You are currently browsing the category archive for the 'Allotment & Gardening Links' category.
I’ve just been browsing the web for a greenhouse instruction manual that might help me reassemble the greenhouse I won on Ebay earlier this week and found this site:
http://www.greenhousepeople.co.uk/info/Technical+Help.html
It’s got a list of lots of different sizes and and makes of greenhouse, plus some tips on preparing a base for your greenhouse. Might be handy for someone out there.
I must be really getting into this growing lark as spent the last hour or so transcribing a vegetable sowing and planting calendar that I got with a copy of ‘Grow your own‘. I’ve posted it here (in excel format) for people to download. It’s designed to print landscape on A4. Let me know if you have any problems downloading.
Download at http://www.squarechick.co.uk/growing_calendar.xls or click on the image below.
I’ve just picked up a note at the local supermarket for a forthcoming Open Day on Saturday, 10th Feb 10am-3pm at Harlow Carr Gardens in Harrogate…
“Free Open Day on growing your own veg, talks, advice, demonstrations, children’s activities, displays, meet the TV programme contributors.
RHS Garden Harlow Carr, Crag Lane, Harrogate HG3 1QB Tel: 01423 565 418 email: harlowcarr@rhs.org.uk“
Handy for anybody around the Harrogate area - and if it’s too wet and windy you can always pop into Betty’s Tea Rooms for a fat rascal!
Take a look at the ‘Grow Your Own Veg’ book by Carol Klein for more vegetable growing advice to support the BBC2 series.
Midge watches on while I get to grips with heaps of manure! Well at least I’m having fun (I think) 
But all in all good progress this weekend. I’ve found a good source of manure from a nearby stables which I’ve begun to dig in to the main plot. I’ve also started a ‘hotbed’, planted out my Rhubarb (Victoria) and whilst I was planted it discovered another one already well on its way.
I’ve started watching a TV programme called ‘Grow Your Own Veg‘ that’s just begun on Friday at 8:30pm on BBC2 which should come in handy. Plus Sue (Mark’s mum) dug out an article from the paper that had some good tips and also had an offer to get a free veg starter pack open to the first 1,000 registrants at www.rhs.org.uk/vegetables/
Some early starters for 2007 ready for the cold frame - from herbs and strawberries to caulis and annuals.
Just looking for help with my companion planting for my veg plot and came across a handy little table…
| Plant | Good Companions | Bad Companions |
| Basil | Pepper, Tomato, Marigold | |
| Bush Beans | Beets, Cabbage, Carrots, Celery, Corn, Cucumbers, Eggplant, Lettuce, Pea, Radish, Strawberry, Savory, Tansy, Marigold | Onion |
| Pole Beans | Carrots, Corn Cucumber, Eggplant, Lettuce, Pea, Radish, Savory, Tansy | Beets, Onion |
| Beets | Bush Beans, Cabbage, Onion, Sage | |
| Cabbage Family | Bush Beans, Beets, Celery, Onions, Tomato, All Strong Herbs, Marigold, Nasturtium | Strawberry |
| Carrots | Bush Beans, Pole Beans, Lettuce, Onion, Peas, Radish, Tomato, Sage | Dill |
| Celery | Bush Beans, Cabbage, Onion, Spinach, Tomato | |
| Corn | Bush Beans, Pole Beans, Cucumber, Melons, Peas, Squash | Tomato |
| Cucumbers | Bush Beans, Pole Beans, Corn, Lettuce, Onions, Peas, Radish, Marigold, Nasturtium, Savory | No Strong Herbs |
| Eggplant | Bush Beans, Pole Beans, Spinach | |
| Lettuce | Bush Beans, Pole Beans, Carrots, Cucumbers, Onion, Radish, Strawberries | |
| Melons | Corn, Nasturtium, Radish | |
| Onion | Beets, Cabbage, Carrots, Celery, Cucumber, Lettuce, Pepper, Squash, Strawberries, Tomato, Savory | Bush Beans, Pole Beans, Peas |
| Parsley | Tomato | |
| Peas | Bush Beans, Pole Beans, Carrots, Corn Cucumber, Radish, Turnips | Onion |
| Pepper | Onion | |
| Radish | Bush Beans, Pole Beans, Carrots, Cucumber, Lettuce, Melons, Peas, Squash | Hyssop |
| Spinach | Celery, Eggplant, Cauliflower | |
| Squash | Corn, Onion, Radish | |
| Strawberry | Bush Beans, Lettuce, Onion, Spinach | Cabbage |
| Tomato | Cabbage, Carrots, Celery, Onion, Mint | Corn, Fennel |
I started some carrot and onion seeds a couple of weeks back in my coldframe to see if I could get a head start on 2007. They’ve just begun to germinate over the last few days - going to keep an eye on these little guys across the season - although I’m not expecting prize winners…
I’ve drawn a quick sketch of my thinking for the alloment planting in 2007.
In addition to the main plot that I plan to divide into 3 rectangular beds:
- ROOTS
- BRASSICAS
- LEGUMES
I’ve also got 3 square wooden planters that I was kindy given by one of my allotment neighbours, Edie. I’m planning to use these as separate raised beds that will sit in the areas of the plot where the soil isn’t as good. These will hold leeks and onions, potatoes, and strawberries.
Well, that’s he the plan anyways!
Well, who couldn’t it’s fab! So it arrived on Monday and I’ve already started to deck it out with a variety of shelves, shovels and storage - I just shouldn’t be let loose in Ikea on my own. It’s going to be great place to keep all my gardening paraphernalia, but the best thing…Midge seems to like it!
To keep track on the crops I’m planning to grow and the various sowing times I’ve created myself a list. I’m going pop back and update this when I finalise the plan:
- Basil Sweet Genoese: Mar - May
- Beetroot Boltardy: Spring - Early Summer
- Butternut Squash Pilgrim: Mar - April
- Butternut Squash Barbara: Mar - April
- Calabrese Marathon: March - Jun
- Climbing Bean Fasold: April - Jul
- Courgette De Nice a Fruit Rond: Spring
- Courgette Defender: April - May
- Cucumber Futura: Feb - May
- Lettuce Flamenco: Mar - Jul
- Parsley Lisette: April - Aug
- Pepper Apple: Mar - April
- Salad leaves Niche (mixed): Mar - Sep
- Tomato Black Cherry: Feb - April
- Tomato Ferline: Mar - April
Thought it might be useful to link to start with a grid to plan out my allotment. Quick Google brought back a handy grid generator:
http://incompetech.com/beta/linedGraphPaper/easy.html
Here’s a PDF to get started:
grid pdf
I was going to do lots of research on the right things to grow but I got carried away and have ordered a bunch of seeds to get me started, no doubt there will be a number of other frenzied seed buying stints, but for now here’s my list:
- Calabrese ‘Marathon’ F1 (Brocolli)
“The commercial best-seller - producing large heads on sturdy stems. Can be sown and harvested successionally over a very long period.” - Cucumber ‘Futura’ F1
“An all female variety which has good resistance to powdery mildew. Heavy cropping, slim long fruits.” - Lettuce ‘Flamenco’
“This delicious improved red oakleaf will add colour and flavour to salads. Resistant to mildew and is slow to bolt.” - which is handy! - Pepper (Capsicum) ‘Pepper Apple‘
“Mild and juicy, almost apple-like flavour and distinctive top shape. Quick to mature in variable weather conditions, you can pick green or, if you can wait approx. 3 weeks when red.” - Squash ‘Pilgrim Butternut’ F1
“A selection of the ever popular Butternut family with a less vigorous vine habit. It exhibits outstanding resistance to cracking and has long storage ability. Good sweet orange flesh (Semi-bush type).” - Squash, Butternut ‘Barbara’ F1
“Attractive high quality ‘butternut’ variety, with a unique green and orange stripy pattern o the outer skin. The interior flesh is sweet and an intense orange, which is high in beto-carotene. Stores well if kept in a frost-free room after harvest.” - Basil ‘Sweet Genovese’
“This is an aromatic herb which has many culinary uses, particularly popular in Mediterranean dishes.”
well, made a start at least - only problem is I ran out of sand!! grrr.
Clearing the ground in preperation for my shed started in earnest today. 16 paving stones and 600 weight of river sand was hauled to site (thanks Mark) in the back of my little red mini.
