Grow Your Own Magazine

Ok guys not only am i a virgin veg grower i'm also internet incompetent! but I need a lorra lorra help!! Finally persuaded my husband to build me two 6 x 4 (thats length x width!) raised beds ( i'm negotiating the third) and (bless him) he's spent two days putting together a greenhouse that i bought from focus DIY ( I posted this somewhere else on this site, hoping somebody would reply and I'd get an idea how to work the site!!)
I have a kitchen (quite large, luckily!) full of things growing! peppers. tomatoes, chillies, sweetcorn, lettuce, rocket, asparagus, oh gosh I could go on!! and on!!
Also in the first bed i've planted peas (Feltham first), broad beans, and some first early spudss. The second bed I'm planning carrots, onions (read about companion planting) beetroot, leeks, and parsnips. In place of the third bed (don't want to push my luck)! I thought I'd fill the space with large pots and grow bags and just grow everything else! i.e salad, spring onions, pak choi etc
and last but not least i envisage the greenhouse being inundated with tomatoes, chillis, peppers, courgettes etc, etc, etc.!

Does this all sound like too much!! it looks ok on paper ( yes I have been that anal about it) I'd just like a bit of encouragement, and as i told my doubting family - if it all ends up on the compost heap there's always bizzy lizzies next year!!!!

Hi

I'm not sure what you're planting where but if you've read about 'companion planting' have you read about 'crop rotation'? Leads to healthier crops if you don't grow the same thing in the same place over and over, and some things benefit from being planted the year after something else was grown there.

Best way to learn is do it! Good luck.

SBP

oh and get some good books - try Joy Larkcom - Grow Your Own Vegetables

many thanks! yes i have read about crop rotation, just got a bit confused, thats why i originally planned on three beds, as this is my first year i only added compost to the bed I've already planted with beans and spuds. The second bed i've just dug over, (my back knows it!) stuck the raised bit on top and added top soil! Now planning to sow carrots, onions etc. to this. Oops guess I'm repeating myself, but getting excited now warm weather, light nights, supplying to Tesco etc!!!

My OH demands raised beds (we've moved a few times recently) because you can operate a 'no dig' system, although I think you have to dig them over (preferably incorporating manure) first time.

After that i think you top up with manure, which can be done in autumn and the worms work it in over winter, but you shouldn't walk on the raised beds. Which is also why raised beds shouldn't be too wide (I think).

But in case of shortage of time we just do 'it' and hope - by 'it' I mean what ever 'thing' like last year the chitting potatoes didn't get planted 'til end of May and they were still productive - never be too scared to just try it!

The no dig system works, I have fine beds at home which I have done this with for years. The best way to discover how to do it, is to do it, decide what you want to grow, which you have, and just push forward, don't be afraid to interplant with flowers to bring in the bees, courgettes are a good easy crop, as are tomatoes, potatoes and beans.

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Best wishes
Andrewo
Harbinger of Rhubarb tales

Hi Marisabe,

You won't need to grow your Courgettes in the greenhouse. Unless your going to dig out the beds in the greenhouse every few years I grow your toms in tubs (try your local pound shop). The pepers will be OK in Pots as well. ther rest sounds OK and just remind the doubting Thomas's when they are moaning cos you're still eating fresh Toms in November

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ntg

Never be afraid to try something new.
Remember that a lone amateur built the Ark.
A large group of professionals built the Titanic

http://grief-encounters.blogspot.com/

Marisabe19
The compost heap (assuming it's not a bin type with a lid) seems to be a successful and space saving place to grow your courgettes. I'll be trying mine on my diy pallette heap this year, leaving my two daleks free for filling. They are quite bushy plants so growing them here will free up loads of space in your beds for other crops.

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Rat

British by birth
Scottish by the Grace of God

Blog updated Wednesday November 13th

Thanks Guys
for all your encouragement - I've taken your advice and armed with a large glass of wine I went planting! Already there are signs of greenery, and I proudly announced to my daughters boyfriend that my melons were coming along nicely!! OOPS!

Just a quickie some of my seedlings are really long and leggy, despite being grown in plenty of light - is this normal?

Marisa

some of my seedlings have been the same but if they are leggy you can plant them up to their first seed leaves to shorten the stem.
Hope that makes sense?!
It has worked a treat on my first year seedlings
Keep up the good work!
Mel