New here

[kfan]

Hi!

This will be my second year of gardening, have a garden next to my cottage where I want to grow vegetables. Last year we dug up a very small patch to have a go, about 2 by 5 meter (see pictures). I didn't fertilise it at all but crops were surprisingly still quite good. Also I created a herb garden in one of the borders - only have a picture from when we started of as well.

This year I want to expand: I love the ornamental vegetable gardens where it is much more a border interwoven with flowers, fruit and vegetables than neat rows, so want to give that a try this year - inspired by the DVDs of Geoff Hamilton on his Ornamental Kitchen Garden. Also hoping to grow some interesting things that are very expensive to purchase (if possible at all) in the shops.

Looking forward to get advice on here!

Now first I have to start the digging to make a larger bed and lay out paths...

[Potstubsdustbins]

Kfan welcome to the madhouse, would you please put your location on your profile as this helps when people give advice.

Looks like a grand place to live.

Colin

[Glutton4...]

Hello, and welcome to the Madhouse. Lovely view!

[Newton]

Welcome kfan. What is the K for? Potassium?

Your beds look great. Nice spot too.......

[chris]

Welcome to the forum kfan

[kfan]

Thanks, what a warm welcome I added my location: it's Scotland (East Lothian) but quite high up so somehow things are always a bit later that in the village down the hill.

Kfan is just my username at work login, abbreviation of my name, so nothing special Im afraid as I am very bad at remembering usernames (let's not mention passwords!).

[Potstubsdustbins]

You will be pleased to know there are plenty of your fellow countrymen/ladies on the forum so they will be used to the weather conditions you get up there and will be able to advise accordingly.

Colin

[Two_Sheds]

I didn't fertilise it at all but crops were surprisingly still quite good.

Too much is made of "fertilising". We over-feed our soil, and the run-off poisons our rivers and streams.
Soil is naturally nutritious: just look at what is already growing: grass, weeds, trees, shrubs ...

Don't feed unless your plants look as if they're actually struggling or sickly

After a couple of years growing crops, you may find them beginning to suffer, if no goodness has been returned to the soil, but hopefully it is in the form of garden compost

[kfan]

Too much is made of "fertilising". We over-feed our soil, and the run-off poisons our rivers and streams.
Soil is naturally nutritious: just look at what is already growing: grass, weeds, trees, shrubs ...

Hmm, never thought about it like that! I will be using Green Goodness compost this year as I didn't make a lot last year myself, its only made from local manure and compost materials...

I guess I don't want massive veg anyway as its just me and every now and then my partner when he is not away for work.

[Jelliebabe]

Welcome aboard KFan - your plot looks good! Grow things you like first and try the odd challenge as you go along the way! Always lots of peeps here to ask questions!

[Currysniffa]

Hello Kfan welcome to the vine

[Jeanied]

Welcome to the vine kfan - nice to have you aboard!

[veggiechicken]

Hello Kfan and welcome.

[Chocolate8me]

Welcome Kfan,

Lovely sized plot & fab view you have.

What did you grow last year?

[kfan]

Thanks I grew lots of salads/ mustards and Asian greens (pok choi did very well!) and also peas, kohlrabi, radishes, peppers, celeriac, bulb fennel, courgette and carrots. Now there is still swiss chard standing. The carrots were not very successful but I think that is because I have a clay ground so am going for a variety will less long roots (I had purple haze last year). Otherwise all was ok but could have watered more in hindsight...

Ah, and planted globe as well as jerusalem artichoke and there is a large existing rhubarb in the garden.

Very exited about this year as I hope I sort of know a bit better what I am doing and am a lot more organised