Plans for 2013??

[kentishgal]

What does everyone have planned for this year??

It was a big learning curve for me last year and I came to some conclusions...
Many fruit and veggies are just too big/space eating for my garden!! (like brassicas, rhubarb, squashes and courgettes).
Putting herbs in the open flower beds doesnt protect them from doggy leg cocking.
Also I want to do abit more for wildlife and have more planting in my garden.

To that end I am restricting my veggies to my 2 central beds and using the other 2 for different purposes(one herb bed and one planted/wildlife type bed).
Also going to try and pull up some pavers and sink my mini pond!, buy some more dwarf trees (maybe a pear and cooking apple for future lottie and a crab apple for the birds).
Then just see how much I can get to grow in a fairly dank concrete alleyway too!
Its amazing how much I can find to do in a 10ft x 20ft patch that is mostly patio and astroturf!!LOL

[VirginVegGrower]

Pop your herbs in planters!

[Alison]

Almost all my herbs are in tubs so that I can keep them easily by the back door for handy picking

[Moopmoop]

Plans for 2013 are as follows:

Plant all the seeds I have in 2013 seed box, many of them I have never grown before.
Try to include something homegrown with at least one meal a day, is that unrealistic?
Do something new once a week for 52 weeks

[kentishgal]

Almost all my herbs are in tubs so that I can keep them easily by the back door for handy picking

The lighting by my back door isnt great for most herbs though..and I quite fancy filling up a bed with tons of herbs, maybe with a posh bay tree in the middle!!LOL

[Bigmallly]

The lighting by my back door isnt great for most herbs though..and I quite fancy filling up a bed with tons of herbs, maybe with a posh bay tree in the middle!!LOL

Hows about herbal hanging baskets / window boxes if you are short of space?

[veggiechicken]

Hows about herbal hanging baskets / window boxes if you are short of space?

.......and they'd be a challenge for your cocking leg dog

[chris]

How do you know it was a dog?!

[veggiechicken]

And what/who else could it be Chris?

[kentishgal]

I know it was a dog coz I own the culprit!!LOL
Hmmm, seems like Im the only person who likes the idea of a herb bed. What would you put in a 6ft x 3ft bed in a sunny spot?? (did have brassicas in but they got eaten and netting everything would look horrible).

[Aberdeenplotter]

Hmmm, seems like Im the only person who likes the idea of a herb bed.

Doesn't matter what anyone else thinks though does it? If a herb bed at the kitchen door floats your boat, you just go for it. Dunno what you are gonna do about the dog though

[veggiechicken]

Wot Ap says ^^^^^. If that's what you want, have it! We were only trying to give you alternatives for the dog wee situation! Don't put the low growing herbs in the front - although it depends on the size of your dog's.........erm.........leg

[kentishgal]

although it depends on the size of your dog's.........erm.........leg

the bed is a 1ft raised bed.......and the dog is a Chihuahua!!LOL

[veggiechicken]

I'm impressed..........

[Samurailord]

My plans for 2013 are as follows:

First - get the drainage problem with the bottom half of my plot sorted out. Thankfully the Allotment Association are looking at getting a digger in to expand the drainage channel I started through the orchard which should give the water on my plot somewhere to go.

Second - lay a patio area near the pond, get a shed and poly tunnel/greenhouse built, then build the soft fruit/herb beds as a border and complete the other six or seven raised beds on my plans.

Third - set aside an permanent area to put my compost bins and builder's bag full of leaf mold.

Fourth - set up an area for my son to have a try at growing giant veggies. It's the only thing he has shown much interest in for years, so I am hoping ....

Fifth - fill every bed with a wide range of interesting tasty veggies, fruit and herbs. Try the Square Foot Gardening method again - this time without cabbages and courgettes!!

Sixth - try to use at least five different crops harvested from the allotment every week (this will have to be an average - in winter the available produce will obviously be much less than in summer)

Seventh - keep detailed records of what is harvested with an estimated price that it would cost if I had to buy from a supermarket. I am hoping that by the end of next year my savings will have far outweiged anything I will have had to spend (including compost, wood, rent, seeds, etc)

Eighth - Do all this, and still have a great time on the plot!

Andy