Veg to plant in February and things to do.

oligeo

Hi everyone, I'm new to this thread. I've taken on an allotment, about a month ago. After lots of hard work we've cleared and dug over about a quarter of it (its 5m x 35m). I need to start dividing that part up into managable sized beds, and then get planting. I've not planted anything yet and I'm panicking after reading this thread as everyone seems to have planted up lots of seeds! I've not got a greenhouse, so limited on space for indoor planting. I've got some garlic and some shallots to go in, hopefully later this week if the rain stops.

I've been taking notes as I've read this thread as you're all so helpful! I'm certainly going to be needing some guidance and help from you more experienced growers.

At one end of my allotment there's some raspberry canes which I cut right down so I'm hoping these will be productive. I've got some more canes to go in - just need to turn over the grownover space. Do I need to dig any special compost in to help them along?

Thanks
Sarah

Sally_A

Don't panic Sarah, buy some spuds and get chitting - as you are a little bit later on go for a good blight resistant maincrop, and save new spuds until next year. Google "taterbase", it should take you to Dundry Nurseries site and it gives good facts about each spud type (more links work in IE than in firefox).

Did you inherit a compost heap - if so spread it on or dig it in.

If not, parsnips and carrots aren't keen on manured ground - parsnips here will go in mid March.

If you've only dug a quarter, think about what you really like to eat for the first year - french and runner beans are great, and won't need to be sown for a month or two yet, but they do like a composted/manured trench to grow in.

Courgettes are good gap fillers, but again they like compost/manure round their roots - think sandcastle with moat, plant the courgettes on the mound and water in the moat, as they dislike water on their stems. I tend to dig a hole where there's a space, bung in manure/compost - this is one of the few crops I don't plan space for, as they will happily fit in to any 1m x 1m gap that's going spare.

The best thing you can do for your new plot is source some well rotted manure and find some beansticks; I use hazel sticks collected on "walkies", I tend to carry them home about 4m long, and then chop the twiggy top off for peasticks, so collecting any more than 4 per person at a time is a right nightmare - so take string or cable ties with you, and a pruning knife; easy option is bamboo from the local garden centre.

Happy growing!

oligeo

Thanks Sally, I haven't inherited a compost heap, so need to get some.
Thanks for the potato link, thats really helpful.

twiglet98

SallyForth wrote: »

Is there anywhere in the house where you can put up the four-shelf tardis (without the shredded plastic cover)?

Ds22 has just moved in with a pal so I could use the space at the end of his bed. Fantastic idea - must get seed compost and crack on :j

MrsTinks

Dear Fellow plotters

After a couple of years of half hearted effort with my plot due to my daughters ill health (UTIs seeing us in various A&Es and childrens wards at very early hours of the day and weeks of being extreemly poorly) I'm ademant that THIS is my year for getting cracking! DD is fingers crossed grown out of it and big enough to come with me to the plots now (I have completely enclosed my plot!) and hopefully we'll have a lovely summer down there!

HOWEVER - I need to dig over the whole lot looking at it... My view is that the best way of doing this is by rotivator LOL But given our delightful english weather and never having owned my own rotivator... what is "too wet" to rotivate?

Also I need something to cover my 9x9 plot as I gradually get round the beds (and decide where to put them!) - has anyone found any material better than others for this? Being MSE the cheaper the better (but not carpet... I really hate carpets on allotments - it's just one of my quirks LOL)

HELP

Will also try to get down and plant onions this week if at all possible... we eat SO many of them that these alone will save me a fortune LOL and ofcourse - have no green house or windowsill space or room for a 3/4 tier thing so goodness knows how I'll manage to get seedlings going this year LOL Ah well - I will think of something no doubt

mardatha

Can anybody tell me what happens (or doesn't) if you plant earlies later on ? My old neighbour told me when I moved here that we can't grow earlies - I didnt understand him but thought it was something to do with the soil LOL - now I know that its because of the short growing season. But if you planted earlies, wouldn't they do just the same but come through later ?

oligeo

I've just been to Aldi and brought lots of seeds, and 3 strawberry packs (1 early, 1 main and 1 late), its bucketing it down with rain here, so I may spread some plastic over the kitchen floor and pot them up inside as I'm not sure when this rain will end.
I looked at there 3 shelf plastic cover thingy, but didn't buy one, I'm thinking perhaps I should have. May have to go back tomorrow.
Sarah

Sally_A

mardatha wrote: »

Can anybody tell me what happens (or doesn't) if you plant earlies later on ? My old neighbour told me when I moved here that we can't grow earlies - I didnt understand him but thought it was something to do with the soil LOL - now I know that its because of the short growing season. But if you planted earlies, wouldn't they do just the same but come through later ?

Yes, probably, but remember the spuds intended for earlies are less resistant to disease....just try what you like, and keep a diary of what does and does not work; eg I want my small waxy spuds for new potatoes/potato salad in summer - but am happy to have more floury mashers in winter.

oligeo

After looking at my seed packets they mostly seem to say plant outside March onwards. So am I ok with being behind you guys that have planted seeds and got them in the greenhouse? Do you do this to get a longer growing season?
Also - Onions - Do they keep once you've pulled them out the ground? I don't want to plant hundreds only to have them all need eating in the space of a week!
Shallots - My 6 year old loves pickled onions so I said we could do our own this year. Is there a particular type of shallot that best for this? I've got some Golden Gourmets.
Thanks
Sarah

oligeo

Also! Potatoes - For the last 5/6 years I've grown them in old compost sacks in the back garden, using just old potatoes from my weekly shop that have sprouted. I've always been pretty successful. I have brought some seed poatoes this year for my new allotment. Whats the difference? Am I right in thinking that the seed potatoes have been treated to be resistant to disease and I've just been incredibly lucky growing my common old Tesco potatoes before?
Thanks!