Summer Vs Winter crops - maximising production?

[sez]

So, cmon then grapes... how do you maximise production on your plot? What winter veg can be planted after a summer veg is picked? I have a new lottie, and I'd like to get as much as possible out of it in summer AND winter, but to be honest I like beans, squash, tomatoes etc far more than leeks

[Snadger]

Here is a planting plan idea I had last spring!

http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...ping_5395.html


I don't think I deviated much from it in the end and still have cropping, leeks,carrots,various cabbage and kales,broccoli as well as all the spring sown stuff to come!

[SarzWix]

Last year, as I didn't have the whole plot ready, I sowed most of my winter crops in modules and pots, then planted them out after I had harvested my summer stuff like early potatoes and autumn onions. It worked well for me, except that some cabbages and my swedes didn't get as big as I'd have liked them, although this could have been down to late sowing So I'm doing the same thing this year, but will sow earlier (have leeks going already) and will pot them up once or twice until the space is available to plant them out. One thing which helped was keeping the various pots and modules on some shelving in the shade - they're winter veg so don't seem to like getting over-heated, and being up off the ground helps to keep the molluscs off 'em!

[sez]

thanks both of you very helpful!

[carlseawolf]

hi sez'
As i've mentioned before i was born in scunthorpe and lived there untill i was 13 , m father grew veg every year and we didn't have a greenhouse but it was very much the dig in autumn plant in spring and the season was never extended because of the bad winters.

Extending the season is a thing we all try at one point or the other and somethings will work why others won't and by looking at what other people are doing around you may give you a hint as to what is possible.

I live alot further south than you and i'm trying this year to do a double harvest by planting early in greenhouses and planting some over wintering crops a month or two later in pots to transplant in ground after potatoes , onions , garlic and early carrots have finished , and i must say this is going against all gardening advice and mother nature so i could end up with my finger burnt.

As i beleive this is your first year at allotments then if you must try to get a little extra then use tried and tested methods first like intercropping , or if you must try and streach the season then use Snadgers crop plan as he is further north than you and he's had lots more years practice at dealing with cold weather and what plants are hardy.