Just getting started!

[organic]

Hi folks!
I've just got my (now rather grubby) hands on a half-plot.

Actually, it's just under half a plot since the guy who has given half of his plot up still has a shed and greenhouse running across the top of the whole plot, so I've got 5.5 yards by about 24.

There are quite a lot of perennial weeds on there including horsetail (some is surprisingly shallow rooted but other bits will probably be an ongoing battle), dandelion, nettle and dock. There are others, some of which I'm told have already seeded so they'll keep me busy come springtime.

I've cleared out about a quarter to a third of the plot now and, weather permitting, should get a decent chunk of the rest done this coming weekend.
The top quarter of the plot is an absolute mass of docks though, so that bit may be a challenge.

I'm still trying to figure out a good layout and am really quite unsure what's the best way to get around the whitefly problem (the Brussels on plot next to mine and extending a bit onto my side are swarming with the things) while keeping with the organic approach my username on here suggests I'm taking.

The site's resident expert (won some sort of "best plot" award this summer and I'm told "if he doesn't know something, don't bother asking anyone else") told me this afternoon that I had a "good plot - you can grow anything there"... which is a good sign, but does mean I've got fewer excuses if I lose a load of crop!

So, I've never grown more than strawberries in a planter I made and a few herbs with varying degrees of success - I'm on a steep learning curve and loving it!


Any advice on the whitefly without resorting to pesticide?
Other than onions, garlic and "green in snow" - any suggestions as to what should be going in now?

[Two_Sheds]

any good? http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...ing_39088.html

[piskieinboots]

Welcome Organic

... I'm told "if he doesn't know something, don't bother asking anyone else")

I'm sure that advice given to you was meant well, but it's a little elitist!

There are many ways to do things in the gardener's world, what works for one may not work for another. I, personally, would not narrow my helpline so much as that

TwoSheds' calendar is a really good source

[organic]

Thanks for the link, Two Sheds. Will have a read through the links in that thread later. Looks promising anyway.


Suzie - I think it was more of a compliment aimed at the elderly gent who's allotment really stands out from the crowd and a comment on their own knowledge in comparison to him. He's the go-to guy at the site as aged around 84 he's literally got a lifetime of experience.
In the same conversation the point was raised that everyone seems to have their own ways of doing things.

With my 3 books about growing food, membership on here, farming in my blood and a few relatives who grow at home (albeit in South East Ireland, which has different conditions to Manchester) I'm absolutely spoiled rotten on the helpline front!

Thanks for the welcome, both of you.

[bobleponge]

South East Ireland - Manchester ... it rains.

Just joking (sort of), welcome to the Vine.

Luckily for me I dont get whitefly so never had to worry about it, pretty much anything else comes to eat my crops though.

There certainly is more than one way to skin a cat, as well as to grow stuff, a read through the posts here will show you that.
Plot sounds good though, with a greenhouse AND a shed, lucky you.

[Two_Sheds]

the point was raised that everyone seems to have their own ways of doing things.

Indeed. Some things will work for me (on sandy soil) but not for others (on clay).
I think what is important in gardening is to understand why you are doing what you are doing... not just to blindly follow advice.

eg. I mulch my spuds instead of earthing them up. That's because I like to use up grass clippings, and the acid helps to prevent scab, and the mulch suppresses weeds.
However, traditionalists like to dig trenches and to earth up. Each to their own. If it works for you, carry on but don't be afraid to experiment, in case you find a better way.

[organic]

Two Sheds
The "why" is something that really interests me. Since I intend to go organic I'm a bit of a crash-course in why things work the way they do as I've never thought a great deal about some of that... for example, "no aphids, no ladybirds" - not something I'd thought about in much detail until I got aphids on my strawberries this year and started trying to find ladybirds to put in among them.

I'm really looking forwards to experiments (particularly with inter-cropping and companion plants) and certainly won't be following too much of the "done thing" if I can see what I think is a better way.


Bob - that's a pretty accurate comparisson!
It has to be said that I don't think I've ever been somewhere with weather that changes as dramatically as Irelands.
I took my girlfriend on her first proper trip to Ireland for a week of hitchhiking with nothing more than what we could fit into our carry-on luggage limits or wear in the flight... between 9am and 11am on the very first morning over there the weather was...
Lashing with rain, by the time we got down to breakfast it was foggy and within about 5 minutes baking sunshine. Between leaving the breakfast table and going to the room it started snowing. That passed on our way into the village and gave way to sun again. After a quick burst of light rain followed by the sun again we managed to hitch a lift to the next big town... about 10 seconds after getting into the car, the heaviest rain I've seen in Hurricane Charlie picked up and stopped about 30 seconds before we had to get out of the car.
"Ireland, if you don't like the weather - wait a minute!"

As for the greenhouse and shed - until I meet the guy who's given up half his plot I think I have to assume I've got neither... I'm told I'll be able to share both with him but not assuming anything until we've had a chat.