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Hi there, my name is Alex and Im from St Albans. Am 35, married with 2 young kids with one on the way. I have been (messing around) growing vegetables for the past couple of years and had a few successes and several failures. Moved into a new house just under 2 years ago and have a 3 small-ish plots, in which Im using for growing veg.
The first year I grew potatoes, courgettes, chilli peppers. Had great success with the courgettes, - the potatoes weren't amazing however (yield not that great). Chillis did well (especially since planted outside) however we did have one of the hottest years for a while then. Since then Ive read about chitting the potatoes, which probably would have helped.
The second year I grew onions, betroot, runner beans which all did well. The courgettes that I planted in the same spot didn't do at all well - mind you I didnt do much to the soil in the intervening period and since then Ive read you shouldnt grow the same thing in the same spot. I also tried a giant pumpkin (dont ask why) and that went horribly wrong, it trailed like mad, produced a pumpkin the size of a golf ball, which died and then it trailed further
, another golf ball, another trail. I didn't know at the time giant pumpkins need lots of space and lots of compost and goodness.
My soil is generally clay based and I have a compost heap which is just starting to produce compost.
This year Ive raised one of the beds and at some point will be getting some manure to dig in to them. Ive planted onions and garlic out already in one and so far so good. Chillis are on the windowsill indoors - "pretty in purple" ornamental chilli and have gone for a wider range of seeds (brocolli, pak choi, turnips, radishes (cooking variety), dwarf beans, leeks, brussel sprouts, courgettes and bushy tomatoes. The seeds I ordered were from the "real seed company" - would be interested to know if anyone else uses these and whether they prefer them to F1 hybrids.
Have worked out a 3 bed crop rotation plan which I plan to stick to - doing a bit of reading too in veg books. Have space for a greenhouse (but not the cash) so will probably be getting one next year.
Erm thats about it for now, you all seem like a friendly bunch so Im sure I'll get on well with you.
Alex
The first year I grew potatoes, courgettes, chilli peppers. Had great success with the courgettes, - the potatoes weren't amazing however (yield not that great). Chillis did well (especially since planted outside) however we did have one of the hottest years for a while then. Since then Ive read about chitting the potatoes, which probably would have helped.
The second year I grew onions, betroot, runner beans which all did well. The courgettes that I planted in the same spot didn't do at all well - mind you I didnt do much to the soil in the intervening period and since then Ive read you shouldnt grow the same thing in the same spot. I also tried a giant pumpkin (dont ask why) and that went horribly wrong, it trailed like mad, produced a pumpkin the size of a golf ball, which died and then it trailed further
, another golf ball, another trail. I didn't know at the time giant pumpkins need lots of space and lots of compost and goodness.My soil is generally clay based and I have a compost heap which is just starting to produce compost.
This year Ive raised one of the beds and at some point will be getting some manure to dig in to them. Ive planted onions and garlic out already in one and so far so good. Chillis are on the windowsill indoors - "pretty in purple" ornamental chilli and have gone for a wider range of seeds (brocolli, pak choi, turnips, radishes (cooking variety), dwarf beans, leeks, brussel sprouts, courgettes and bushy tomatoes. The seeds I ordered were from the "real seed company" - would be interested to know if anyone else uses these and whether they prefer them to F1 hybrids.
Have worked out a 3 bed crop rotation plan which I plan to stick to - doing a bit of reading too in veg books. Have space for a greenhouse (but not the cash) so will probably be getting one next year.
Erm thats about it for now, you all seem like a friendly bunch so Im sure I'll get on well with you.
Alex
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