Finished our Plot's Planting Plan (well, first version anyhows!)

[Mrs Dobby]

Hi Gang, just fnished planning our plot's planting strategy for next year (and working out the crop rotation for the 2 years following!) and would love some feedback / comments / suggestions or other ideas!

The plans are on paper, so cant post them, but what I can do is list the veg by type and variety, and how many we are planting at what intervals and what a possible total number of plants will be, if anyone can make any suggestions as to what plants we've got, whether we are missing anything and the quantities we've got, or whether to increase or decrease any of them then I'd be very greatful!

ON THE ALLOTMENT

FRUITS

84 Raspberry canes in permanent bed (already there)
160 Strawberrys in permanent bed (already there)
4 gooseberry bushes in permanent bed (got to get yet)
2 loganberry in permanent bed (need to be planted yet)
4 brambles in permanent bed (already there)
6 rhubarbs in permanent bed (already there)
1 Elder tree in permanent bed (already about 25' high)

LEGUMES - 1 BED, 4' BY 36'

Pea (Rondo) 2 rows of 100 plants, planted in 40's at 3 week intervals = 50 plants
Broad Bean (Express) 2 rows of 25 plants, planted in 10's at 3 week intervals = 200 plants

Both the above will be supported by neting on a moveable framework that we are making from some straightish branches we've salvaged!

HERBS - 2' BY 12' (permanent bed, covered with weed control fabric and planted through)

2 Foxgloves
Bay Tree transplanted from our front garden 3' tall
Mint (in pot) transplanted from our front garden
Sage (English)
Chives
Parsley (Plain English)
Basil
Borage
Taragon


BRASSICAS - 2 BEDS 5' BY 24'

Cabbage (MinicoleF1) 2 rows of 17 plants, planted in 7's, 3 weeks apart = 34 cabbages
Cauliflower (F1 Trevi) 1 row of 13 plants, planted 4/4/5 every 3 weeks = 13 cauli's
Brussel sprouts (Bedford) 1 row of 15 plants, planted in 3's every 3 weeks = 15 plant
Broccolli (Autumn Sprouting) 1 row of 19 plants, planted 4/4/4/5 every 3 weeks = 19 plants
Broccolli (Purple Sprouting) 1 row of 13 plants, planted 3/3/3/4 every 3 weeks = 13 plants
Broccolli (Romaine) 1 row of 13 plants, planted 3/3/3/4 every 3 weeks = 13 plants

I love broccoli, but is this too much? What sort of yield does a single healthy plant give?

ROOTS - 2 BEDS 4' BY 30'

Carrot (Paramix) 8 rows of 24 plants, sown 2 rows at a time, 3 weeks between sowings = 192 carrots
Carrot (Amsterdam Forcing) 8 rows of 24 plants, sown 2 rows at a time, 3 weeks between sowings = 192 carrots
Leek (Musselburgh Improved) 8 rows of 8 plants, sown 2r/1r/1r/2r/2r, 3 weeks between sowings = 64 leeks
Parsnip (Tender and True) 6 rows of 8, sown 1 row at a time, 3 weeks between sowings = 48 parsnips
Turnip (Snowball) 4 rows of 24 plants, sown 1 row a time, 2 weeks between sowings = 144 baby & full grown turnips (eat baby until last sowing, let rest mature)
Swede (Ruby) 4 rows of 6, sown 1/1/2r, 3 weeks between sowings = 24 swedes
Swede (Brora) 4 rows of 6, sown 2 rows at a time, 3 weeks between sowings = 24 swede
Beetroot (Boltardy) 4 rows of 24, planted 1 row at a time every 3 weeks for 7 plantings = 168 beetroot
Radish (French Breakfast3) 3 rows of 48, planted a row at a time every 3 weeks for 10 plantings = 480 radish!
Radish (Pontiville) 4 rows of 24, planted a row at a time, every 3 weeks for 7 plantings = 168 radish!

Do I reduce the room for Radish and free up some more space for something else, perhaps some more parsnips? Do I need to spread the leek planting to ensure spaced cropping, or is it best to plant in one batch?

OTHERS

Asparagus - 1 bed 12' by 9' (already there, at least 6 plants that we've seen!)

ONION - 2 BEDS 4' BY 18'

Ailsa Craig 33 rows of 8 plants = 264 onions - should see us thru the year if they store well enough!
Paris Silver Skin 16 rows of 8 = 128 pickles
Onion Sets (Electic) 5 rows of 10 = 50 planted
Onion Set (Radar) 5 rows of 10 = 50 planted
Garlic () 50 planted 5 rows of 10 = 50 planted

SALAD - 1 BED 5' BY 36'

Lettuce (Iceberg Set) 6 rows of 5, planted 2 rows at a time every 3 weeks for 7 plantings = 70 lettuces
Lettuce (Red Salad Bowl) 7 rows of 6, planted 2 rows at a time every 3 weeks for 7 plantings = 84 lettuces

Should I reduce the amount of space given to lettuces by half and consider something else aswell??

Spring Onions (White Lisbon) 5 rows of 10, planted 2 rows a time every 3 weeks for 9 plantings = 180 spring onions (scallions I believe Snadger calls them)
Celery (Lathom Blanching) 4 rows of 7, planted 1/1/2r every 3 weeks = 28 stalks celery
Spinach (Spinnaker F1) 3 rows of 18 planted 1 row at a time every 3 weeks for 10 plantings = 180 plants
Cucumber (Marketmore) 2 rows of 3 plants, planted 2 at a time every 3 weeks = 6 plants
Courgette (Zucchini F1) 2 rows of 3 plants, planted 2 at a time every 3 weeks = 6 plants
Tomato (Sub Arctic) 3 rows of 4 plants, planted 1 row at a time, every 3 weeks =12 plants

SQUASHES - 2 BEDS 5' BY 18'

Pumpkin (Ghost Rider) 1 row of 5 plants in single planting = 5 plants
Pumpkin (Saved seeds) 2 rows of 5 plants in single planting = 10 plants
Squash (Ponca) 5 rows of 3 plants in a single planting = 15 plants
Squash (Butternut saved seeds) 4 rows of 3 plants in a single planting = 12 plants

SWEETCORN - 2 BEDS 5' BY 9'

Sweetcorn (Ovation) 6 rows of 5 planted in 2 sowings = 30 plants
Sweetcorn (Lark) 6 rows of 5 planted in 2 sowings = 30 plants

Do I need to make 2 plantings to spread cropping, or is it best to just whack them all in and harvest as I need it?

GREENHOUSE - 8' BY 10'

Melon (Gallia) 6 plants in 2 sowings of 3, 3 weeks apart = 6 plants
Pepper (Gourmet) 8 plants in 4 sowings of 2, 2 weeks apart = 8 plants
Aubergine (Calliope F1) 6 plants in 2 sowings of 3, 4 weeks apart = 6 plants
Chilli (DeCayenne) 5 plants in one sowing = 5 plants
Tomato(Black Prince) 5 plants in 2 sowings 3 weeks apart = 5 plants
Tomato(Lilliput) 4 plants in 2 sowings 3 weeks apart = 4 plants
Tomato(Tamina) 5 plants in 2 sowings 3 weeks apart = 5 plants
Tomato(Sweet Million) 4 plants in 2 sowings 3 weeks apart = 4 plants

POTATOES
1kg of Charlottes
1kg of Desiree

Not sure of these are going in the plot, in the back garden or in a second plot that we may be taking on, any ideas as to room needed, other varieties to try and how much space we should devote to spuds to see the two of us thru the year (eating 2 or 3 times a week) would be appreciated!

HOME GARDEN

HERBS

Parsley
Mint
Thyme
Tarragon
Sage
Borage
Mugwort
Atropa Belladonna

FRUIT

Bramley apple tree already in front garden
Cherry tree already in front garden
Braeburn apple tree already in front garden
KIWI vine to be sited in back garden and trailed onto south facing house wall
Whatever strawberries we cant fit into the plot!
Rhubarb (planted last year)

MINI GREENHOUSE 6' BY 4'
Not sure yet, probably more toms, peppers, melon and whatever else we can fit in the plot!

NEXT YEAR ON THE PLOT
Salad follows squashes, Brassicas follow Legumes, Corn/onions follow Brassicas, root follow corn/onions, Legumes/squashes follow roots.

YEAR AFTER ON THE PLOT
Salad follows roots, Brassicas follow legumes / squashes, Onion follow salad, root and corn follow Brassicas, Legumes and squashes follow corn and onions.

Any comments or advice would definitely be appreciated!

[Earthbabe]

Wow, you are organised. I am impressed by your planning. At first glance it looks great, you should give yourselves a pat on the back. My planning isn't even on paper, it is solely in my head and malleable depending (at the moment) on what has been dug etc.

[pete10]

Well good luck with the plan looks good to me . Cant give to much advice as I'm still on the learning curve but give cabbages a fair bit of
space as it makes them grow bigger.

[Mrs Dobby]

Thanks EB, its only done cos I've been off work with a skin flare up and have been bored out of my mind, it was so bad I couldnt put any clothes on at one point, so needed something to take my mind off it! Thsnkfully it seems to be going down now, I no longer look like a red Indian at least!

[Mrs Dobby]

Well good luck with the plan looks good to me . Cant give to much advice as I'm still on the learning curve but give cabbages a fair bit of
space as it makes them grow bigger.

Hi Pete!

The ones we've got say to leave 18" between plants, which is what I'm planning to do, do you think we may need to leave more room per cabbage?

[Earthbabe]

Mrs D that sounds dreadful. Any idea what caused it sounds almost systemic if it covered you. Glad it is settling though. Take care.

[Earthbabe]

Re the cabbages I think that is standard spacing although some brassicas ask for more. You should be ok with that. Remember you are only feeding two/three and the longer a vegetable is cut and not used the less nutritious it is. Better to have them slightly smaller and eat them in one hit than have them sitting around staring at you for days because you really can't face any more.

[Mrs Dobby]

No idea at all EB, I had it once before about 2 years ago, much worse than this time, I ended up in casualty twice, this time I just got straight on the antihistamines and have been taking a lukewarm shower every 3 hours or so!

Last time we think it was an allegic reaction to something I'd eaten, possibly something from a burger bar that may not have been quite bad enough to give me food poisoning but bad enough to set it off, this time the only thing I've had that Mr D didnt was some Black Pudding on Sunday morning with a full english, it was within sell by but did seem a little dry, perhaps that was the cause? All I know is I'm much better now thanks!

[Mrs Dobby]

Re the cabbages I think that is standard spacing although some brassicas ask for more. You should be ok with that. Remember you are only feeding two/three and the longer a vegetable is cut and not used the less nutritious it is. Better to have them slightly smaller and eat them in one hit than have them sitting around staring at you for days because you really can't face any more.

We eat a lot of cabbages here EB, I find them a great addition to almost any meal I'm cooking, they work well grated in curries, chillies, bolognese and goulash, so I want to try and grow enough for a year, eating them young when I can, then cutting and storing or freezing at the very last possible moment for the rest. Dont worry, I love veg and dont think I'd ever get to the point of not facing any more! Mind you, not had a harvest from the plot yet! lol!

[dexterdoglancashire]

Well done Mr & Mrs D! I'm going to go and have a lie down on your behalf! From seeing your first pictures of your lottie - you have worked miracles! well done! I'm really chuffed for you! Dexter also says woof woof to Bella! DDL

[Snadger]

Very impressive Mrs D!

Can I just add a few obser vations?

Not enough Tatties!! Unless you're going to fill another lottie with them?

Try 'catch cropping' some of the salad veg to utilise space better

Where's the curly Kale?...Couldn't do without me kale!

No runner beans?

French beans are my favourite and good croppers, do you not like em?

Got to go to work now so won't be a pain any longer!

[Lesley Jay]

A few observations Mrs D.

Minicole cabbages hold well in the ground for about 3 months so I would plant them in two batches.

Leeks. There is no need to stagger the planting.

Courgettes. 6 plants??? Just grow 3 plants and you will be able to eat them for your breakfast, lunch and tea! Don't stagger the planting,

Squashes and pumpkins. You are growing an awful lot of plants and far too many for the size of the bed. They want to be a good 3 foot apart.

Tomatoes. Don't stagger the planting.

Cucumber. Don't stagger the planting.

Sweetcorn. Don't stagger the planting.

The greenhouse. There are miles too many plants. Grow some extra outdoor tomatoes.

As Snadger said where are the beans? Blue Lake french beans are lovely. So are Kenyan Safari dwarf french beans (I haven't forgot PT!).

You are certainly organised!!

[pete10]

Well the cabbages i have at the moment i spaced as per packet details but
they could have done with a touch more .

[JennieAtkinson]

Wow Mrs D - I'm very impressed. Not done anything on such a grand scale although did have a paper plan. I am so impressed with your positive assumption that you will get 192 carrots! Thats the way to do it!

Im very envious of the fruit you already have on the site, that must be a tremendous boost. Thats my target this year is to get two or three bushes in. The josta cuttings sent to me by ChrisB are looking very healthy, so I'm going to go for some blackcurrants. I have to build a cage first though! Like DDL - I must say you have worked tremendously hard on your plot, it did look very overgrown initially. Well done.

[Mrs Dobby]

Very impressive Mrs D!

Can I just add a few obser vations?

Not enough Tatties!! Unless you're going to fill another lottie with them?

Try 'catch cropping' some of the salad veg to utilise space better

Where's the curly Kale?...Couldn't do without me kale!

No runner beans?

French beans are my favourite and good croppers, do you not like em?

Got to go to work now so won't be a pain any longer!

Hi Snadger, observations are very welcome!

More tatties will be sourced, not sure if we are going to plant some at home or take thge half plot that we've been offered down the allotment, if we do then they will go in there!

Catch cropping! D'oh! That will freee up quite a bit of space, so more room for other stuff, thanks for that!

I have horrible memories of stringy runner beans as a child, so wasnt planning on growing any, but will have a think on them!

Never tried French Beans, so no idea what they taste like, anyone like to elaborate? May use some of the space freed up by catch cropping to try some!

Definitely not a pain Snadger, but a great help indeed! Dont forget we are newbies, so any observations are welcome if they help us to grow a better harvest!