Planning for the plot

[Guykp57]

I've grown beans in the same spot for the last 5 years at least. Everything else is mostly started in seed trays, graduates to modules and then is planted wherever there's a space. No plan, but it seems to work because as one crop is harvested there's already something waiting in the wings to go in

What is the difference between seed tray and modules? Sorry for being stupid.


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[veggiechicken]

When you sow into a seed tray, you have to prick out each seedling to grow them on in pots or modules, usually.
Some larger seeds will be sown directly into a module and you skip the pricking out stage - something like this

[Guykp57]

Thank you friend :-)


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[Penellype]

I plan meticulously with regard to what I am going to sow and when I am sowing it, as I start 90% of my seed off indoors and grow a lot of my veg in pots. I try to plan where I am going to put it all, but I often misjudge how long things like broccoli, leeks etc are going to stay in the ground, and sometimes I have to rearrange things to compensate. Some things are governed by the sun - there would be no point in growing tomatoes in over half of my garden as they would never ripen. I can also get over enthusiastic and try to cram in an extra crop, particularly if I come across something that sounds interesting. Last year it was tomatoes - I tried 2 new varieties and ended up with 36 plants, having intended to plant only 20! I had pots of tomatoes on the garden seat, on top of the compost bin and crammed between the back door and garage. I also had to clear a space in the flower bed to accomodate my unexpected bags of July sown potatoes.

[Feral007]

I don't plan. My son does.

He spends time thinking and researching, whilst I sneak out and find a garden implement and start putting things in. I've been know to use a kitchen fork when stuck.

Then we argue. Once things come up and so well, or not, one of us apologises. And we keep growing things.

It's all fun.

[susieq100]

I do plan and then once things start growing my plan goes to hell in a hand-cart! It depends how well things germinate, if the slugs get the young plants, what the weather is like, what stupid mistakes I have made regarding siting of plants etc etc. I find the planning quite satisfying, but then you just have to think on your feet/knees/haunches dependent upon what you are growing. Or at least I do

[VirginVegGrower]

I always use my online garden planner - rotate on a three yearly basis - also muck/green manure/Rockdust on a three yearly basis now (next year will see the first full cycle). It helps me harvest and clear to that order and keeps me on track, otherwise I'd lose what I'd had and where. I'm not that organised that I can keep it in my head.


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[vegboi]

I have seed packets in monthly slots in my box, when I've sown some that need to be sown again they simply move forward to the next month in the box. I'm not sure if thats technically planning as such, it works most of the time, as long as I have enough trays.

I have seen this in Sean's Allotment Garden on you tube he uses old dishwasher tablet boxes with lids on which I thought was genius and I am going to try.


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[carolineholding]

Yes I do plan, I really enjoy it, and suprisingly I'd say I stick to about 80% of the plan. I do have 5 raised beds and i stick to a fairly strick crop rotation system -which i would imagine is a big influencing factor

[mikegm]

Hi to you all,
Being a newby to Allotmanteering,I have just been offered the choice of two plots, haven't even seen them yet!! No fixed plans, but I guess, the first things I will be planting is Potatoes!! A good ground clearer I believe? See where I go from there. Probably make it up as I go along...for this coming year anyway.... lol

[Plot28 A&B]

We start off with detailed plans mapped out on spreadsheets with even approx numbers of how many to sow, then reality kicks in and we 'tweak' the plan by drawing freehand on it. Then we go shopping and see some veg plants looking sad and neglected (and cheap) and bring them home and fit them in. We then sow some seed and they ALL come up so we can't throw them away so we give some out to fellow plot holders and still end up planting out way too many...... now the plot looks nothing like what we started with even if you hold the plan upside down!!! So I can safely say we plan...to change the plan. Its the same year after year and we would not change.

[Jamesy_uk]

I think we all pretty much do the same thing, spend long winter nights planning meticulously for next year and then Murphy's Law kicks in and it all goes to hell in a handcart. I thought I had planned well enough this year but I hadn't accounted for a later than planned start to the season and the fact I had extremely limited space for seedlings.