Any Gardeners Out There?

[Barewolf]

Wondering if anyone can look at my plan for this years Vegetable patch, I'm totally an amateur at growing this range of Vegetables and I'm not sure if i've got all the right families together.

I'm also confused if I can put Rhubarb with Celery, I've got more room to separate them if needed

Just want to make Extra sure im not going to screw up when I start planting out in a few weeks

Ty

[Scrubbs]

I am not a gardener by any means but I have cut down the rosemary BUSH as it was taking over. I have a small one in a pot which is enough for the amount of times we use it.
I suspect the mint should be in a pot or chimney pot as well I guess Kymmy will keep you right I think she has an allotment

[Barewolf]

Ah ok, ive never planted rosemary in the ground before so i didn't know if it spread, I know mint spreads so I assume peppermint would.

[Scrubbs]

I might be wrong but aren't "spring onions" just ordinary onions that you thin out to make more room for your onions to grow?


ahhh just found this

[Barewolf]

Its a Scallion, It depends on the variety, as far as I'm aware you cant use a normal Onion to get spring onions, I've got White lisbons but from what I can tell they take the same time to grow as a normal red onion or white onion, I could be wrong though.

---------- Post added at 21:45 ---------- Previous post was at 21:44 ----------

I have grown miniature onions like shallots from normal white onion seeds so maybe yeah

[DaiNasty]

Originally Posted by Barewolf

Ah ok, ive never planted rosemary in the ground before so i didn't know if it spread, I know mint spreads so I assume peppermint would.

You definitely want to contain any sort of mint. It gets a bit manic if left to run free.

[Scrubbs]

Originally Posted by DaiNasty

You definitely want to contain any sort of mint. It gets a bit manic if left to run free.

Very true it wants to rule the place.
Then it becomes mint imperials

[Taf]

I plant by a golden rule: only plant what you will use!

And, like mint, never put horseradish or jerusalem artichokes in open ground unless you want them everywhere forever! Ditto raspberries!!!!

Rosemary makes for nice evergreen windbreaks against winter cold winds. It'll stay where you put it, just give it a trim each year. Very good for attracting beneficial insects.

Rhubarb is a long term planting until you divide the crowns, so find a spot where it can live undisturbed for a few years.

I grow carrots, onion, garlic, shallots all together as the aliums help against carrot root fly infestation (usually). I also find that sweetcorn and courgettes/marrows go well together. Shift the cabbage family plants about each year to reduce the chance of clubroot.

Use the land overwinter with green manure crops, or japanese onion sets.

As for everything else, choice depends on soil type, location, weather, etc., so the best way is to give it all a try!

[Kymmy]

Taf covered everything pretty well the same as I would have said

Just remember that different sweetcorns cross pollinate very easily so if like me you try to grow two different varieties you'll need to keep them seperate.

[Taf]

...but remember to plant each individual variety very close together in blocks or they won't pollinate properly (gawd, how many times have I seen neat single rows of sweetcorn in gardens and allotments...).

Another thing to get advice from is local gardens... if you see old doddery types out in all weathers pottering in their gardens, ask what they are growing... experience in local areas is often a good pointer for new gardeners.

Hmmm......... I'm going to be old and doddery myself soon....

[Kymmy]

Yep, first thing we did even before we knew we got the allotment was to walk up/down talking to as many people as possible and seeing what they planted, how they planted it and also important what was being eaten by the local critters

I mentioned the sweetcorn as I'm trying some strawberry popcorn this year which could cross pollinate with the normal sweetcorn

[Angua]

A couple of tips - Basil works well planted near the Tomatoes (keeps the flies off) and Nasturtiums like poor sandy soil where Runners need good rich soil.

Thyme can spread quite easily & will be happy in amongst rocks and creates a lovely smell as you brush by.

[Maggy J]

Another tip.Join your local Horticultural Society. It's the best 2 quid I spend each year as it also allows my OH to visit the 'Hut' and buy certain products at 'cost' plus he can get all sorts of advice along with his purchases.The 3 monthly newsletters are a good read as well.