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Post by 4pygmies on May 25, 2008 8:09:18 GMT
Rotational planting can be really confusing so I usually reduce it to its simplest  which is 'one year above the ground, next year below' - very very basic but it works for me! And companion planting is really just remembering to plant herbs and flowers which attract helpful insects or assist the vegetables growth by their strong scent or root excretions in other ways. It can seem very complex but doesn't have to be - grow Marigolds: Tagetes and Calendulas, Nasturtiums, and a varied selection of the culinary herbs and you have covered most potential problems really. Not everyone has room for a proper rotation of crops so the best approach is to concentrate on keeping the soil in good heart by feeding it, mulching it and weeding it regularly. Unless you have such nasties as blight, club root etc etc that should be sufficient. The cottage garden attitude of mixed planting of vegetables and flowers and using every bit of space is a very sensible method at its root and based on sound gardening practise. Simple is best....  |
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Post by Shrubrose on May 25, 2008 19:55:10 GMT
Keep it simple - a philosophy I heartily endorse 4P. And the 'one year above the ground, one year below' couldn't be simpler. And it seems to work too!
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Post by Tig on May 25, 2008 22:11:31 GMT
I'll go with that too Simple works best for me x Tig |
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Post by Rosefriend on May 26, 2008 6:43:28 GMT
With all the tubs that I have ended up with this year, my OH asked me what I was going to do with the compost after harvesting (?) all my lovely veg. As it is all new - nearly 2500 litres of the stuff, I want to use as much of it again as I can.
Is the rule 'one year above the ground, one year below' applicable in tubs as well?
RF
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Post by 4pygmies on May 26, 2008 7:59:07 GMT
As long as you haven't encountered any soil borne pests and diseases this year I can't see why you couldn't reuse it RF. I would add some more muck or fertiliser, dig it over a bit and topdress the top few inches with new compost before sowing next season I think but otherwise why not? That's a lot of soil to replace every year.... |
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Post by Shrubrose on May 26, 2008 14:46:33 GMT
I agree with 4P, RF. I've reused compost with no obvious detriment - I chuck chicken pellets in and mix them up with the compost and give it a bit of watering to help break them down and leave them a month or so before I put anything in the tub. |
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Post by Rosefriend on May 26, 2008 15:49:42 GMT
Thanks 4p and Shrub - as long as I don't have to remember what was in all the tubs because of what is not supposed to be planted in them afterwards, then I am relieved. I saw myself labelling all the tubs and then trying to work out what could be planted where!!
RF
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Post by Cheerypeabrain on Jun 6, 2008 17:14:32 GMT
Hello...can I pick your brains?
I hope to start harvesting in the next few weeks ;D but was wondering if it's possible to start thinking about what to sow next . As I have limited space I've grown taters in humungous pots...the first earlies are starting to show buds and presumably I'll be harvesting them around the end of June/early July. Last year I grew carrots in the pots after the taters...is this OK? (in the same compost)
The beetroot, kohl rabi and carrots are also growing like weeds in the raised bed and should (hopefully) be ready within a few weeks...what can I sow in their place? can I sow another batch of beetroot in the same spot?
Presumably the parsnips and leeks will be in the ground for a fair amount of time...so I don't really want to sow any more of them....
any advice would be gratefully received.
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Post by Rosefriend on Jun 6, 2008 17:40:00 GMT
Hi Cheery - you are not the only one really.
However as everything that I have is in tubs, I am still not too sure what I should be doing.
RF
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Post by jean on Jun 6, 2008 22:18:42 GMT
Hi Cheery I Like 4Ps take on this, what ever is grown underground - follow by something that doesn't Makes perfect sense to me  |
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Post by Chuckles on Jun 7, 2008 7:26:06 GMT
I get dizzy too CPB ;D it's supposed to be somthing like this.
ROOTS - Beetroot, Carrots, Chicory, Parsnip, Potato,
OTHERS - Aubergine, Beans, Celery, Courgette, Cucumber, Endive, Leek, Lettuce, Onion, Pea, Spinach, Sweetcorn, Tomato
BRASSICA - Broccoli, Sprouts, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Kohl Rabi, Radish, Swede, Turnip.
I find it really hard to keep to a proper rotation when you are working with a small veg garden area and tubs like we do Cheery:( I tried drawing a plan of my raiseds beds and veg area and writing in what had been planted and then just the headings of the next group on the rotation, I still get dizzy ;D
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Post by Shrubrose on Jun 7, 2008 7:41:56 GMT
I try to do one year on the ground and one year below CPB. Does seem to work for me. |
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Post by flowersfriend on Jun 7, 2008 17:08:12 GMT
We draw a plan like Chuckles, otherwise we would be in a spin. I can never remember what went where the year before...... I'm sure things in pots will be ok CPB as long as the previous crops were healthy. I quess it may be necessary to feed plants if the compost has been in the pot awhile.
Good Luck.
FF x
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Post by Cheerypeabrain on Jun 7, 2008 20:00:50 GMT
Thankee Kindly. I will think on ;D
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Post by oldmoleskins on Jun 16, 2008 7:09:56 GMT
I just stumbled over this Cheery, and can sympathise (empathise?), it's a real drag not being able to just plant stuff where it's best suited, but common consent does seem to be you might - literally - store up trouble in the soil. I find you can get away with some stuff though, otherwise I wouldn't have installed a bean arch... pretty well the only thing that really affects beans appears above ground - slugs, sparrows, hail, so I figure if well prepared with fertiliser that's ok.
But why I've chipped in late is this:
Again, general advice is consign used compost to the compost heap - but when it's 'clean', I don't see why you shouldn't reuse it for a second bite - just remember it will be exhausted and will need a burst of fertilizer of some sort. Keep us posted on results!
OM.
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Post by Chuckles on Jun 16, 2008 7:36:20 GMT
it's a real drag not being able to just plant stuff where it's best suited The above sums it up for me and I guess you too Cheery, it's a real problem with us having small gardens  |
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Post by jean on Jun 16, 2008 20:59:18 GMT
A good dose of Blood Fish and Bone meal along with Growmore pellets should do the trick. As OM says if the compost is clean, its fine to use it again Beans, peas, salads, brassicas, carrots and even spuds can be sown/planted for the next few weeks for late Summer/Autumn cropping. I'm sure you will be able to find some leeks plants to buy soon too if you haven't sown any already, or try some green manure if you have a large patch you don't want to use for a while |
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Post by Chuckles on Feb 7, 2011 11:35:58 GMT
I must start thinking about what I'm growing and where it can fit in this year, still does my head in ;D but this thread helps.
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Post by Cheerypeabrain on Feb 7, 2011 13:33:28 GMT
I seem to be overcoming crop rotation problems by moving the entire garden around every year.... |
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Post by Chuckles on Feb 7, 2011 13:43:38 GMT
I seem to be overcoming crop rotation problems by moving the entire garden around every year....  |
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Post by jean on Feb 7, 2011 21:29:25 GMT
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Post by Cheerypeabrain on Feb 8, 2011 19:09:43 GMT
OH says this is DEFINITELY the VERY last time we're moving the vegetable patch (3rd time lucky) EVER.....
It's finally in the position I asked it to be put in the first place.... ;D Time to post some interesting transformation pics on my garden thread methinks.....
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Post by JennyWrenn on Feb 8, 2011 19:25:40 GMT
Wasnt there a Viscount - Lord Townsend - or something - that was involved in Crop Rotation - am sure remember this from my History Economics  |
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Post by Dutchy on Feb 10, 2011 9:54:09 GMT
CPB ;D But now your beds are in the right position what will you do...  I stick to 5 beds rotating and all else is bunged in where I like. root bean cabbage fruiting and spuds are my rotation scheme. With a healthy helping of muck after spuds before the fruiting ones go in. And toms being the exception as I think one should not plant those after spuds so they go in where I like. History Economics Jenny what are you like ;D |
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Post by Rosefriend on Feb 10, 2011 17:51:47 GMT
As I have said on another thread...
"As all my veg is in containers I do re-use old compost - I have hundreds and hundreds of litres of compost if I add it all together.
I always use fresh compost for toms and spuds but that compost goes to the bean pots. The pepper and beans compost go to the onion tubs and when things have done the circle the rest goes to the flower pots.
I buy new each year and always mix some new to each pot as well."
RF
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Post by JennyWrenn on Feb 10, 2011 17:58:35 GMT
Well Economic History then - I could bore you for England if you like Did you know that Jethro Tull invented a hoe machine - Bet many think he is that rock singer person didnt you FB |
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Post by farmersboy on Feb 10, 2011 18:11:07 GMT
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Post by Ladygardener on Feb 10, 2011 18:40:38 GMT
FB do you grow your potatoes in the same place every year?
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Post by farmersboy on Feb 10, 2011 18:54:00 GMT
No LG,i try to leave at least 3yrs before planting pots in that place again,............farmers leave about 5yrs
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Post by Ladygardener on Feb 11, 2011 6:18:52 GMT
I did wonder what people did when they have a limited space but want to grow potatoes every year.
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which is 'one year above the ground, next year below' - very very basic but it works for me! And companion planting is really just remembering to plant herbs and flowers which attract helpful insects or assist the vegetables growth by their strong scent or root excretions in other ways. It can seem very complex but doesn't have to be - grow Marigolds: Tagetes and Calendulas, Nasturtiums, and a varied selection of the culinary herbs and you have covered most potential problems really. 
