Clump growing

this might interest you: Square Foot Gardening.

You can do.

I just put into the ground what I have, and when it comes out, put something else in.

I find if you divide it up, you get spare spaces 2 weeks later as something comes along and nibbles, or a fox runs through and knocks the middle one down. So, just leave it or put something else in.

Resources; what have you got in modules, and what space have you got to grow? Put the stuff that you have in modules into the space that you have in the bed. If you have any spare, chuck some onion sets/garlic/broad beans in.

I use canes to mark out where I have put stuff as I go, and use labels - it is very important in clump planting [as we are going to call it now I guess!].

Wot she sez!!!!!!!!

I tried this on a raised bed this year. I found that it makes for difficult weeding and will stick to rows for next year.

It was most useful for bunging in extra plants that I couldn't fit elsewhere mostly, sort of an overflow area.

I usually refer to it as 'pocket' planting as it sounds powsher! I have a background in engineering so I have a fairly regimented mind. It was hard at first to swap from rows or blocks to pockets. The transitional stage leaves you with half and half which is a pain.
I'm now fully converted and won't return to my old 'hard to get rid of' habits.
Geoff Hamilton pioneered the theory of sybiosis and I like to think I've taken it a step further.
Flowers and herbs are an integral part of the planting scheme as well as using self sown seedlings in an artistic manner where ever they pop up.
I have very little slug problems now and my pond attracting frogs (hundreds of small froglets around) and the plant sybiosis must have something to do with this.
I don't need to construct ugly frameworks and netting to keep birds off as they would far rather attack my neighbours rowed crops than my little pockets. If it does become necessary to protect I can drape a wee bit of netting over something a bit more art farty (yet to be decided upon or needed up til now!)The flowers help pollination, deter pests and ad to the overall look of the scheme. Letting odd plants go to seed gives me seed for next year, the bees love the flowers and the flower head can be quite pretty (alliums in paricular).
No ugly bare soil, pull a crop up,add muck or or bone meal, plant another dissimilar crop! Simples!

For me the two key words are pocket and dissimilar!

My emphasis is having a crop on every area of the plot 52 weeks of the year, a succession of vairable by season fresh veggies and flowers and basically as Geoff Hamilton called it 'An Ornamental Kitchen Garden'

Nah.........too complicated and we are back to rows or blocks............seems a bit unatural to me, personally speaking of course!

Ooh I might give this a go, I think it might be more flexible and I could get some flowers too.

I might have trouble getting rid of rows though - scientific background and all that. However, if an engineer can do it..

I'll have to plant edible flowers though, my two year old likes to snack on the foliage in my garden (only if it's on the plant, not when it's on her plate!)...

I tried this in a small way this year and wasn't particularly impressed with the results. Lots of the growers here use it tho to grow onions and leeks, then break them up into bunches of 50 to sell on the markets.

I do like the idea of pocket planting, having rows is a little dull and unnatural, it's just the rotation issue which makes me nervous. Surely you must end up with only a years break with some stuff - isn't that a bit risky?

If there is a problem, then that bit of soil can have as long as break as it takes and you don't lose a whole bed.

I was doing a bit of looking into this recently, and it was found that bugs such as the cabbage white, aren't attracted by the smell......they are attracted by the colour and they know that they have got their target by landing on 3 plants in close proximity. Which might explain why they haven't attacked Snadger's brassicas this year.

I'm more going for block planting as I find it far easier to manage. I'd get lost with the clump idea as to what I'd put where and when so prefer to keep my plant groups separate. However am happy to mix and match within the basic rotation and shove things in between the main crop.

I was going to start a new thread with these piccies of flowers and veg together at lottie..........but hey ho!
Who ever thought a red dahlia would compliment curly kale with swede as a partner?
Pears and gladioli anyone?
Cardoon and climbing French Beans
Pink chrysanths and sweetcorn?
Toscana de Niro grown as a specimen?

Could this be what symbiosis and pocket planting is all about!

It's very pretty and I like the look of it and actually it's not that different from the approach I used to take in the garden. Am glad you posted the piccies though as I understand better what you are on about and know it's not for me on the plot. Marvellous how many different ways there are of doing things which, individually be perfect for one person but totally wrong for somebody else.