The all new 2019 growing your own thread!

Kantankrus_Mare

Dizzy.........I wondered where you had disappeared to.

So sorry to hear about your brother. A reminder to us all that no-one knows what is around the corner. Thinking of you and your family. Xx

Nothing much to report on the plot. Have lifted all my onions and have to say its one of my worst years. Plenty of them....but not a very good size. Always next year.

Speaking of next year.....I have been thinking of turning one of my beds over to growing asparagus. I know its a long process and cant pick anything for the first year but then once they are established, should keep going for 20 years or so. Not sure where best place to buy crowns from. Anyone got any experience or advice?

unrecordings

I was going to start asparagus three years ago and didn't because of youknowwhat - probably a good thing. However I think the market has evolved in that I'm pretty sure you can now buy 'mature' asparagus rather than just crowns that requires far less investment in time & effort (but probably costs a fortune) - I might give it a go...

For beans I use 7' canes arranged in a wigwam - five or so canes per wigwam secured with wire at the intersection. Two of these then maybe a horizontal cane joining the two together. I'm really late with my beans, I've got half a dozen in pots in the workshop and really need to get them in the ground...

As for events in this neck of the woods, I ended up being treated to the NHS equivalent of an inappropriately heavy handed airborne tactical assault which left me pretty much chairbound for two weeks. If it hadn't been raining so much I think I'd be annoyed. Hoping to get out today, but we'll see

Suffolk_lass

I have three year old asparagus, bought five crowns each of two varieties from Ken Muir (in March) - in year 2 you pick for 2 weeks, year 3, three weeks and so on, so the energy goes back into the crown.

I wish I had been more diligent at clearing perennial weeds before putting them in. I believe KM publish a growing guide

Kantankrus_Mare

Thanks for info re: asparagus

The bed I have earmarked for it has spring onions in at the moment and they will be well and truly finished before bed is needed. Will give me a chance to make sure it is as weed free as possible.

I knew you could get one year old crowns but didnt realise you could get more mature ones. Some investigation to be done.

I have just been to the plot, picked some more toms and brambles.

I have started an experiment though not sure if Im being silly or too optimistic.

I have just sown some courgette seeds. Only 3. My idea is that if they germinate and grow....the plants might be at a decent size when some of the tomatoes are finished in greenhouse. The idea then is to see if they will grow through the autumn...so extending the season.
Im sure someone will be along to tell me the daylight hours wont be long enough for my plan to work or something else I havent thought of :rotfl: but its only 3 seeds. I like experimenting.

Mnd

It's worth a try, nothing to lose. I'm going to sow fast maturing carrots this weekend if I can find some. Something like Amsterdam forcing. Cover with cloches in autumn

FoxFace

Hey everyone

Can I please plonk myself down in this chat? Husband and I have just been offered an allotment after a 6 year wait, so I'd love some likeminded people to chat to about the grow your own lifestyle.

The plot is a mess, so we got 12 months rent free But there's a lot of work to do before we can even think about planting, so I'm hoping to learn a lot in the coming months

Nice to meet you all
Fox
x

Kantankrus_Mare

A big welcome to you Foxface.:D

Its daunting taking on an overgrown plot but enormous satisfaction once you have something to harvest from it.

Good luck and take it steady.......throw out any questions you have and Im sure one of us will be able to help.

FoxFace

Kantankrus_Mare wrote: »

A big welcome to you Foxface.:D

Its daunting taking on an overgrown plot but enormous satisfaction once you have something to harvest from it.

Good luck and take it steady.......throw out any questions you have and Im sure one of us will be able to help. Where in the country are you?

Thank you so much! We are really looking forward to it, we have two boys age 12 and 15, so we are hoping this will be a brilliant family project that we can nuture long after the kids have flown the nest

I have grown in back yard pots before, with varying success, so having an actual plot is very exciting!

We are in South Lakes area, I wonder if anyone else is close?

Primrose

Fox - that's exciting, and obviously you're not underestimating the amount of work ahead of you, so if you've got any friends who are prepared to offer you a morning's free digging and weed clearing, buy them a few beers and grab it ! Also be prepared for your boys to find that this is a novelty which may soon wear off when they want to be with their friends doing more exciting stuff than digging out weeds and brambles.


I'm sure you're anxious to start seeing the plot yield a few items to eat, so possibly think of sowing a few items now at home like overwintering vegetables like Swiss chard or Curley Kale if you like it so that as soon as you have a tiny strip of bare dug earth available you can get your first plants in. Having the incentive of seeing a few plants in situ every time you go down there to dig and clear ground will hopefully spur you on when it seems like very hard work.


I haven't had an allotment for some years now but do grow vegetables in the garden and my advice would be only grow the vegetables you enjoy eating. Oh...... and probably buy a bigger freezer ! Good luck with your new venture.

Suffolk_lass

FoxFace wrote: »

Hey everyone

Can I please plonk myself down in this chat? Husband and I have just been offered an allotment after a 6 year wait, so I'd love some likeminded people to chat to about the grow your own lifestyle.

The plot is a mess, so we got 12 months rent free But there's a lot of work to do before we can even think about planting, so I'm hoping to learn a lot in the coming months

Nice to meet you all
Fox
x

How wonderful for you. Have you got a plan for it with beds and paths and other essentials? My go-to book is this one with advice on rotation and what you might need. The plant section is a little out of date but the setting it up section is excellent.

My key piece of advice is to look at the perennial and invasive weeds and concentrate first on these. We are struggling with a small-leaved bindweed in our veg beds and just seem to keep pulling it but I think we will have to turn to some chemicals. Who knew a three-foot (high) raised bed was no challenge!