So a bit of a whinge for my first growing year.

[Two_Sheds]

what size mesh is best for pea moth? 7mm like brassicas or enviromesh/ veggiemesh?

Just a bit smaller than the moth is (its only 6mm in length). I use debris netting, that's good.

It's just so different from when I was at work, when everything could be planned and prepared for, and you knew that if you did X then Y would happen, and you could be reasonably sure of your results! It's a whole different mindset isn't it?

I think people assume that gardening is easy, and I think the supermarkets give us that idea partly because of how cheap fruit & veg is, and how clean & uniform it is on sale. We consumers don't see any of the dirt, chemicals, work or process behind the product.

We're growing food: so it's not that surprising that critters come along to try and eat that food.

[KevinM67]

Strangely enough, in my first planting year (3years ago) I had some great successes, especially spuds, parsnips and sweet corn.

This gave me a sort of inflated opinion of myself - that this gardening lark was easy, nothing to it, no need to seek advice from others, etc.

Since then, I've failed miserably with the above crops (much to the disappointment of my family) and had mixed results with others.

To me though it's just about getting out there, especially in the Winter months when the days are so short.
I hold the view that having edible crops after the work put in is just an added bonus.

To add, my partner thinks I'm now a bit weird that I don't go to the pub anymore - and that any free time I have, I'm off up to the plot.

[Mikey]

I also grow on heavy clay, but have stopped planting most things direct into the soil without first preparing the bed. Could it be that you've planted things too deep for them to germinate? Also whatever you cover them with need to be lightweight so that the seedlings can find a route up.

I don't plant my beans out until they are about 8 inches in height, and then I make sure they are into a trench of last years compost. My peas I sow direct into a prepared bed of multipurpose compost, I then cover this with some thistle plants I've cut from the edges of the allotments. This keeps the mice away from my precious crop. When they come up if there are any gaps I fill these with new seed pushed in manually.

Carrots, went into my raised bed this year which was full of well rotted compost interplanted with onions to keep the onion and carrot fly away from my crop. Previous years I have also failed trying to sow direct into the soil my carrots. They don't like heavy clay.

Pea moth, mine are just getting some, I try to pick early and just chuck away the infected part of the pod normally the end attached to the plant.

Its all about trial and error, but if you want to know the best way of growing on heavy clay soil, its all about preparation and improving the soil structure year on year. You'll get there but it will take time.

On the plus side certain veg love your heavy clay, brassicas kale, purple sprouting, calabrese, cauliflowers and Brussels sprouts all love heavy impoverished soil, every cloud has a silver lining.

[darcyvuqua]

I also grow on heavy clay, but have stopped planting most things direct into the soil without first preparing the bed. Could it be that you've planted things too deep for them to germinate? Also whatever you cover them with need to be lightweight so that the seedlings can find a route up.

I don't plant my beans out until they are about 8 inches in height, and then I make sure they are into a trench of last years compost. My peas I sow direct into a prepared bed of multipurpose compost, I then cover this with some thistle plants I've cut from the edges of the allotments. This keeps the mice away from my precious crop. When they come up if there are any gaps I fill these with new seed pushed in manually.

Carrots, went into my raised bed this year which was full of well rotted compost interplanted with onions to keep the onion and carrot fly away from my crop. Previous years I have also failed trying to sow direct into the soil my carrots. They don't like heavy clay.

Pea moth, mine are just getting some, I try to pick early and just chuck away the infected part of the pod normally the end attached to the plant.

Its all about trial and error, but if you want to know the best way of growing on heavy clay soil, its all about preparation and improving the soil structure year on year. You'll get there but it will take time.

On the plus side certain veg love your heavy clay, brassicas kale, purple sprouting, calabrese, cauliflowers and Brussels sprouts all love heavy impoverished soil, every cloud has a silver lining.

That maybe why I'm having great success with brassicas but failing with broad beans!

[rabbit]

amazing advice thanks everyone. I am moving the whole veg bed next year so I tihnk I will be able to do a lot of work to improve the soil for next year. I have netted the peas (might be too late and Im not sure the net will be fine enough but never mind)

I've got some more chillis and squash out and put blue pellets round them

PLus the strawbs are very delicious!

[stubedo]

sorry to hear about your slug probs rabbit, had probs with them here as well, i have major plans to stop them though !!! I think the 9v electric wire solution is worth trying Slug control electric fence raised bed garden - YouTube

Stu

[Two_Sheds]

my partner thinks I'm now a bit weird that I don't go to the pub anymore - ... any free time I have, I'm off up to the plot.

Not so strange, if this is your shed

Pub shed named Shed of the Year | Metro News

[Two_Sheds]

in my first planting year (3years ago) I had some great successes, especially spuds, parsnips and sweet corn.
Since then, I've failed miserably

There's a bit of truth in the saying "beginners' luck". Your soil would have most likely been fresh & full of nutrients, and the pests wouldn't yet have worked out where you were growing their dinner.

Every year, you must ensure to put back the nutrients that your crops take out. Are you mulching with homemade compost? Adding green manures/weeds to the soil?

Also, the weather 3 years ago was better than it has been since, in general.

[Jono]

Enjoy the strawberries!

Resow the French beans now, they'll grow fast this time of year and you'll get a crop before winter.

I read a quote this week that I thought was great. It went something along the lines of 'within no time at all, you'll be the expert of your plot'. This is all part of that process. In the future, you'll know everything you need to about your microclimate.

Chin up, next year when you've got awesome veg all around you you'll look back and laugh.