Are You Trying Any New Methods In 2017

[Bigmallly]

As the title says really.............I'm always open to new ides.

[burnie]

I experiment and grow something I've not grown before every year, my Dad started this in the 1950's and I've carried it on. Chillies will be my new plant/seed to grow and I'm trying growing tomatoes in hanging baskets in the new greenhouse.

[Bigmallly]

My new method will be trying to grow successionaly rather than sowing & growing in bulk.

[burnie]

I guess last year was more adventurous with tatties in grow bags and sweetcorn in raised beds inside a cane igloo covered in fleece, neither of which were outstanding successes . Sweetcorn will be in the greenhouse(due to my northerly latitude) and the tatties will be back in the ground(the area that was going to be a pond is now designated as a tattie bed) with some sprouts as well.

[sparrow100]

I tried minimal watering this year and it didn't work for me, despite being on clay.

Next year I'm putting more green manure in - I have some in for overwintering and it looks fab as well as hopefully anchoring more nutrients.

And I'm also going fully peat-free. SylvaGrow worked stupendously well this year as a seed and potting compost so I'll have a couple of bags of that and I'm making my own potting mix a la Monty Don. Fingers crossed I've put together enough materials this year!

[MarkPelican]

I'm going to go "minimal dig". I normally dig through all my beds in spring. This year I've put in green manure (forage peas and broad beans) and my plan is to put as much compost onto some of the other beds as I can. My guess is that I will still have to dig some beds (I'm on clay) but I want to only dig two of my eight beds.

[Cadalot]

Overwintering Onions in the greenhouse in modules rather than in a bed on the allotment, and growing using weed membrane with holes at 150mm crs in both directions to reduce the amount of weeding required.

[Mr Bones]

Expanding no-dig to all beds but as we can't make enough compost to mulch them all some have leaves, some compost and the rest wood chips. Paths between beds too are being covered with wood chips.

[Alicante]

Expanding no-dig to all beds but as we can't make enough compost to mulch them all some have leaves, some compost and the rest wood chips. Paths between beds too are being covered with wood chips.

Over the past 5 years more and more of my allotment has been no dig and this was my first year of being completely no dig. You are absolutely correct that the main problem is making enough compost! It is really tricky and I spend a lot of time and energy moving spent grow bags from my greenhouse at home, compost made at home, grass cuttings, leaves and weeds and prunings from home down to my plot and I still don't think I have made enough. I had never considered wood chips so thanks for that idea. Did you make your own wood chips using a shredder or did you get them from somewhere?

[Snadger]

I'd rather keep my private life to myself!

[burnie]

As mentioned elsewhere, remember not to dig wood chippings into the soil as they absorb nutrients to start with, do not put them into the ground, better as a mulch.

[Mr Bones]

Over the past 5 years more and more of my allotment has been no dig and this was my first year of being completely no dig. You are absolutely correct that the main problem is making enough compost! It is really tricky and I spend a lot of time and energy moving spent grow bags from my greenhouse at home, compost made at home, grass cuttings, leaves and weeds and prunings from home down to my plot and I still don't think I have made enough. I had never considered wood chips so thanks for that idea. Did you make your own wood chips using a shredder or did you get them from somewhere?

I phoned a couple of tree services and asked if they wanted to drop their chippings at the site. They delivered a huge load yesterday but even on a wet Wednesday morning plot holders whisked it all away in just two hours flat. It's soon become very popular.
Have a look at BM's thread http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...hod_88807.html

[Small pumpkin]

Lots of new varieties getting grown next year, peas, cucumber, squash ( there's more but that's all I can remember at the moment).
I'm trying new climbing frame for peas & beans. Still not worked out what yet, but not wigwam.
Several of the raised beds will be block planted instead of rows ( going to find that challenging, I like my nice neat rows).
Considering building a christmad dinner bed ( something similar to VCs one bed a month idea ).
And there is going to be a complete overhaul of planting and companion planting plans while trying to keep the rotation the same!!!
Lastly going to try one of my tunnels in a new location ( yes, I'm nuts ......I know already....people keep mentioning it )

[Alicante]

I phoned a couple of tree services and asked if they wanted to drop their chippings at the site. They delivered a huge load yesterday but even on a wet Wednesday morning plot holders whisked it all away in just two hours flat. It's soon become very popular.
Have a look at BM's thread http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...hod_88807.html

Thanks for that

[jacks10]

Not really a method but try to be patient and don't over water or prune/harvest to early