What AREN'T you going to grow next year

[Pumpkin Becki]

Red cabbage. They did really well and I liked the idea of having lots of different colours on the plate, but when it comes to eating it, I'm just not a fan.

I'm also growing red brussels, so will see what they taste like.

Ooh Dottie you're missing out! I like to cook it in red wine vinegar with a bit of brown sugar and occasionally a bit of cooking apple too - its one of our favourite winter veg.

[moby-gardener]

Unless I come across some blight-resistant varieties, I'm likely to give up on tomatoes and potatoes. Second year of losing my crop - very disheartening
Not sure if I'll bother with caulis either, they haven't been worth the effort, and the Romanesco broccoli turned out to be PSB, not what I wanted at all
Having said that, the beans, peas, cabbages and squashes have been fantastic Oooh, and the plums!

Mo

[Twinsane]

I find it interesting looking at the reasons why people aren't going to grow something. I can understand if it is a question of space or you don't like something. What does surprise me is the number of people not growing because of failure, I always look on it as a challenge when I get a failure and makes me more determined next year to succeed. I'm in my 4/5 year at aubergines and finally this year have one aubergine of any merit. Won't be growing any chicory next year as it has ruined a couple of salads this year with it's bitterness, couldn't even give it away more than once per person.

Ian

I was thinking the same thing. 2 years failing at caulis here but third time lucky eh?

Not growing:
Mini corn - would rather have the space taken up by full sized corn
Radishes - no one likes them much.. then again, they're fast and they cheer me up when nothing else is sprouting!

[Bramble_killer]

Minipop sweetcorn, very disappointing, pulled them all up last week and planted leeks in there today.

Also growing less chard and spinach beet, there's only 2 of us and there are other vegetables I'd prefer.

[smallblueplanet]

Unless I come across some blight-resistant varieties, I'm likely to give up on tomatoes and potatoes. Second year of losing my crop - very disheartening...

With potatoes you could concentrate on growing 1st and 2nd earlies and hope to have them lifted before blight strikes? We just got ours out in time this year, but we don't grow any maincrop. If you've cleared the potatoes before they get blight, or when/if you spot the very early signs, then it might keep your toms blight free?

[Twinkle]

I won't be growing maincrop potatoes as I'm sick of blight... may not even plant any earlies next year as I've had better yields from the volunteer spuds that were left in the ground.

Asparagus - unless you plant loads of crowns we only ever get a couple of spikes at a time

Aubergine - healthy looking plant, lots of flowers, rot and die before fruiting

Too many courgettes !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 2 plant limit next year !!!!!!!!!!!!!!11

[lynda66]

not gonna grow anything ... cos its all too much effort lol

[SarzWix]

I find it interesting looking at the reasons why people aren't going to grow something. I can understand if it is a question of space or you don't like something. What does surprise me is the number of people not growing because of failure, I always look on it as a challenge when I get a failure and makes me more determined next year to succeed....
Ian

I always felt like that about BNS, but this has been the third year of them producing no fruit at all until the end of August when it finally sets a fruit far too late for it to grow I may change my mind when perusing the seed catalogues, but really, I think it's flogging a dead horse trying to grow them up here without a polytunnel. (Even a fleece tunnel cloche didn't work this year)

[jackie j]

Tomatoes I will not be growing. I planted over 30 in the garden in pots and if I get one tomato that I can eat I will be lucky.
Carrots, I always fail with
Parsnips, I have about 5 in amonsgt the weeds.
Peas, only got a few.
Thats what I say now but I bet by the time sowing season comes around again I will be trying again lol

[Gorgey Girl]

Dwarf French beans because they get chobbled by the slugs and snails and I get much better crop of climbing French beans. Think I'll give the shallots a miss as well, as they take up too much space, and the jury's still out on the garlic. I just hope I remember this when I've got the seed catalogue in my hot sticky little paws come January...

[sewer rat]

Been working out what I'll be growing next year and what I could miss out of the list - apart from Rocket, which always bolts and doesn't sell too well anyway, I'll probably be growing even more types of veg next year, but only a hundred of each brassica as opposed to between 500 and 1000, and only 20 or so courgette plants.

[taff]

Not growing crook neck squash again. It was sold as an alternative to zucchini, but I didn't like the texture, too mealy, and they weren't half as productive as, despite assurances to the contrary, so next year, it'll be both green and yellow zucchini.
To be honest, the tromboncino plants were also supposed to be an alternative but the suffer almost the same fate as the squash, but I love the look of them too much not to grow them again.
I can't think of anything elese i wouldn't grow. I'm still going to give outside tomatoes a go, especially since I've just hada load of italian plum tomato seeds from my auntie but next year I'll give the seaweed spray a go.
Hey ho...off to devon

[Sue]

Hi
Two things
Several people say they don't have space for peas, have you tried the climbing peas? I had the same problem, large amounts of space has to be given up for the plants about 2ft high with relatively little crop. This year I experimented with putting in 8ft canes and stringing net across and putting in a line of pea plants. I have a row of five raised beds that can be used this way as they will not shade anything else. It worked fine they took up around a foot of growing space in the back of the raised bed and I reckon that next year I can get 8 plants in each of the five beds. They're very little trouble and yes, because they go on for longer you get some pea maggots but 5 years on the allotment has considerably cut down on my squeamishness factor, I just make sure I pod with my glasses on to spot any little blighters. Got a good crop too so can't wait for full production next year.

And carrots, couldn't get them to grow well in the ground but since I've grown them in big tubs wouldn't be without them. This always seems to work and you do get less root fly problem. I plant first early potatoes in the pots and then when they're ready to come out I sieve out the earth put it back with some new compost and sow the carrots. I use the varieties from Real Seeds, haven't bothered with Autumn King this year as that seems to get riddled with carrot fly, the Real Seed varieties seem to have some/more resistance.

For things taking up lots of space, ie cabbages, there are smaller so-called patio varieties and cabbages like Hispi are more compact. Also if they're getting out of control, I just cut off the larger outer leaves.

I do love the challenge of growning things and being positive about mistakes. five years on am still trying to get a decent crop of aubergines, a bit better this year - if only I could keep the plants suspended in mid-air and out of the way of slugs it would be a very good crop. Peppers, seem to be getting the hang of them, 6/10 this year. Melons - tried for the first time, got them to a good size and it looks as if the slugs and their followers woodlice and wasps have just been waiting, only two left now. The biggest slugs you ever saw..perhaps I can do without melons?

But am very proud of my leeks grown from seed and the garlic was the best I've ever grown. And tomatoes and blight, yes, a real problem, I'm going to do some research on the earliest ripening varieties as have been whipping them off the plants as soon as they colour to ripen at home, have got a decent crop that way but a lot have got blight now, very sad.

You can win with parsnips, I don't like them very much but they are such a challenge to grow and very exciting - as with all plants grown from seed - to get such a whopping great return from your tiny seed. They will go in curries and stews where I can't taste them, but it's taken me three years to get to grips with them so they're not going to waste.

I am not going to grow weeds next year, (said in very optimistic, slightly mad tone....)

Sue

[FROSTYFRECKLE]

I tried BNS for the first time this year, I won't be wasting my time next year. Plenty of tiny, tiny fruit and it's the end of August I have had no toms this year due to moving and plants falling off windowsills but I'll definately grow them next year (I don't grow any outdoor toms) Can I recommend Achocha to everyone for next year - it's absolutely rampant Tastes similar to a green pepper (but not as strong) but smells like a cucumber. I know lots of you already grow it but to the Grapes that haven't grown it yet - GROW IT

I'm having serious doubts about strawbs. I've got Himalayan Strawbs but this year all I really got was runners. I've also got yellow wild strawb seeds - debating if I should sow them.

[susieq100]

Kohlrabi - it grew really well but it's so bland! It might be alright as a bulking agent in soup but I would rather put courgette in soup if I'm honest. My cauliflowers have (again) been really disappointing and I adore cauliflower. They go slightly pink and start to go to seed when they are smaller than a tennis ball. But I am not giving up on them. I also will not be bothering with carrots in the allotment - carrot fly! They've done well in the containers so I'll just do that next time.