Gertrud Franck Companion Planting Scheme

[di]

Can I just ask...is Gertrud still alive...you're spooking me a bit VC, it sounds like you're her medium.

[veggiechicken]

She needs to get out more.

So do I...... (10 characters)

[veggiechicken]

Can I just ask...is Gertrud still alive...you're spooking me a bit VC, it sounds like you're her medium.

Is there anything you would like me to ask her?

[BarleySugar]

My book arrived today. Amazed at the condition, it's hardback and the corners aren't even scuffed. Now either this never belonged to a gardener, or otherwise they took one look, and decided against. Anyway, looking forward to getting my head around it, and must go get spinach seed!

[veggiechicken]

Hardback! Mine's a battered paperback that I was given from the "estate" of a local allotment gardener.
It may take you some time to get your head around it, I've still never read all of it. Let me know what you think, please.

[BarleySugar]

Hmm, interesting that celeriac is supposed to keep cabbage whites away. I won't tell OH that after spending out on environmesh last year.

[marchogaeth]

It sound really interesting. I sent for the book, too. It sort of meshes with one of the suggestions Bob Flowerdew makes in his companion planting book (which only cost a penny on Amazon) but I would worry about all that dead material just being another home for the National Slug Squad which use our place as training ground.

[Kaiya]

Well, today I sowed mustard over my potato bed (tatties still chitting elsewhere), with the intention of using it as a live mulch until it gets too big and then a wilting mulch, and I bought the book My neighbours will be truly convinced of my eccentricity/weirdness/dubious competence now...

[veggiechicken]

That's at least 4 of you have bought the book! Perhaps we need a Gertrud Franck thread so that we can debate some of the things she says.

[BarleySugar]

Might be a good idea! I've read through the bits on laying out the plot, but I'm struggling a bit on how to allocate the rows to the different stuff I want to grow. I had worked it all out using beds, now trying to do rows, I seem to have more As than I can fit in

I'm not sure how to do a block of sweetcorn, if I'm doing rows, any ideas?

[veggiechicken]

I remember having that problem too. I made myself compromise! You can start each set of rows at any point you like - eg page 30 Example 5 has 2 A rows
I find it difficult to find space for any of these combinations so had to truncate the plans each time.
Somewhere here, I will have the plans that I worked out when I tried it in earnest. Will have a rummage!

[BarleySugar]

Ok, I'm going to start a new thread as suggested - Gertrund Frank - Companion Planting

[veggiechicken]

Off you go then!

[BarleySugar]

Gertrud Franck Companion Planting Scheme

A new thread for people trying out the Gertrud Franck Companion Planting Scheme. Thanks to veggiechicken for suggesting this. http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...ing_63390.html
Ideas, successes, failures etc, all welcome!

This was my original plan, with beds (no edging)
http://www.growveg.com/garden-plan.aspx?p=188640

This is my plan so far. My plot is 10m by 12.5m. Prevailing wind SW, (north top of page, south bottom). Garlic and shallots are already planted.
http://www.growveg.com/garden-plan.aspx?p=235887

I've taken peas/beans and sweetcorn out of the plan at the moment, but will try to work in some of her ideas. Due to space constraints I've used a spacing of 40cm between rows.

I've used the same key colours as the book to show the rows,
A=red, 1 short crop to be cleared before May, 1 long crop from May to end of season
B=green, 2 crops per season
C=blue, up to 3 crops per season

[veggiechicken]

The Gertrud plan looks simpler and more space is given over to planting. I'm impressed that you've had the book for less than 24 hours and you've drawn up a plan already.