what to put in the beds?

[janeyo]

Hi I have one bed made and am hoping to have a few mosr by the end of the week. OH off for a week and he THINKS he is re-fitting the utility.... I have other plans, lol.

I would like to plant eventually: (might not get it all done this year)
Early pots
Carrots
Parnsips
Asparagus
Cauliflower
Brocolli
Sweetcorn
Onions
Letuce
Cucumber
Tomato
Pumpkin and squash
Peppers and tomatoes
Beans
Rasps and strawbs

Can anyone suggest the best way to group them? I read loads of stuff but just get more confused!
Even if I only get a few of each it would be great! Then I can plan better for next year.

Thanks

janeyo

[veg4681]

I think you might be better of reading up on Crop Rotation (that shows you how vegetables are grouped by vegetable family) then you'll have a clearer idea on where to lay your different vegetables with varying requirements.

[Potter]

Hi janeyo

It's soooo confusing when you first start out! We took on our plot in July. I made my first plan (took AGES!!), then my 'sort-of-site-manager' and fountain of all knowledge said it was way too complicated as I had my groups all spread out over the plot and that even though I was having beds rather than rows (the norm at my allotments) HE would split the plot so that each group is lumped together. Made perfect sense once he had said it, though I wish he had said it earlier before I had spent hours working it all out! I've since switched things around again but I think I have found a good plan (for me anyway!). My plot is split into roughly 5 similar sized areas - 4 for veg and 1 for fruit.

My plan has:

A
Spuds (love em, growing loads!)
Earlies followed by squash or pumpkin that won't fit into the beds for group B

B
Beans
Peas
Pumpkin & Squash

C
Brocolli
Cauli
cabbage
Onions
Garlic
Leeks

D
Carrots
Parsnips
Sweetcorn
Salad
Outdoor toms & Cucumbers

I'm going to rotate in that order too.

I'm going to have more toms, peppers, chilli, and cucumber in growbags and pots the greenhouse.

My fruit plants and bushes will mostly stay put and not rotate.

Having a look at your plan you could definately do a 3 year plan, and a four year plan if you wanted to split up one or two of your groups depending on how may you want to grow of each veg. I suggest:

A
Early potatoes follow on with squash
Pumpkins
Beans

B
Cauliflower
Brocolli
Onions

C (Could easily split this group)
Carrots
Parnsips
Lettuce (can go anywhere)
Sweetcorn (can go anywhere)
Peppers (prob need a sheltered spot or greenhouse?)
Cucumber (can go anywhere)
Outdoor tomatoes (can go anywhere except following potatoes)

Asparagus - needs a nice out of the way place as it stays put for years

Raspsberries - need a place to stay
Strawbs like to be moved every 3 years or so. I'm going to plant the runners in a new position and on the plant's 3rd year pull it up.

Hope this helps, though it's just a suggestion (I'm sure others have different groupings, this is just what works for me) and you'll definately change your plan as you go along whatever you decide to do ! Feel free to PM me if you'd like my actual plan or a chat!

Jules

[janeyo]

Hi and thanks, that's a big help! I've got some better ideas now

janeyo

[shirlthegirl43]

You could do the early spuds in containers and leave some bed free for other stuff - the spuds take up a lot of ground space.