It’s that time of year again. When the weather gets grim, I like to peruse the vegetable seed catalogues, checking the availability of my favourite varieties and finding out what’s new. I enjoy choosing what vegetables to grow next year, but I try to be restrained – it’s very easy to overindulge.
This year I’m writing a list of the types of vegetable I want to grow, and allowing myself a maximum of two varieties of each crop. The problem is, it’s hard to keep to this self-imposed rule. I’m always tempted to grow more; after all, early, mid- and late-season varieties are a great way to increase the cropping period of vegetables such as carrots and peas. Also, I love the experimental side of gardening and always want to try those new varieties that are introduced each year. It’s good to find space on the plot for some spherical courgettes, as well as cylindrical varieties.
To complicate matters further, my increasingly eloquent and opinionated offspring have clear ideas of their own. My eight year old will only eat cooked carrots if they are a purple variety and they both rule out shop-bought veg for much of the year. At least they’re interested, and can be easily co-opted into helping clear further growing space in the garden. Now I just have to pare down that ridiculously long shopping list…
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i know what you mean, i had “only” 8 varieties of courgettes as i was trying to determine which one i loved the most….I’m not certain yet which has won :-p they take up a lot of space and they tasted quite similar except for the pattisson variety (ufo shaped one)
haha oh and i loved my purple carrots, very weird…my purple cauliflower looked pretty gastly when cooked though
next year i will try 3 kinds of corn cobs early mid and late is also my excuse
Ha ha, I feel for your plight! I just got my very own allotment and at first I thought it was huge! but now i think I’ll be needing another to fit in all the veg I want to grow!
You can order quite a few Vegetable and seed catalogues completely free from a website called http://www.catalink.com
I’ve clearly gone about this all the wrong way. We moved house a year ago and dug in a small veg plot earlier this year. We grew courgettes, sweetcorn, tomatoes and carrots. There’s no way we can go back to supermarket veg.
I then got carried away and bought about 30-40 packets of seeds in a garden store sale. I’m now desperately trying to redesign my corner plot to fit them all in – it’s currently grass and borders. I have no idea where to start! All I’ve managed to do is set up a spreadsheet so I can record which varieties work and taste good!
Over the last few months Pippa has done a series of trials on various vegetables and gives her personal rating on each variety. Does anyone know whether this information (or a summary) is available online so that I can download it and refer to it when I come to select my varieties in future years?
could someone please tell me the best first early potato to grow that has a waxy consistancy to it? I grew some for the first time about four years ago and being the effeciant new gardener discarded the lable, only to forget the name. your help would be appreciated.
Having recently moved to a bungalow with only a patio to grow edible plants on,is there a book that I can get with details of vegetable plants, containers etc suitable for a S.E. aspect situation??
This helpful and useful blog gives great tips and information on growing your own tasty vegetables. From picking your seeds, preparing and sowing, feeding, watering to harvesting and storing. Check back regularly for constant updates and info.
http://pro-gardensolutions.blogspot.com
I am going to plant vegetables in my garden where we have only ever planted potatoes before. Is there a bag of some sort of compost I should be putting down first.
A waxy potato, well my favourites would have to be Charlotte, largely grown as a salad variety, but gorgeous if eaten in just about any way !
Cat : I’d not bothe rincorporating bagged materials unless you have no other option – if possible start your own home composting system, that works brilliantly and does not cost a penny, you could also use compost taken from seasonal containers etc, then add some general fertiliser or some well rotted manure to increase the nutrient content.
LOL…there is never enough room in your garden or time to work it!
Plant a Seed
OK, I hear a lot about composting but I’m single not home much but garden, what is the simplest or easiest way to do this – buy it at the recycling centre?
we have planted potatoes in car tyres this year and now I have been told they may be contaminated by the tyres can you help