Do you have room for Squatters?

[veggiechicken]

I dislike Squatters - they don't earn their keep. They're going to be evicted this year.

Squatters are those veggies that take up ground space for months and months, some for nearly a year and they may not give you something worth eating at the end of it!

For example Brussels sprouts and big cabbages - just when they should be ready to pick the sprouts blow or the cabbages are riddled with holes.
Swedes - they're underground for months and when you dig them up, there's a gnarled and holey lump that's not worth peeling.
On top of that, these are the veggies that tend to be quite cheap to buy. A swede is about 50p and takes up ground space for 6 months.

I'm leaning towards growing small and quick veg rather than squatters next year. Longstanding veg like sprouting broccoli and kale can stay as you can keep cropping them, leaf by leaf, for weeks.

What do you choose, squatters or short-term tenants?..............and I know someone will say perennial veg

[Thelma Sanders]

My swede don't grow underground (confused) but they are reliable here - plus we get charged a squid each in Kent

My Tundra cabbages are hooge, but it means I can cut all the sluggy leaves off and still get a decent sized cabbage to eat

I've ditched trying caulis, wasted space for what grows. I will grow more Autumn green Calabrese instead.

So I'm sticking with some squatters and some short term tenants - still the best option for me

[arpoet]

Maybe all that welsh rain forces the swedes underground.

I space cabbages closer that recommended as there are just me and boss so one small head is just right.

[heirloomsquash]

sound like you have pest control problem and picking time problem compared to a growing problem.

[Bren In Pots]

I don't have a lot of space so the only long term veg plants that aren't cut and come again are those I really like so thats leeks and parsnips.
I grow a fair bit of Black Kale and that gets picked from early on then the only other brassica I grow is my 4 sprout plants that I grow for over Christmas.
So I'd say I go mostly for short term.

[mothhawk]

No squatters here, there's no room for them to park the 'van and set up tents

I allow kale, 'cos it's neat enough to use just a small space and you can eat it continuously, no languishing across the bed for half the year just for a meal and a half's return. I have a few cabbages over winter, but they're generally eaten before they heart up in spring as by then I need the space

So no sprouting broc, brussels sprouts, onions (they're cheap enough to buy for the amount I use), only early spuds so the runner beans can replace them.

No strawberries as I prefer rasps, they fruit from July to the frosts (autumn ones) and are easy-care. No JA's any more, they're really too tall for my patch, and will keep wandering.

[noviceveggrower]

I have room for them mainly cause I like them. I love my sprouts and cabbage so try and give them room. I only have a few of each but they are worth the room. Don't have much space and time for cauliflowers as they seem to either get to a certain stage and just stop growing or bolt. I only grow the squatters only because I really like them.
I have started doing my salad stuff in tubs as it seems to grow better. I did really well with radishes last year.

[Lumpy]

Hangs head in shame but....I like the squatters. Tried cauli's for several years as I had delusions of small head each as a c & cheese - hah that was me being over enthuasiastic!.
We grow swede, cabbage (both summer & winter) and kale closer together so we get managleable plants. Other than that my veggie plot is a free for all on what I fancy trying at the time. The lottie is going to be a bit different as 'the family' who own said stately home have asked for sprouts - so I'm having a go at red ones - that will teach them to be more sepecific in future!

[Snadger]

PSB could be classed as a squatter but I wouldn't be without it!

Have you ever tried eating those overpriced limp pieces of rubbery stuff marketed as PSB that they sell in the shops?

Their is also no comparison between a freshly picked home grown swede and the bags of frozen pulp sold in supermarkets.

Squatters have rights you know!

[Penellype]

I wouldn't be without my PSB and leeks, but I mostly grow them in pots to start off with and they get put into spaces as they appear, usually after peas or onions. (This might be why my leeks are usually rather pathetic!). Most other things get eaten fairly quickly as I try to make most parts of the garden give me 2 crops in a season. Exceptions of course being the perennials, which are pretty much all fruit. My oregano might be in for the chop this year, although I want to keep it if I can because it attracts bees.

[Jay-ell]

Still getting my head around what exactly I want to grow but I reckon I can get better milage growing kales/ collards instead of cabbage. Also if I grow radishes and turnips I get their leaves as well.

Of course my current plan has 8 varieties of winter squash in it so they're not exactly quick to crop.

I'll be doing sweetcorn again this year despite the fact that last year wasn't a bumper crop and it's pretty cheap. Spuds I'm going to do in bags.

Im going to try some quick crops like mizuma and also give Chinese cabbage a try as it doesn't look like it's such a ground hog.

Sprouts, leeks, parsnips, hamburg parsley and salsify are all going to get a long term lease.

[Alison]

I grow everything I eat on the veggie front as I want to know how it's been grown and what has been applied. The only way I can do this is to grow my own and there is plenty of room for squatters on the plot plus you can ignore them for months and concentrate on the needy stuff. Oh and it gives me something to eat in winter

[muddled]

PSB I consider to be valued guests so they can stay as long as they like.
I have realseeds 'tree cabbages' which last two years and you pick like kale
I'm growing 3 actual kales (red, black and curly green) this year.
Snips usually fail for me but I try anyway...
aiming to be self sufficient in onions so got 300 growing!

I'd say most of my allotment is long term growers. I put the big, ugly or sprawling stuff there and things like onions that like ordered rows and shade...
the prettys...the chillies and cherry toms, rainbow chard, fancy lettuces and such go in the garden with the flowers...

And the quickies; beetroots, kohl rabi and dwarf beans...they get bunged in every gap!

[sparrow100]

Blasted pigeons have figured out how to snack on my kale despite the netting

Until I have more than a half plot I can't consider many squatters. As it is I have to find space for cape gooseberries, oca, parsnips, PSB and cavalo nero. Caulis & cabbages are out till I have more space

I am getting better at using pots, but that makes going away for any length of time problematic.

[Jay-ell]

im considering leaving the forum as every thread i read just makes me want to buy more seeds


So, Muddled, tree cabbages you say.....


Which reminds me, I have to figure out where to put my Jersey kale... GYO walking sticks, cabbages that look like palm trees - how could I resist.