What can I plant now.

[nosferato]

Hi,
I haven't been on here much recently. However I'm 15 and I have had my own allotment in Alcester, Warks since May 2007. I'm managing to provide enough veg to feed us every day (lettuce, beetroot, carrots, potatoes, runners, dwarf beans, broad beans, peas etc.)
As it is my first year I am not sure of what I can put in the ground now (August/September) I have a greenhouse on the plot aswell if this helps?

Thankyou,
Martin

i have to say as well here here to you. i wish there were more teenagers like you. keep up the good work

[Martin B]

Thanks!

[Pumpkin Becki]

What I don't understand is, if I've got empty ground where I've pulled up my potatoes for example, what do I plant now? Does it have to be something else from the Potato family so it doesn't mess up my crop rotation for next year? Or do I go straigt in with Legumes?? I'm very confused - can someone shed some light PLEASE!!!

[TPeers]

Two schools of thought here - the purist might say leave the ground, add manure if the rotation calls for it and wait for the next 'rotation'.

Personally I reckon to keep the ground productive so feed if needed and plant! If you had spuds last then not spuds but when did you last have brassicas in the bed? Failing that shove in a late crop of lettuce, lambs lettuce or a loose hearted quick maturing type. Then maybe broadbeans as an over winter crop or autumn planted onion sets.

Think about what you want to have there next year - if it is a crop that goes in early then you need something that comes out early! Over wintering crops don't generally come out until May/June. That will include most brassicas.

Most crops on 'rotation 4' are generallists - you can fit them in where ever you have space, so if you have a book that gives rotations in four year cycles have a look to get ideas.

Terry

[Pumpkin Becki]

[QUOTE=TPeers;128463]Two schools of thought here - the purist might say leave the ground, add manure if the rotation calls for it and wait for the next 'rotation'.

Thank you for that, its given me some excellent ideas. I've only had the allotment since May, and it is brand new (never had crops on it - it was part of a sheep meadow), so it sounds like my options are pretty open at the moment - catch crop or over wintering legumes...choices choices!