The Poultry Keeper

Lisa · Posted: Sat Jan 07, 2006 5:59 pm Post subject: How do you decide what to grow?

Right. I've got a 10 pole allotment, which I started part of last year. This year (back more or less better now - as long as I keep up the exercises) my aim is to grow a wide selection of veg all year round, if I can.

I've divided it up into equal areas for crop rotation as per The RHS website, got my compost bins going etc...

But how do I plan exactly what to grow and when!?

I've started with deciding on around 52 seed potatoes (one for each week of the year, assuming I can grow some that are recommended for storage).

But how do I avoid a glut of runner beans and courgettes in the summer? Or grow enough carrots? (We want loads of these). Or how can I plan to have something available at this time of year too? And how do I narrow down my list of my favourite 24 varieties of tomatoes (beware going to the Totally Tomato show - that's all I say Wink

)

I'm finding it all rather confusing. Aaarrrggghhh....

So how do you grow your veg? Do you sit down and plan it all beforehand with military precision? Or do you just dive in with enthusiasm and see what you get?

nigel · Posted: Sat Jan 07, 2006 6:03 pm Post subject:

we decide what to grow, by first looking at what we want to eat. Then picking varieties that taste of something rather than just grow big or look good on a show bench. I'd rather harvest a few misshapen whatevers that taste amazing than hundreds of perfect looking things that taste of nothing.

I don't know if you can avoid gluts of runner beans Confused

Loudmouth Schnook · Posted: Sat Jan 07, 2006 6:16 pm Post subject:

for me, it depends on where you are, how wet and windy the climate is. I used to grow courgettes and runner beans when I lived in England, but have not attempted them up here in Lewis. It's far too wet for courgettes, they'd just rot and I would think the runner beans would just get blown over. Kale and cabbages do really well, but I'm not really keen on those! Trial and error - plant what you like to eat and see what does best.

Lisa · Posted: Sat Jan 07, 2006 6:17 pm Post subject:

Heather · Posted: Sat Jan 07, 2006 6:18 pm Post subject:

I agree - taste over quantity every time - but with some things you can get both Wink

You may get gluts of runner beans or other beans - but you can freeze / pickle then - nothing better in a crunchy picallili - homemade nothing like the pap you get fro H**nz or whoever makes it

I also grew a few varieties of beans that you use either fresh or let them grow bigger and dry them - one of my favourites was Borlotti Lingua de Fuaca (sp? )

Lisa · Posted: Sat Jan 07, 2006 6:20 pm Post subject:

Lisa · Posted: Sat Jan 07, 2006 6:22 pm Post subject:

Heather · Posted: Sat Jan 07, 2006 6:25 pm Post subject:

LOL - just getting you back for putting in the links to those lovely seed catalogues

I found another one this morning too !!

Lisa · Posted: Sat Jan 07, 2006 6:31 pm Post subject:

Go on, do tell...

Heather · Posted: Sat Jan 07, 2006 6:36 pm Post subject:

You sure ??? Shocked

this Kokopelli association should take you to the English version of the site , if not look around there is a union flag somewhere ( unless you can be bothered to read French)

Heather xx

NannyP · Posted: Sat Jan 07, 2006 6:56 pm Post subject:

Listen you lot, can you stop this right now!!!

I've been struggling with my back for a couple of weeks, and all this talk of gardening, allotments and crop rotating is making it hurt even more. I am beginning to wonder how I'm gonna achieve a pottager when we live in France Shocked

Loudmouth Schnook · Posted: Sat Jan 07, 2006 7:29 pm Post subject:

You'll have to take not only Cadbury's to France but... your own shiatsu therapist! Cool

milkmaid · Joined: 19 Apr 2005 Posts: 6926 Location: isle of lewis

the front garden is meant to be a pottager Rolling Eyes

ducks
holly get a poly ,before yours blew down we had sweetcorn ,french beans ,courgettes ,peppers etc
Lisa started with one ended up with three, that's how we afforded to move up here ate nothing apart from what we grew and a couple of meat meals a week Cool

don't find the address for Wallis seeds ,they are not on line loads of stuff ,and chiltren seeds they are on line they're great
plan then throw out the window ,when planting and of course forget to label your rows when planting so when you really enjoy a flavor you carn't remember what the hell it was Embarassed

suz

Lisa · Posted: Sat Jan 07, 2006 8:45 pm Post subject:

stuffed · Joined: 09 Oct 2005 Posts: 50 Location: Milton Keynes

My mum and dad have an allotment in New Bradwell and I may be sharing it this year but I can't decide what to grow either. I know I'm gonna have cucumbers because my little boy loves them and I grew some this year, they were nice and easy. I'll also be growing some potatoes but not huge numbers just a few for the earlies Wink

apart from that I can't decide Rolling Eyes