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Year 1 review

• Message 1. 

  Posted by John L (U10162566) on Wednesday, 25th August 2010

  Well, I have dabbled before but something early on this year resulted in us going full on into our first year of veg growing. We purchased a plastic GH, dug an 8 ft veg patch and got numerous canvas type containers from a variety of places - pound shops, actually, give good deals.
  
  I should add here that we are keenish gardeners, not complete novices.
  
  So - in the veg patch - v intensive !!!
  
  1 x Rhubarb plant
  Red Baron onion sets
  Nantes carrots
  Leeks
  Swedes
  Peas up the fence
  Beetroot
  
  All did well apart from Red Barons which just, well, didn't ! Leeks and swedes are still in but did have one swede last sun. Carrots have been consistent and featured on many lunches. Home grown beetroot - fantastic.
  
  The containers...
  
  Radish
  Broad, French, Runner beans - 8 of each
  Courgettes x 2
  Spring Onions
  Onions - from seed
  More carrots - Nantes and Chantenay
  Leaves
  Spuds - emerald and desiree
  Cucumber x 3
  Mint
  Basil
  
  In the GH
  
  2 X Moneymaker
  2 x G Delight
  4 x Cayenne Chilli
  1 x Demon Red (7 did not survive)
  
  Everything has done great, Toms are late and sadly tasteless, the rest have (and still are) given us great fun, great food and we have, as a result, lost weight by eating more veg. And yes, the freshness makes the taste fantastic. Hopefully 12yr son has go the bug - he wants a raised bed for next yr..
  
  Lessons ?
  
  The gaps when you plant out don't look as big in august !!! - the books/packets ARE correct on spacing.
  
  Unexpected high summer winds are awful - stake properly.
  
  Maybe toms are not worth the effort........
  
  And, says in hushed tones, artificial fertiliser (phostogen)makes things grow better and not taste worse (test on side by side Burpless cucumbers)
  
  So - were hooked - and lots of tips from here have helped
  

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• Message 2

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by grassisgreener (U14569661) on Wednesday, 25th August 2010

  Glad you have enjoyed your gardening it is all trial and error, i know what you mean about space my sprouts are much to close, as for toms
  give them a go next year as what was poor this year may do well next.
  Sue

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• Message 3

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by annaw1 (U14287763) on Wednesday, 25th August 2010

  Glad to hear of your success. Was my first year of properly growing veg too. Its great fun isn't it?
  
  My red barons were not as good as the white onions but they weren't brilliant either (too small)! Some recommended spacing I would increase eg. between bean rows - bit of a squeeze!
  
  Agree about staking - my bean poles are leaning precariously!

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• Message 4

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by lovemyveg (U10954501) on Wednesday, 25th August 2010

  Yes, it is good fun and I agree about the spacing but every year at planting I still squeeze in too many. On the tomatoes I swear by Ailsa Craig. Always good size and tasty.

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• Message 5

  , in reply to message 4.

  Posted by Barny (U13453961) on Wednesday, 25th August 2010

  Pile on the Potash to put taste/flavour into fruit and tomatoes. Whether it come from bonfire ash (Potassium Carbonate) or the factory (Potassium Sulphate) is immaterial except that the former is free.

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• Message 6

  , in reply to message 5.

  Posted by 4smilingcat6 (U14338727) on Wednesday, 25th August 2010

  Tomatoes are worth the effort,it`s all about varieties.
  
  In the GH
  
  2 X Moneymaker
  2 x G Delight
  4 x Cayenne Chilli
  1 x Demon Red (7 did not survive)
  
  Everything has done great, Toms are late and sadly tasteless.
  
  I know I bang on and on about Moneymaker but it`s just not a tasty tomato. Gardener`s Delight should have been tasty though although a few posts around the sites have also said that they too were disappointed. Makes me think someone has been messing with the strain?.
  
  

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• Message 7

  , in reply to message 6.

  Posted by novicedippychick (U9694696) on Wednesday, 25th August 2010

  It's my 2nd year and I'm getting more and more hooked on this veg growing.
  
  This is my season:
  
  garlic
  white onions - reds were useless (very small)
  broad beans, brilliant (but had to spray
  Peas, again good
  carrots, good
  Cabbages, good - reds are being constantly commented on, on how lovely they look
  sweet peppers, poor - but they did go in late
  tomatoes, same
  sweetcorn, really good
  climbing/dwarf beans, so, so
  salad leaves, roaring success and still going strong
  calabrese, poor
  butternut squash/pumpkins are really doing well, I've planted melons for the first time and this is really doing well
  Cucumbers, poor
  Potatoes, have started to dig them up and should have enough to take me through thr winter.
  
  Overall, it's been really enjoyable and food to boot. Roll on next year so I can experiment with different veg, celeriac, fennel, khol rabi to name a few.
  
  NDC

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• Message 8

  , in reply to message 7.

  Posted by Vixxihibiscus (U13865184) on Wednesday, 25th August 2010

  Just for the record, my Red Baron onions were RUBBISH! they were tiny but do still taste good, I'm just using them up first.
  
  I'm already planning what to plant next year...drawing up bed plans so I get the plot rotations correct, reading up on complimentary plantings and looking for wierd and wonderful things I can try. It's all very exciting! x x

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