22 Mar 2015

what i learnt this summer about growing vegetables

Nectarines from my tree, during the summer months

As summer draws to a close, here is a kind of memo to self for next summer:

Say no to broad beans. You don't really like broad beans that much - so don't plant them. Stick to what you like - and what doesn't get smothered in black aphids.

Don't sow so many seeds. By that, I mean don't sow them so close together in the one row. It just leads to too many plants crowded together, which leads to a lack of ventilation and that powdery mildewy stuff on your peas; and a damn tangle of stalks and leaves that makes it difficult to find the beans. Trust that what you sow will germinate; you don't need to be so 'just in case' here.

Don't plant so many plants. Three zucchini plants will be sufficient (maybe even two) - sufficient and enjoyable, rather than stressful. Three silverbeet plants will be sufficient. Yes, they will be. There is only one of you, remember.

Don't plant a grid of tomatoes. Because it's difficult reaching the one in the centre for maintenance, watering and harvesting. Stick to a square of tomatoes, all around the outside of the bed.

Oh, and you might want to remember applying the above rule to tomatoes as well. Yes you have an abundantly-stocked freezer ready for winter, but maybe ten plants is too many for one person. Stick to the varieties you really enjoyed: black krim, roma-style mamma mia, the apricot-coloured big beryl, and the abbruzese. Four or five may be sufficient.

Don't plant those trimmed off bits of tomato plant. Yes it's cool to think of growing extra plants from little discarded bits. But see above rules - the main plants will be sufficient. Remember, there is only one of you; only so much one can cook and roast and eat and freeze. And look after in the garden.

Repeat the carrots and beetroots. Especially the round little 'paris market' carrots (despite the aphids and ants they attracted) and the sweet orange beetroot. However, even though they looked pretty bordering the edges, don't do this around any beds you plan on netting (that is, the tomatoes).

Don't do corn. Yes it looked wonderful, the tassles and tops swaying in the breeze, but the plants were in the ground for soooooo long and actually produced very little. How many meals did you get - three? Four? Not worth it.

Try climbing beans and peas. Specifically the sweet 'lazy housewife' beans that really are your favourite. Remember, you are getting older - it's getting hard to scramble around amongst the dwarf bush beans. Just make sure your trelllises are wind-proof.

What have you learnt about growing vegies this summer?


22 comments:

  1. Great, practical advice e! I get very just-in-case with my vegetables too. Less can be more, and easier to manage. Happy Sunday to you!

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    1. Happy sunday to you too, jane! Yes, less is definitely easy to mange, bothout in the garden and in the kitchen. It's been a good lesson to learn, by way of drowning in beans :-)

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  2. What a great post! I hear you ... so many of these things I do too. I need a bigger note to self! I want grow corn again either. I had to share it with four legged wildlife last year! And I always sow way too many seeds :)

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    1. i really love the idea of having corn, frogpond (and I love eating it - i'm lucky I do not have to share it with anything!) but I need to be realistic about what is practical for a small garden bed. too much space and time for so little return.

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  3. An excellent post for me to read right now, here in England where it is time to plant seeds. I'm especially thinking about the number of courgette and squash plants I need, when no-one is really that fond of them except me. I've come to the same conclusion about corn as well, although I might try some popping corn again this year. Last year the badgers ate all of the sweetcorn and popping corn, it was so disappointing. Anyway, thanks for these timely reminders. CJ xx

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    1. CH, I had no inkling these thoughts might help gardeners in the northern hemisphere as you enter spring! glad to help - especially with the zucchinis :-)
      and i'm pleased to say we don't have badgers here in Tassie!

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    2. CJ, I think I would totally forgive the badgers, just once, if only I got to see one:)

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    3. Jo, please let us know when you see one meandering thru your bakyard ;-)

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  4. Not planting what you won't eat is a very good rule. Be it something you don't like eating or too much of a good thing. I do plant a few that I won't eat, but I have my townhouse mates that are always hoping for something.

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    1. I think as gardeners we sometimes get caught up in the possibility of what we can grow, without remembering what we like to eat! it's a simple thing but I realised that with broad beans this year. just because I can doesn't mean I should.

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  5. When it comes to seed sowing, I always manage to convince myself that a few more is good... I should really try to follow your advice this spring. I love that you get to harvest nectarines from your own tree, sounds like you live in a gardening paradise!

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    1. yes, maybe it is a little bit of paradise here ... this was the first year GD that I managed to enjoy the nectarines - usually they get a bad case of brown rot and the fruit is wasted. this picture reminds me of how sweet and juicy that harvest was!
      it seems over-sowing seeds is a common affliction!

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  6. Love this great advice, E. Many thanks!

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    1. you're welcome lizzy - let's hope I heed it come spring!

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  7. Oooh I bet those nectarines were yummy. Good advice, but last winter (which is our main growing season in the tropics) I really enjoyed having my lettuces and salad greens very close together. I pick the leaves when they are still small so that made good use of my space. I did plant corn already - the grandkids brought the seeds around - what could I do? I am finding one thing that I have trouble with is still having a crop going, and wanting to use that space for something else. At the moment my rosella is taking up the space where I want to grow tomatoes. I am thinking I might start them up in pots as they dont mind being re-potted later.

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    1. AA, I agree with you - in a small garden, it's hard to plant the next crop when the space is still occupied. do you get ruthless and say "well, the season is almost over, so out you come" - or let it reach its own end? in which case, does it make it to late to plant the next crop? I am currently having that mental tussle with planting some purple sprouting broccoli plants. I need to make space if i'm not planting in the frosts!

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  8. Sensible planting notes - I am trying to scope out more space to make a new garden so I can plant MORE of everything. I am becoming a preserving monster!

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    1. Dig up your lawn! That's what i did to get more growing space. You've probably already done that. We are crazy, right?!

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  9. I love this post. You've inspired me to do something similar. My biggest lesson was plant the melons earlier and the tomatoes later. And overwinter the capsicums again. They were awesome!

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  10. i'm chuffed that this has helped you think about your lessons, bek. and that you can overwinter the capsicums ... red capsies were $12 a kilo at the fruit market yesterday and I almost fell over at the high price. so lucky you!

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  11. Nice one. I like your lessons up there, very practical (and I'm an over planter too...oops!).

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    1. it seems we all are! we are in good company becs :-)

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