Biggest mistakes in 1st year

[Tracey]

Hi there

This is my first year growing veg. I think of it as my year to make and learn from my mistakes. I've already mistakenly planted some Dwarf beans in between two Tall beans plants (under a cloche), I realised my mistake when I sowed some more. Yesterday I thought it was a good idea to put my 'tender' tomato seedlings on the 'sunny' flat roof for a bit. Unfortunately some of the leaves shriveled up. They obviously weren't ready. I think I'm also in danger of planting to close. I know the packed says plant such as distance, but I couldn't stop myself from putting more seed spuds in the pots.

What mistakes did you make in your first veg. growing year?

Kind regards
Tracey

[carlseawolf]

planting 24 cabbages at once and they look good in the ground , but in reality who needs 24 cabbages all at the same time . (also did the same with chinese cabbage .)

[momol]

Back then was planting too much summer squash. Sowed 6 seeds thinking that it might not germinate all but in contra of my fear they all survive till planting time (only one of it died and I was left with 5 squash) and the harvest was so much (around 2 to 4 squashes/day) that I have to push them to friends, family, neighbours and still got loads left to be freezed . I won't do it again, this year will only sow 2 seeds and dedicate the space for other squashes .

[SarzWix]

Leaving it too late to plant out winter brassica plants, so they didn't get a good start before the weather turned cold. I did that 2 years in a row They didn't die, but weren't ready to eat 'til April when I wanted them out of the way for something else! Got it almost right last/this year, so I am learning

[lainey lou]

Rotovating some of my beds was a Mahooosive mistake, it just multiplied the weed problem by a million!
Pulled all my leekes out when I found leek moth larvae, found out after I could have trimmed them down?
Only got the lottie in July so not much time to make too many mistakes but I'm sure I'll make lots this year, after all that is how we learn - apparently!!

[Farmer_Gyles]

i did things wrong but i wouldnt say i made mistakes - more like learning as i went along - and i learnt a lot by just giving it a go

i planted some things too close together, especially brassicas, mainly as i didn't realise how big the plants would grow - now i have better sowing plans for this year

i tried sowing some things directly into the ground, only for them to fail or be slugged out - everything is being sown in pots / plugs this year and planted out when big enough - and will have spares in case of slugs

i didn't pot on early enough with some things and they tended to die in the pots - i'm a lot more aware about potting on now and have a lot more pots

i grew far too much of some stuff with no way to store or use the surplus, hence some good stuff ended up in compost - will have a chest freezer this year so will grow even more beans and peppers and caulis and hopefully fill the freezer

i used growbags for tomatoes, only to find it was easier to use large pots - so not a mistake, just something i've learnt

i sowed some things too late (because i had a late start last year) - but i learnt how big they'd grow and how quickly and how much space they'd need

i didn't know about growing peas up netting or about covering caulis and cabbages with netting to keep the butterflies off - hence caulis had caterpillars in - will protect them much better this year

a couple of years back i cleared some ground and planted out - only for the veggies to get lost among the weeds very quickly - i've learnt that weed control sheeting is a massive help and saves a lot of effort in the long run

[zazen999]

My first lot of carrots was started off by the OH, and I went out and bought plastic containers for them as we were renting the house at the time.

One saturday [2 years ago this was], I filled all the containers and pricked out all the carrots, and must have twirled them to get them into the holes; rather than making deep holes and letting the taproot fall straight down and then backfilling.

Needless to say I had huge carrots, but with ridiculously twirly/bent roots, in a variety of 'That's Life' shapes. Much hilarity ensued.

We did say our first year was an experiment though, and I learn alot but tried alot, and no failure was a mistake, it was an experiment that just went wrong!

[Flummery]

Do you know - it's that long ago I can't remember! However, there's never a year goes by that I don't make SOME mistake! Thinking that, in spite of many years' evidence to the contrary, I might be able to grow swedes last year was a notable one. I pulled out the elongated stalks, no thicker than my thumb, yesterday. I shall stick to kohl rabi which I can grow and I really love. I haven't got room in my small plot for passengers!

[Cutecumber]

I'm the same, I'm trying to remember...!

I know that I put too many things in too small a space - particularly pots - and was surprised that they didn't grow very big - doh!

I also grew too many cauliflowers - 8 matured at the same time. They don't stand well in the summer and I had to give most away.

I think the first thing I sowed were broad beans which I tried to overwinter... they didn't.

[Two_Sheds]

My most disastrous mistake was when I dug up my potatoes. I left them for a few hours in the sun, to toughen the skins a bit ... but forgot to take them home! They were out in the sun for 3 days, and went all green and poisonous.

[moggssue]

For me last year, growing things too close together. I did get useful crops from them, until the pests arrived and had a feast, I just couldnt stop them! Also lost most of my earlier sowings to slugs so more protection this year.

[francesbean]

mine is changing mymind - Ive moved my gooseberries and raspberries twice now- and am going to move them again. They dont seem to mind the variety and change of view somehow! Even though Im always making little plans and drawings I cant seem to stick to a plan. Same with plants - moving plants in abed made last year as soon as weather picks up. Oh well keeps me out of mischief.

[TrishY]

last year was my first year and i planted all the seeds from a courgette packet - was a bit fed up of courgettes and no-one else liked them, only managed to give two plants away - i have bought a packet of seeds for this year and won't plant them all

[tootles]

This my second year - everything last year was a mistake!!! although the worst was to sow a "green fertiliser" now my new beds are full of clover that just wont die or budge. This winter if I mention green fretiliser please hit me with something blunt until the urge passes!!! I also have sown a little of most things early in the greenhouse as the weather here was so good during feb and all my new seedlings are now going to have to contend with -9 degrees this week. FINGERS CROSSED.......

[Birdie Wife]

Don't keep digging up your garlic bulbs every few weeks to find out if they've sprouted... they will, they just take their time... and if you keep digging them up, they'll never come to anything...
(actually, this wasn't me, it was my mum! Flowers are much more her speciality )