Does anyone keep a gardening diary on MSE?

Rummer

LavenderBees wrote: »

Hope I say something worth reading then, Gosh the pressure....! :rotfl:...please share any ideas you have, too.

I have many grand plans for my garden as the side part is huge and I want to make it into my mini allotment site. Currently I have three raised beds and two long beds. My plan is to raise the existing long beds and improve their soil and then add another 3 long raised beds.

We successfully grow strawberries, raspberries, rhubarb and a variety of currants and this year I want to focus on growing more veggies.

Once I have taken some measurements and costed the materials I will then plan for the new beds

LavenderBees

Rummer wrote: »

I have many grand plans for my garden as the side part is huge and I want to make it into my mini allotment site. Currently I have three raised beds and two long beds. My plan is to raise the existing long beds and improve their soil and then add another 3 long raised beds.

We successfully grow strawberries, raspberries, rhubarb and a variety of currants and this year I want to focus on growing more veggies.

Once I have taken some measurements and costed the materials I will then plan for the new beds

That sounds good!

I should really measure my plot more accurately...at the mo, I'm looking and thinking, "yeah, that looks about 20 ft" (even though I barely know what a foot looks like :rotfl: )

I think for my plan to work regarding amounts of different veges grown, I'm going to need to reduce quantities of each type...

I have lots of thoughts churning round my mind...just need to get them down on paper now...but no doubt it will keep evolving as I start planting in the spring.

Rummer

I get swept away with the excitement of buying seeds and planting them and then I am left with far too many plants so I am going to take a more sensible approach this year and really think about what I have the space for and only plant what I need with a few extra.

Just got some prices for timber, slabs and gravel and I am going to do some rough calculations for the first part of my plan. Trying to keep costs managable too!

LavenderBees

Rummer wrote: »

I get swept away with the excitement of buying seeds and planting them and then I am left with far too many plants so I am going to take a more sensible approach this year and really think about what I have the space for and only plant what I need with a few extra.

Just got some prices for timber, slabs and gravel and I am going to do some rough calculations for the first part of my plan. Trying to keep costs managable too!

Hopefully, the costs will be fairly one off, and if it means that you use the space more effectively, and enjoy using the garden more, then it will be worth it.

I'm trying to take the view that all hobbies cost some money, where I can save money, I will, but hopefully, we'll be lucky enough to eat our end result

I'm using vouchers from surveys etc to buy bits and pieces of equipment. I've also been very lucky as friends are chipping in with pressies of seeds, and "my" odd-job man is as enthusiastic to save money as I am, so helps source things I need free...:j

The biggest expense by far for me is going to be setting up the chickens as well as I can, so I'm going to take that slowly and carefully over the coming months. I want whatever we do to be good for the chickens, but also last a long time. Don't want much, do I?

Anyway, it's lovely to have you all along for my ride, and please don't hesitate to join in. The more the merrier

icontinuetodream

LavenderBees wrote: »

Well, now there's a thing! If I manage to grow anything, will you help me with ideas for different ways to prepare them?...I would never ever ever think of chargrilling leeks with olives, capers and balsamic. I still remember your ravioli from last year (not that I had any...just drooled at the thought! ...obviously still drooling!)

I've just watched Nigella on Beeb 2 and now watching Nige on Beeb 1...Yum! Yum! I want to be their best friends...:rotfl:

It's the thought of eating all the different veges in different ways that motivates me :T

Will be more than happy to!!!

LavenderBees

icontinuetodream wrote: »

Will be more than happy to!!!

Fab!:j Let''s hope "stuff" grows then

LavenderBees

Bed 1 - small bed

Already planted for overwintering with red onions (51), brown onions (50), garlic (6) and strawberry plants

Harvest expected for onions - July/August
Harvest expected for garlic - Snapes May
- bulbs when? July??

Need to look into how to store garlic and onions for winter

LavenderBees

Bed 2 - Even smaller bed

Already sown for overwintering -

Garlic - Music - approx 18
- Harvest snapes - May
- Harvest bulbs - July?

LavenderBees

Bed 3 - Large Bed -

From west end to east end -

Already planted for overwintering

Garlic - Marco - approx 18
Harvest expected - snapes May
- bulbs Aug?

White Broccoli - 12 plants
Harvest Expected - March/April 2013?

Purple Sprouting Broccoli - 11 plants (1 died )
Harvest Expected - March/April 2013 ?

Cabbage - 11 plants (1 died )
Harvest Expected - February 2013 ?

Different cabbage - 9 plants
Harvest Expected - February 2013 ?

To be planted in Spring -

Kale - Dwarf Green Curled - Sow 6 in pots in CF early March/plant out July/Aug
- Harvest Expected - Sept onwards to Feb 2014


Brussels Sprouts - Napoleon F1 - sow 10 in pots in CF early March/plant out May
- Harvest Expected - Dec onwards to Feb 2014

Leek - Sultan F1 - sow 12 in pots in CF early March/plant out June
- Harvest Expected - Nov onwards to Feb 2014


Carrot - Purple Haze F1 - One row of carrots directly outside mid March (sow thinly)
Harvest Expected - Mid June onwards (but thin out in May)


Spring Onion - White Lisbon - sow 1/4 late March then successive planting every 4 weeks throughout
Harvest Expected - Late May to Sept

LavenderBees

Bed 4 - Small Bed

Eventually (next Autumn) to be planted with fruit. Currently, planted with green manure - to be dug in January (weather permitting).
Add manure in Febraury

Spring planting to be -

Broad Bean - Aquadulce - sow 6 plants in pots (done) & sow outside in February
Harvest Expected - June/July/Aug

Pea - Kelvedon Wonder - Early - sow 12 outside in mid/late March
Harvest Expected - Anytime June to Oct

French Beans - Blue Lake - sow 6 plants indoors on kitchen windowsill end of April
- plant out late May
Harvest Expected - Aug/Sept


When harvested, clear plot, and manure ready for planting fruit canes.

*Must buy some 8ft canes*