Allotment; what are you all growing this year?

[Staceyj]

Hi all,
I got an allotment last April and spent the first few months trying to get it under control we did and managed to just plant some bits was kinda a case of put them in and see what happens;
Well our strawberries were amazing, corn, beetroot, pumpkins and courgettes all done well. Our peppers, broccoli and cucumber didn't do well but all part of learning, just wondered what you were all planning on planting this year? What do you find grows well and what doesn't?

We're hoping to get the plot next to ours as we only have quite a small plot, but we haves gate from our back garden that goes straight onto our neighbours plot (that we are hoping to get) he already allows us to access our plot this way as he doesn't really use his was only there once last year.

Thank you

[Baldy]

Welcome along Stacey - lots of good advice here a good vibe.
In addition to the things you've mentioned - First Early spuds and tomatoes usually do well for me (unless blight hits too early), I've got quite a lot of onions in and must remember to get my leeks sown this weekend. I've got a rather splendid looking artichoke that just does its thing year on year - and a few rhubarb - one of which is ready to start harvesting and only finished about October time last year.
Not had much joy with asparagus - but will pay mthem a lot more attnetion this year.
Raspberries and gooseberries do well for me - hoping my blueberries will finally give me some fruit.
Couple of apple trees and a pear that have only been in the ground a couple of years - had a bit from them lest year hoping for a lot more this year.

[ESBkevin]

Hello Stacy and welcome to a wonderful site.

Things that go well and can be used throughout a long period are Chard, Curly Kale, Spinach, lettuces (cut and come again or all types).
Things you will use a lot Onions (spring, red and white), shallots, Carrots, Parsnips, beetroot, Peas, Dwarf french beens, runner beans, sweetcorn, broad beans, potatoes - a few earlies if space is tight and a main crop to winter store if you have space to grow and store. Fruit like raspebbies, strawberries, gooseberries etc.
After those 'basics' plus others you might like, you can look at the things that are fun, challenging, exotic or downright wierd.
This might include asparagas, Sweed, Tomatoes, cougette, pumpkin/gourd, peppers, chillies, Artichoke, exotic beans, Cauliflower, brussels, etc.
These lists are in no way comprehensive but more to illustrate the basic ideas, you might find some soils suit certain crops better than others, I can't grow peas in one half of my plot but 30 feet away in the other half they are abundent! Treat you soil well, feed the life in the soil and the soil will provide for you. Compost, organic material and manure all the time - you cant do too much! Keeping live roots in the soil helps maintain the soil food web so things like chop and drop green manures can be surprisingly useful. Have some flowers about too for the pollinators.
Finally remember to grow what you will eat, it's no good having a field of sweetcorn if no one in the family likes it!

HTH

[Staceyj]

Thanks for your reply, this year I'm planning on planting;
Cucumbers, pumpkins, corn, garlic, onions, leeks, potatoes, raspberries, strawberries, tomatoes, carrots, parsnips, watermelons and rhubarb oh and probably some beans,

Wow that seems like a lot lets hope all goes to plan 😀, when do you plant your potatoes do you put them in the ground or grow in bags.

[DataMonkey]

Thanks for your reply, this year I'm planning on planting;
Cucumbers, pumpkins, corn, garlic, onions, leeks, potatoes, raspberries, strawberries, tomatoes, carrots, parsnips, watermelons and rhubarb oh and probably some beans,

Wow that seems like a lot lets hope all goes to plan ��, when do you plant your potatoes do you put them in the ground or grow in bags.

That looks like a good plan Stacey.

I'm just starting my second year now, and I think one mistake I made last year was growing loads of stuff that books recommended for beginners that no-one in the house actually liked.

The lettuce, radish, and chard all did really well but just got composted, apart from the few I could give away.

So this year I'm repeating the stuff that we ate and did well - onions, potatoes, beans, carrots, parsnips, courgettes and trying garlic and squashes. I'm also going to try to succeed with the brassicas that got eaten by cabbage whites last year.

You sound like you have the right ideas, so go for it and enjoy !!

[jackarmy]

Ive been offered and accepted three plots in as many weeks lol .
Finally got a plot at my present site with a greenhouse and a tidy ( for now ) shed.
Hopefully im looking at lots of beans, red and coleslaw cabbage ( love my coleslaw ) , corn ( lots of mini ) spuds ( in buckets for now ) Nigels outdoor chilli ( should be well isolated enough to save seed from ), shedfulls of toms , sprouts , some Kale ( lizzard loves it) shallots, onions, leeks ( all sown) and hopefully as much of everything else i can cram in .
Apparently the plot has been well manured over the years bur had little attention last season, meeting with former plot holder tomorrow tho who sounds so cool and full of plot info its untrue, so happy atm

good luck with yours

jack

[Cadalot]

I have my plan and list of what's being grown on each of my plots on my diary/blog
Alans Allotment: Plans for Mill Green Plot 1A
Alans Allotment: Plans for Spencer Road Plot 23B

There is also a planting schedule based on my last frost date for the year at Alans Allotment: Sowing & Planting Plan

[Teabag]

Strawberries, rhubarb, blackcurrants and artichockes - already there.

Planted summer raspberries so far

other than those, 5 types of spuds, lots of peas, pumpkin, onions, garlic, sweetcorn, self blanching celery, salsify, beet leafs, spinach, carrots, pasrnips, possibly swede, possibly gourds, tomatoes and melons in the polytunnel

at home more tomatoes, strawbs, autumn raspbs, spuds and carrots in pots

[jonny the plant pot]

3 types of onions some giant russian cabage and carrots salsify spanish radish watermelon radish turkish aubergines hamburg parsley pink banana squash 7 types of toms 2 types of cucumber carolina reaper chillies scotch bonnets giant yellow peppers white peppers cape goosberrys peter pepper chillies garlic lady cristl and rocket early spuds kestrel seconds and wallys wonders for late . Think thats it but will probably remember later .

[DataMonkey]

I have my plan and list of what's being grown on each of my plots on my diary/blog
Alans Allotment: Plans for Mill Green Plot 1A
Alans Allotment: Plans for Spencer Road Plot 23B

There is also a planting schedule based on my last frost date for the year at Alans Allotment: Sowing & Planting Plan

That's a great schedule and plan Alan. I have a much smaller and more amateur version scribbled in an exercise book each year, but I might do something more structured now that I've seen yours !

[shadow75]

Tomatoes, Sweetcorn, Potatoes (Sarpo Mira to avoid the dreaded blight), 3 types of currant bushes, a few cabbages, kale, beetroot, carrots, parsnips, broccoli, leeks, garlic, onions, peas, green beans and some salady stuff.

Undecided on Swede and Turnip as I don't eat a lot of it, may hold in reserve for later bed fillers for winter stews though.

Also some flowers as some produce is not pretty and summer isn't summer without some nice blooms.

[GardenGayle]

Cant believe no-ones mentioned broad beans yet. Ive always found them one of the simplest things to grow and they taste soooo much better fresh.

[Thargor]

Strawberries, gooseberries, rhubarb, blackcurrants & raspberries (the last 2 are guesses as they were "inherited" with the plot.

Runner, broad and French beans, peas, 2 types of onions, leeks, 3 types of carrots, 2 types of kale, 2 types of cabbage, 2 types of Brussel sprouts, cauliflowers (if I can fit them in), salad leaves in hanging baskets, tomatoes, chillies, sweet peppers.

Braeburn apples, Victoria plums, crab apples, oranges and lemons.

Curly & flat leaf parsley, mint, rosemary, bay, oregano, thyme, basil.

I think that's it.

[Bigmallly]

Oranges & Lemons?...........are you in the UK?

[sparrow100]

I've finally settled on mine. For some reason it took me ages this year.

Anyway, this is the list - plenty of new things for me to try, and more familiar things to try to be better at:
https://mudandgluts.com/growing-in-2017/