Keeping the enthusiasm going

[monkeyboy]

So I'm coming up to the end of the first year of my SFG and growing veg in general. Some successes and some losses. But I've found with all of the other things going on in my life, I don't get round to looking after the plants as much as I used to. Some of this will be down to the novelty wearing off, and some of it down to work stresses and house jobs that need doing eg painting, furniture etc.

I used to check on the plants daily, then every other day, then twice a week and for the last couple of weeks, I've just about managed watering and feeding once a week. At the most.

How do you keep going?
Do you have a schedule or strategy?
Do you just check when you have time?

[1Bee]

I've accepted that I'm a seasonal gardener, and I run out of steam about now. It's okay, I am completely obsessed and manic about it in early spring, so it probably evens out over the year.

It's natural, that's what the seasons do, too, so I try not to get too stressed when my plot turns into a jungle at this time of year. In a month or two everything will die back anyway...

[Small pumpkin]

Just do as much as you want as often as you want. There's no point in forcing yourself to do things because then all the fun will go out of it.

[veggiechicken]

Don't be too hard on yourself - it happens to us all, especially at this time of year.
Over time, you learn what veg are easiest to grow - take the least maintenance.
SFG didn't work for me - its too "tidy"! If I had limited space and time I'd just grow a few things that I liked and were simple. To be honest, even with lots of space and all the hours in the day, I'm more selective about what I grow now, than i used to be. I'm sticking with beans, beetroot, courgettes/squash, onions from sets and tomatoes and cucumbers in the GH. Anything I attempt after those is a gamble and probably pointless effort.

[Greenleaves]

I am one of those fanatical gardeners but that's what I enjoy...as VC suggests, try crops that need little attention but give great returns.

The most important part of gardening for me is enjoyment, even my failures bring enjoyment as I was better of trying and failing, rather than not trying at all

[Jungle Jane]

There’s not as much to do out there at this time of year,just harvesting & occasional watering,there’s time to get on with other things like spring cleaning & decorating. The busiest times are planting out & sowing,settling the plants in & protecting them. I’m out there a lot less at the moment,twenty minutes rather than six hours,planting out onion sets doesn’t take long,when it’s cold out there things don’t ever take as long

[monkeyboy]

Thanks. I think some of the deflation comes from the amount of effort put in vs outcome, as well as maintenance. Slugs and caterpillars have been causing damage so I think I need to review what to do next year.

The garden in general has been neglected the last couple of months. Normally I'd mow the lawn twice weekly and keep everything tidy but I've been busy with other jobs to the point where it's dark before I get a chance to go outdoors.

I've bookmarked VC's VSR thread to see if there are other things I can grow and I'll update my SFG plans for next year.

EDIT by VC - Adding a link https://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gr...ing_97729.html

[Lumpy]

As life issues crash into what you want to do I have now accepted that I have had too and next year will have too adapt.
That’s the truly wonderful thing about growing anything - it can all fit into your life with a bit of a squiggle.

OK you have to be harsh about what you do but I’m so happy that my bits and bobs are germinating at the moment I really don’t care if an edible happens. It’s all about what makes me happy and helps my life stay as stable as possible.
As climate, issues and responsibilities change please remember that there is always something you can grow and feel proud about.

[bikermike]

The garden in general has been neglected the last couple of months. Normally I'd mow the lawn twice weekly and keep everything tidy but I've been busy with other jobs to the point where it's dark before I get a chance to go outdoors.

https://www.instructables.com/id/Add...per-Lawnmower/
Well that's that problem solved

I think everyone slows down a bit at this time of year. One answer is to grow stuff that ripens now. I've got the last toms, maincrop potatoes, various brassicas carrots, parsnips, etc all to come.

But as others have said, what matters is that you enjoy it

[Bren In Pots]

I'm a back garden grower and for me its a hobby with the added bonus of producing something eat. I don't have a schedule apart from sowing time but that's flexible, this time of year its a matter of harvesting, seed saving and sowing/potting on things like winter lettuce, radishes and spring onions, just enough to keep us having a bit of salad for over winter.

[bramble]

I am also a back garden grower.
For me it's a hobby but also a big part of my daily life.
Even if I am mot sowing or growing I am weeding, deadheading, seed saving.las long as I am outdoors and puttering I am happy.
What grows, gets harvested and is eaten is a bonus.

[Paulie]

I've accepted that I'm a seasonal gardener, and I run out of steam about now. It's okay, I am completely obsessed and manic about it in early spring, so it probably evens out over the year.

It's natural, that's what the seasons do, too, so I try not to get too stressed when my plot turns into a jungle at this time of year. In a month or two everything will die back anyway...

These are wise words. Some periods in the year are busier than others. The best way to boost your enthusiasm is to take a break. In a few months you may feel keen again. And, if you don't, that's ok too!

[Thenashone]

So I'm coming up to the end of the first year of my SFG and growing veg in general. Some successes and some losses. But I've found with all of the other things going on in my life, I don't get round to looking after the plants as much as I used to. Some of this will be down to the novelty wearing off, and some of it down to work stresses and house jobs that need doing eg painting, furniture etc.

I used to check on the plants daily, then every other day, then twice a week and for the last couple of weeks, I've just about managed watering and feeding once a week. At the most.

How do you keep going?
Do you have a schedule or strategy?
Do you just check when you have time?

This too is my first year of growing and I missed all the good parts this year due to I was still building sheds, greenhouse, raised beds and clearing the land.

I too ran out of interest due to the amount of work I had on and chores and maintenance around the house was getting neglected.

But I found to treat the allotment as "my time" and do what I want when I wanted.

After a few weeks of normal life I found myself wanting to spend more time at the allotment for a break.

Keep your chin up and chill

[hamesy]

I've struggled this year, mainly due to time. My beds have been kept weed free (as much as possible) but I've neglected the paths, watering and feeding. It shows as well My harvests have been pretty poor as a result.

Sometimes life gets in the way, but as long as you do something on the plot, that's all that matters.

For me, winter is always a time for tidying up and I've got a lot of it this year.

• Prune and tidy the fruit area really hard
• Weed the paths and apply more bark chippings
• Sort out my strawberry bed/planter. It suffered this year so need to sort out some irrigation
• Tidy the greenhouse
• Cover the chicken pens. Last winter was just a mud bath
• Remove a small fence that runs straight through my plot
• Build a new frame for my grapevine as the existing one has gone rotten

[Florence Fennel]

Having rats under the shed has really put me off going outside to do anything these last couple of weeks. Irrational I know, but I am afraid of them! My enthusiasm and energy waxes and wanes anyway so just go with the Flo