Hello everybody!

[vegangirl]

Hello, I'm a 50 yr old supply teacher who was lucky enough to get an allotment in April this year. I live in Bedfordshire, sandy soil, but it hadn't been touched for a few years, so I worked about half and had the rest rotavated. I've just finished digging that half, put in fruit bushes and strawberries and have two apples arriving tomorrow.
I managed to keep the family (three of us, but one is a 16 year old boy, which counts as about six) and the neighbours in veg for the summer, and I'm looking forward to planning more for next year. My successes were - runner beans, turnips, cabbages radishes (ok, I know they're easy, but I've never managed to grow them before), peas and french beans. Failures - Borlotti beans, only about three beans to a plant; seed mats - two cost about £25.00 and produced three plants total; caulis and swede. Never mind, there's always next year!
I hope to grow lots more squashes, swede, onions and soya beans next year, but I'm always up for recommendations.

[OllieMartin]

Welcome to the Vine,

May you have many happy years together

[Nicos]

Hi there- and welcome to the Vine!

[sweetiepea]

A very warm welcome to you vegangirl!

[HeyWayne]

Welcome aboard the good ship Grapevine fellow Bedfordshirian.

[Pumpkin Becki]

Welcome from me too, sounds like you're making real progress with your plot. Is it your garden, or do you have a lottie?

[Flummery]

Failures - Borlotti beans, only about three beans to a plant; seed mats - two cost about £25.00 and produced three plants total; caulis and swede. Never mind, there's always next year!
I hope to grow lots more squashes, swede, onions and soya beans next year, but I'm always up for recommendations.

I still can't grow a decent swede and I've been growing veg for 35 years!
Seed mats are a con. Seed tapes too in my opinion although some people like them.

I'm surprised your borlottis weren't up to snuff. Don't give up. Send me a pm with your address and I'll let you have some seeds for Bird's Egg, that's a heritage bean that you can eat like a borlotti - leave till mature then shell them out.

Welcome to the grapevine - it's like Royston Vasey - you'll never leave!

[binley100]

Hello from me. I don't have any luck with radishes so I'm impressed.

[ginger ninger]

Hi Vegangirl and welcome to the vine.
I have some onion squash seeds, if your interested P.M me, meanwhile have fun.

[vegangirl]

It's an allotment - and at the end of the road! 134' x 21', so digging it is a bit like painting the Forth bridge....

[shoreham_steve]

Hi - Welcome to the vine.

[Jeanied]

Welcome vegangirl - and are you vegan? That plot will keep you fit!

[northepaul]

Welcome to the vine!

[SarzWix]

Welcome to the Vine vegangirl
Sounds like you could do with impoting some clay soil for your swedes - they really like firm soil! I usually sow mine in modules, and then really tread them in when I plant them.