to do is plant more of everything. I was too cautious last year!

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Bi-atch pee!

I like the lazy sorts of plants.

Harvesting Jerusalem artichokes now.

Also have tree onions.

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A fool may ask questions a wise man cannot answer.