Looking forward to 2017

[Mrs Bee]

I am not looking forward to 2017, I am enjoying living in the moment. There will be plenty of time to look forward and start planning when 2017 actually gets here.

And in this moment I have broad beans started, saffron corms coming up, the Autumn snowdrops and sweetpeas.

The allotment is being prepared/dug over to accommodate a great many Joan J raspberry canes, loganberry, tayberry and black raspberry. And bean trenches being dug.

After last years plans all went totally chits up, I am a little wary of making any plans for 2017.

[MarkPelican]

I had not heard of the "half hour allotment" principles until I read your post, I did a google search and found an RHS Book of the same name, is that what you are talking about?

Yes, I borrowed it from the library having seen it at a local National Trust property.

Whilst I don't agree with some of the things suggested and think that some of the timings are "optimistic", I like the concepts of:

1. Growing things that are better grown yourself (Raspberries, mangetout peas, lettuce, sweetcorn, etc.);
2. Not growing what is no better than can be bought in the supermarket (maincrop potatoes, stored onions, etc.)
3. Growing from plants where sensible (brassicas)
4. Being focussed (deciding what to do before you get there and not being diverted)
5. Breaking the tasks down into manageable chunks and not expecting to finish everything in one go.
6. Spending money to get rid of pointless tasks (I'm going to try and get rid of the grass that always needs cutting)

So I'm going to keep a record of what I do and how much time I spend to see how near to 2.5 hours a week I can get.

(That said, I'm still planning to grow 24-30 different varieties of tomato from seed but I don't think I'll include that time )

[Penellype]

I think for me the most enjoyable part is the planning, anticipation and hope that goes with the start of spring. For a while at least you can kid yourself that this time you WILL beat the slugs, the aphids, the caterpillars, the blight..., that everything will grow and the frosts won't spoil things. You can imagine picking perfect veg from undamaged plants in neat rows or climbing their supports exactly as they are meant to.

Gradually reality dawns and the usual battle with pests, diseases, unruly plants and inclement weather begins, but I'm looking forward to spring - its dream time.

[Jimmy]

However I do enjoy growing
Many varieties of cherry tomato (Sungold being my favorite )
Various colours of lettuce to give me a nice salad.
Yellow courgettes.

Probably best to ignore my rantings !
Jimmy

[veggiechicken]

Probably best to ignore my rantings !
Jimmy

Might be better if you deleted your rant above. Its very rude.

[Bigmallly]

In 2017, I'm looking forward to testing my powers of discipline with successional sowing. I plan on sowing 3/4 seeds every month. This is how it's looking at the moment, you may notice in the variety column, some say "See Comment", that's because it is done on Excel & there is more than one variety:

[Jimmy]

I edited as it seem to cause alarm, but some one has deleted it so problem gone away.
I didn't this it was that offensive but sorry if it cause a problem.
Jimmy

[Pooleman]

Well, after having a house and garden for many years and 20 or so years ago having an allotment, I moved to an apartment near the sea 3 years ago. I sold or gave away all my tools and equipment and settled back to watch the gardeners carrying out their weekly tasks.

What have I found? The comparative inactivity is not good and personally speaking you can forget joining a boring Gym. Does one ever get used to the the 'taste' of the vegetables served up by our convenient supermarkets or indeed the choice and cost of the cut flowers demanded by my Dear Wife on a weekly basis. But most of all, I have missed the connection with both soil and weather - the requirement to use your grey matter to cope with what nature deals you.

So for 2017 I have taken on an allotment and I am busy purchasing tools and useful equipment. Scanning seed catalogues and compiling long lists of both familiar and a few unknown vegetables. Alongside this I of course, I have convinced SWMBO of the necessity of a polytunnel.............!

I am looking with a great degree of excitement to 2017, knowing how beneficial Growing will be to our physical and mental health - long may it continue!