Vegetables

[ScariestFairyByFar]

Next year I want to grow my own veg is there anything I need to start now?

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Don't think this area is very busy.

You could start working now on preparing the ground, adding compost and manure so you're all ready to go in March.

What kind of site do you have? Is it a patio garden you have in mind? Some raised beds?

If you wanted to and you are quick, you could sow some pak choi and winter hardy spring onions now.

The pak choi could be ready by end of Oct. Spring onions will overwinter and be ready in the ... er .. spring

Then in late Oct/Nov, you can sow onion sets, broad beans and garlic.

Yes! You can put in lovely Brassicas - I've just put in 32 Purple sprouting Broccoli

Sign up to van meuwen and marshalls seeds - I've had emails from both of them about garlic/onions etc this week.

And if you go on www.rocketgardens.co.uk you can get a whole load of different veg to sow now - lots of stuff I've grown before, curly kale etc.

You could start getting your beds ready, weeding and composting. There are some veg that can beplanted now ready for spring harvest but I couldnt tell u what. Sorry Gardeners world has really good forums for this

32 purple sprouting, laurie? Blinkin eck That'll keep you going!

I had 2 last year and couldn't eat all the sprouts

5 so far have been eaten by slugs/pigeons/fuckers

They are netted/pelleted/coasters to within an inch of their lives.

The bloody joys of gardening - I will be lucky to get some broccoli at this rate in February.

Ah, yes those birds are very annoying. Should be fine now if you're netted though eh? Lots of broccoli soup for you!

What do I do about very stony ground? I sense lots of physical exertion coming on!

Remove as many of the larger stones as you can. They're good for the paths.

Then add as much compost/manure as you possibly can - it's the cure-all for any type of poor soil that needs improving.

I would go for raised beds ideally in your situation.

If it's hard as well then next year you sow potatoes and it will break up the soil.

Have a read about 'no digging' on Monty dons website, I don't really dig. I put stuff on top, use potatoes to break it up, dig a larger hole than the plant (a bit) and put some organic matter around the plant. Over time it all makes the soil softer.

Digging can be very dispiriting - I have had to clear a ten foot patch and because of ash trees it had to be dug - digging provokes weed seeds under the soil so in 2 weeks this tiny patch was covered in weeds - which have to be hand pulled to make a dent in the lifecycle of the weed - so dig when you need to - don't dig a whole patch and then get pissed off when it's as weedy as possible in a week

Yes agree, don't both digging. Just add on top and fork in a bit.