Keep it simple - less worry!

[veggiechicken]

Digging up spuds today, I didn't have a clue whether they were 1st or 2nd earlies or maincrop - I dug up the plants & rows that looked finished. In future, I'm not going to worry about what type they are, just bung 'em in and dig them up when it seems right.

With cucumbers - no more worrying about whether to remove the male flowers or not. My simple rule will be - if its an all-female variety its in the GH. If not, it goes outdoors.

Sweetcorn - I'll grow only one type - then it can't be cross-pollinated and form inedible cobs.

Summer or autumn raspberries? Cut out the dead stems, that's all you need to do.

Anything else you can suggest to make growing simple?

I should add that these are just my thoughts to make my life easier. There will be lots of you using better, methodical ways to grow crops with great success. Me, I'm just a simple old chook who likes to take things easy.

[maverick451]

Right now im thinking, im only going to grow one or two different varieties of everything next year, it woul d save so much work but I know deep down when the seed catalogues come through ill be saying yes ill try this and that and allsorts

[Deano's "Diggin It"]

Yep! My thoughts entirely "Mav" I'm gunna get a plan together n stick to it! I grew a few stuff this year I wouldn't normally grow, now they say try somthing different each year, I did, such as rhubarb n champagne chard, although nice, n added colour to the plot, grew far too much of it, n couldn't use it quick enough!

Lesson learnt!

[bario1]

Me, I'm just a simple old chook who likes to take things easy.

Really?? Is that why you sowed 27 varieties of kale and 14 varieties of broad bean this year??

[Potstubsdustbins]

^^^^^^^^ That's VC's way of testing the viability of seed in the VSP. It's just one of the many chores she has to do

[Tiny Allotment]

An old gardener once said to me "When the weeds start growing it is time to plant things out." Let nature tell you when the soil temperature is just right.

paul

[veggiechicken]

Really?? Is that why you sowed 27 varieties of kale and 14 varieties of broad bean this year??

..........and 140 spring cabbages (14 varieties)

[Penellype]

I hope you like cabbage!

[lottie dolly]

I hope you like cabbage!

the wild life will have a field..hum...cabbage day,or maybe going to market with them.


We are already prepping the plots for next year,not so much as in what is grown but,all raised beds with a decent path between,no watter butts along the fence but across the plot,that will not only be easier for using the butts but we will be able to go round with the strimmer and keep a lot of weeds down,the raised beds are so much easier for this senior bird,1 little space at a time,i already got autumn raspberries so easy,chop down once a year,not looking to see what has fruited first as in the summer one's,definately cut down on the cue's,they are going MAD,grow less of each variety and give them more room,they are thought for next year,the one thing that will NEVER change is having to many seeds

[roitelet]

No digging and use the chop and drop method of composting. Still need a compost heap, well 7 in fact, but chop and drop means less effort turning them and they can be left longer to mature.

[Penellype]

I'm good at the chop bit but not the drop bit - I tend to find that once I remember that's what I intended to do I've mixed up all the flower heads etc, so it all goes in the hotbin.

My concession to making things easier next year is to remove the old wooden compost bin, which I have been using to grow potatoes in, but very much gets in the way. The dustbin that lives in it to house some of the potatoes has split and can't be used, the water butt has always been a pain as its too heavy to move when full and the wooden sides of the compost bin are rotting. I also struggled to lift the bags I was using for some of the potatoes over the side of the bin this year (must be getting old). So, big clearout and another raised bed, which will be neater, easier to reach and allow another pot of carrots under the veggiemesh

The old compost bin and the frame for the veggiemesh can be seen in this photo - another raised bed identical to the one to the left of it will exactly fit where the wooden bin currently is.



That's the plan, anyway.

[mothhawk]

Really?? Is that why you sowed 27 varieties of kale and 14 varieties of broad bean this year??

..........and 140 spring cabbages (14 varieties)

I think you'd be right at home in Sto Lat, VC

[Lumpy]

Be prepared to groan......all the same kind of seeds I just mix in a plastic bag and put it in an enevelope with Radish, Beetroot, Spring Onion etc written on the front.

I have found that I can't be bothered to keep reading different packets and it does enable a surprise element.

It also creates a surprising amount of space in my seed box...........hummmmmmmmm!

[veggiechicken]

Lumpy, I do the same with the leftover seeds in each packet. If they can sell Mixed lettuce and Mixed radish etc, there's no reason to keep them separate. Staggers the cropping season too

[SusieG]

Penelleype, please explain to me 'chop and drop ' ?