Planning your plot?

[eieio]

Do all of you do plans of your plot or do you 'wing' it so to speak? Last year was my 1st year so I played around and got some good results.

This year, I have had some 'HUGE' scaffolding boards delivered for some raised beds and I am thinking outside the box here and after going down this morning to start weeding etc, I might do 3 triangular beds. I will be doing all the work myself and hubbie just isn't interested and I think triangular beds might look better plus I will still have loads of space for beans, and my cut flowers that I want to grow.

Gosh I am finding it all at the moment! Just don't know where to start but I did pull back the plastic I put down last year and the soil is really nice and soft now - result.

[Flummery]

I'm a seasoned 'winger' - I make sure I don't plant the same type of veg in the same area but the plot evolves each year as I go along. Sometimes I decide just to do a few of something, not a whole row. Sometimes I think I'll do extras and put them in somewhere else.
I do patchwork - maybe there's a connection?

[HeyWayne]

I'm a winger. That's winger, not whinger.

When I first 'started out' I tried to read up on all the best practise suggestions and ended up getting myself in a bit of a tither.

My plot os a constantly moving feast and I'm forever shifting stuff about and trying different things.

I think if I were 'planning' my allotment to get best use out of the area, or if I was growing commercially then I'd probably be different. As I'm doing this largely for enjoyment, planning would take the fun out of it for me.

For example, I started putting up a pergola of some description a couple of weekends ago, and having put two posts in I've realised/decided that it's in the wrong place, so I'll be moving them again soon.

I'm just not of the planning mindset I'm afraid.

I also think it's very difficult to plan if you don't know what to expect, or how things 'should' be. Maybe once I've got a decade or so under my belt I'll feel differently, but for now I'm Wing it Wayne.

[OllieMartin]

Personally I'd have thought triangluar beds might get a bit awkward. Difficult to sow rows in them I'd expect.
Admittedly you don't have to do rows, but square/rectuangular beds give more variety.
E.g. my roots and potatoes are in rows, my legumes are in rows and teepees and my brassicas are in blocks.

Worth considering, because once you've started it can be a pain to change your mind.

[Alison]

I plan mine a lot, but the plans are quite flexible. If I don't plan then I'll not get it done and it's something to do in a quiet moment at work / when it's raining. Spent the weekend a few weeks back asessing how last year had gone and working out what needed changing.

Re the triangular beds, they'd annoy me, I like the fact that with rectangular ones that you can make most use of arm reach space and the tight corners would get on my nerves.

[Paulottie]

I'm a bit of a 'Winger.' Though I do have a slightly an***y retentive straight row thing going on. I do however have a fairly good memory of what went where for the last few years and have been doing it a long time. I never do plans on paper but I do record a few things with cameras.

I think Joe swift triangular beds are a bit pretentious and just making things difficult for yourself. Idea of raised beds is you can reach all parts without treading on them.

That doesn't mean you have to plant in rows... you can still do patches à la Geoff Hamilton. Also clever planting and mixing the flowers and edibles will mean you'll get good at making it all attractive and softening the edges. It has the added advantage of confusing the pests. I definitely advise you looking at the 'Ornamental Kitchen Garden.' as one option.

Really though your garden is an extension of your personality...if your the sort of person that makes plans and tries to organise nature....etc. Are you a big diary planning sort?

Thing is it is difficult for some novices to make plans because you don't really know how long, how big things grow What does well in your circs. and how much you'll realistically use. Perhaps then your the pick it up as you go along /go with the flow/ do what you can when you can sort?

Whatever you do...don't worry...its fun!

Good that you've cleared the soil somewhat but most of that will be covered with raised beds-no? What are going to fill them with?

[Flummery]

I find gardening can be intuitive - you do things because they look right. Let your own style come through - even if it IS triangular beds!

[Pies]

I have an evolving plan

[eieio]

Thanks for your replies. Has got me thinking.....yet again! I will take photos tomorrow to show you as the plot is the width of 1 length of a scaffolding plank and is long - so long and narrow.

(can't spend long on here tonight to digress as darling son decided to treat me to a nice mother's day suprise of climbing out of his cot....so he can now scale the bars like a pro!!)

[Snadger]

I used to make a plan but nature wouldn't conform...............so now I just work with the old gal and blag it!

[rustylady]

I always plan!!! But never to seem to stick to it. Space, timings etc always interfere.

[binley100]

I've done a plan so that OH knows where to put stuff if I'm not there. Cos no matter how many times he asks and I tell him he still forgets

[Flummery]

I've done a plan so that OH knows where to put stuff if I'm not there. Cos no matter how many times he asks and I tell him he still forgets

If I'm not there mine isn't ALLOWED to put things in. It's my allotment and usually it's only me there!

[HeyWayne]

Really though your garden is an extension of your personality...

Thing is it is difficult for some novices to make plans because you don't really know how long, how big things grow What does well in your circs. and how much you'll realistically use. Perhaps then your the pick it up as you go along /go with the flow/ do what you can when you can sort?

Whatever you do...don't worry...its fun!

I find gardening can be intuitive - you do things because they look right. Let your own style come through - even if it IS triangular beds!

I this combination about sums up my attitude.

[OllieMartin]

"It is a bad plan that admits of no modification." - Publilius Syrus (~100 BC)