Getting my list together for next year, a final bit of advice

[tumbling tom]

Hi there everyone. Have been a long time follower of this forum but have now decided to sign up and see if I can get some help myself, as well as chip in where I can.

Last year was my first year of GYO and yes, as others have said, I have the bug. I mostly done containers and baskets, all outside, getting some excelent results from peppers, aubs, tumbling toms and lettuces.

Now this year I have decided to really go for it! I have dug up some of my garden so am planning on doing a combination of SFG, about 14 sqaures in all (its a strange shape), a few baskets and around thirty odd morrisons flower buckets.

As far as buckets and baskets go I am more or less set on what to plant, padron, chilli and sweet peppers, toms, aubs and gonna probably do a few more depending on how it all pans out.

Now its my sfg that I am trying to figure out. Been reading up about it for the last six months and it sounds excellent, but the spacings look ambitious.

I am basically only going to be able to trellis the back four squares for anything climbing. So have decided to use 2 of them for climbing courgettes and the other two for 'Collective Farm Woman' Melon from Vegetable Seeds : Melon and Watermelon.

Bearing this in mind I have been reading up about dwarf beans and peas. According to sfg spacing chart I can fit 9 bush beans and bush peas into one square. Now I am quite embarrased to say that I have no idea how big a fully grown one of these plants is, so was rather hoping one of you guys could help me out here.

Also what about onions 16 to square? I would have 12 at a squeeze. Spinach is another one that looks ambitious.

If any one does do sfg what kind of compact varieties do you use?

Hope this hasnt been too much for my fist post, lol, look forward to your replies.

[Two_Sheds]

I have been reading up about dwarf beans and peas. ...I have no idea how big a fully grown one of these plants is

It depends on variety. Some bush beans are about 12" tall and more-or-less freestanding (they lean on each other for support) others are 2-3' tall and will need canes to grow up. I plant beans 9" apart each way.

Peas need support too, even if it's just twiggy prunings for the shorter peas: they are NOT self-supporting. Peas are planted much closer together: 2" apart each way.

Why don't you grow tall peas & beans so you get a bigger crop? They take up the same ground-space as short varieties

[tumbling tom]

Thats fine, I don't mind putting canes up to support plants, but cant a: have them growing too too high as I may have stuff growing behind it ( not directly but a foot or two ) so dont want too much shading and b: also dont want plants taking up too much ground space in the sfg that it will eat into other squares too much.

I take it 9" either way, beans I could probably go about 4 per squre?

[Two_Sheds]

I don't mind putting canes up to support plants, but cant a: have them growing too too high as I may have stuff growing behind

Then you want your tall stuff at the northern-most part of your garden

[tumbling tom]

OK, thanks TwoSheds, will look into that now.

Have been doing some research on "half pint" peas. They look quite useful for my sfg. Anyone know how high these grow. Also ( you can see how much of a novice I ma now ) do these things wind themselves around the canes or do you have to tie them in?

[Two_Sheds]

do these things wind themselves around the canes or do you have to tie them in?

Peas have tendrils (like sweet peas) that need some fine net to cling to (or twiggy sticks). Canes are not suitable, chicken wire is good

Beans wind round canes (anti-clockwise in my garden). Some are reluctant to climb and prefer to flop on the ground, so tie those in

[Two_Sheds]

"half pint" peas. ..Anyone know how high these grow.

Let me google that for you: Pea Half Pint £1.69 - All Vegetable Seeds - Veg Seeds for Containers Buy Vegetable Plants, Vegetable Seeds, Seed Potatoes & Raised Vegetable Beds @ VegGrower.co.uk

12-15" high

[oldie]

http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...ing_44388.html This is the link to the sfg thread. Many who tried this did find the spacings optimistic for U.K. Spinach grew far to big and covered other squares but the carrots worked out well as did the onions at 12 per square.

[zazen999]

OK, thanks TwoSheds, will look into that now.

Have been doing some research on "half pint" peas. They look quite useful for my sfg. Anyone know how high these grow. Also ( you can see how much of a novice I ma now ) do these things wind themselves around the canes or do you have to tie them in?

you can put 4 canes around - 1 in each corner - and tie twine around at 1ft heights to keep them all in. A few tendrils escape but they will grow up the centre 'chimney' and be all nicely contained.

[tumbling tom]

you can put 4 canes around - 1 in each corner - and tie twine around at 1ft heights to keep them all in. A few tendrils escape but they will grow up the centre 'chimney' and be all nicely contained.

Excellent idea, will have a look at this one.

Let me google that for you: Pea Half Pint £1.69 - All Vegetable Seeds - Veg Seeds for Containers Buy Vegetable Plants, Vegetable Seeds, Seed Potatoes & Raised Vegetable Beds @ VegGrower.co.uk

12-15" high

Thank you. I did see this one. On the description is says they need no support though, would you disagree then?

Peas have tendrils (like sweet peas) that need some fine net to cling to (or twiggy sticks). Canes are not suitable, chicken wire is good

Beans wind round canes (anti-clockwise in my garden). Some are reluctant to climb and prefer to flop on the ground, so tie those in

Its amazing how much you google and you look up, you always miss the obvious.

So here is one then, broad bean plants, the need supporting I assume, they don't wind round canes?

[Snadger]

....................So here is one then, broad bean plants, the need supporting I assume, they don't wind round canes?

They have no tendrils and the taller varieties will need support. The dwarf varieties were bred so that they don't need support but its sometimes advantageous to put a few canes around them and surround with string!

[Two_Sheds]

I have to put cane&string fences round my broadies because my site is very exposed, and the wind just flattens them

[zazen999]

So here is one then, broad bean plants, the need supporting I assume, they don't wind round canes?

The same as the others, the pea method works the same with broadies.....

[gojiberry]

Working in a compact area like you seem to be doing, I would look through the seed catalogues for patio varieties of which there are loads. You will even find a small leafed spinach suitable for your needs.

Ian