Johnplotman's Journal

So, John, as usual you are on top of everything. You are unbelievable. I just DARE anything NOT to grow for you. Has it ever happened?

Thanks John. Question for you, I will have a raised bed ready in January. It will run along the side of the shed, 16 x 2 ft. If I plant legumes in half of this bed next year, could I then grow them again, the following year in the oppersite end of the bed?

Heres hoping they will does grow Jacinta.[thanks.]

Fran,could you be like santy and leave a bag of sunshine here in the garden.You could chance it Fran but your rotation gets upset.The goodness they will leave in the ground through atmospheric nitrogen for another crop,will be what another plant will need.What other crops were you planning to grow there.

John, onions and salads.

They would be fine Fran with them and also been more  of less kept from the brassicas and roots crops.If you like Fran you can put a row of French marigolds around the edge to help your plan.Add a small amount of manure or indeed compost at digging time to help on the legumes.Some general purpose fert app 2 weeks before sowing or planting.Here we use growmore for that as that reads at equal levels.%7 nit 7 phos 7 pot.A great veg start off boost.

Thanks John, I may be annoying you over the coming months.

No panic Fran.If you get a minute cast an eye on the section called crop rotation you will see in every vegetable book going.The chart will be drawn up and will give you a list of what veg like what, also any that hate been near each other,the food needed and the effect of it on veg at the wrong time.

I think that tip on cucumber seeds (not planting them flat) applies to pumpkins and courgettes too.  Roll on spring.

It does indeed Rachel.If you also plant the beans with the eyes down they will make a faster take off on most.

Really, thanks for that tip, John.

 Your welcome Rachel.

Okay John, what do you do if you have planted seeds too deeply?  Just scrap a layer off?  But if they are just about to come through, could you be doing more damage than good?  I think my garlic was planted too deeply as only the bare tips have appeared after being planted in the last week of October. 

Once to deep Mairin,with the whole growth cycle upset and the weather upsetting the plan even more then,all you can do is that.Garlic cloves hate going below 5 in,the seeds only need less than an half inch.Safest bet is around 3in with bulbs.I would start seeds before planting out to leave them tougher.