What would you do differently in your gardens next year?

[catwithflowers]

If anything! 😊. I have already made a few gardening New Year's Resolutions!

1. Only plant things we love. I'm determined not to be guilted into planting things my lovely dad has grown from seed at his allotment even if I really don't like them and if they look out of place in our garden (I'm looking at you French Marigolds!!)

1. I'm in the North East and planted things from seed a bit late in the year. We have a greenhouse now so I'm planning on starting my seeds off either very early spring or in the autumn for some perennials.

1. To be honest about my gardening mistakes and get rid of things I thought would work but just don't, eg the penstemon we had in the cottage garden which just sat like a big lump amongst the other delicate cottage garden plants. The bed looks so much more restful without it 😊

Another resolution to add to my list. Do not bother growing tomatoes outside in the veg plot. They go a bit wild (at least ours have 🙈) and take up a lot of valuable space. I'm loving our greenhouse tomatoes, some of which are ready now and so delicious and tomatoey, really different to shop bought 😊

Also planning on growing different coloured beetroot. We roasted some last night and it's so nice but two different colours would be even prettier in a salad. Toying with the idea of my husband making raised beds for the veg next year. Has anyone done that?

Have also planted sweet rocket biennial seeds today in the greenhouse which should flower next spring 😊

I have 3 raised veg beds which are wild at the mo. I have rhubarb, tomatoes, cucumbers, squash, courgettes, rubber and purple beans, chard, lettuce, spring onion, beetroot, Carrots, strawberries, nasturtiums, calendula in mine. Oh, and purple cabbage and kale. They look insane at the moment from all the rain, all grown from seed. Do it!

@puffylovett Sounds amazing!!! Any photos? We have a veg plot at the minute but it always starts off well and ends up a jumble. We are hoping that by doubling the size of the plot, but making 4 raised beds from sleepers, we might keep things more organised.

The lettuce has gone to seed but I'm feeding it to the hens so it's not wasted and we have more to plant out. Courgettes, beetroot and French beans doing well. Tomatoes have gone mad so will just grow them in the greenhouse next year.

I think raised beds look really attractive too.

I always seem to get blight quite early on in my potatoes. Seems the problem is not totally clearing them (there's always a few get missed) so the disease is there for the next year.
I am going to give them a miss next year to make sure they are cleared then try blight resistant tubers the next year.
I also got botrytis/grey mould in my tomatoes so they got thrown out. I had ended up with many more than usual (late arrivals from plant websites etc) and they need air to circulate and avoid dampness, mine were crowded, had grow v fast in the hot spell then we had some v humid days/weeks, so will stick to my usual 4/5 plants next year.
I kept my nepeta trailing plant from my tubs over winter in a sheltered spot in the garden. Will do that again and try some other plants, last winter was mild so there is not guarantee they will survive but worth a try. They got a good start and are much bigger than usual.(pic to remind you what it is)

@ThickFast
I have 2 words for you Salvia nemorosa. Don’t do what I did and not realise that some salvia are annuals!

Ooh @Nestofvipers that looks great! I reckon that and a few other perennials. I’d forgotten how much I like those purple wallflowers. And then some snapdragons or something will be great.

A strange one, but getting stuff like plant supports in early is another thing I would do differently. Our poor peony was battered by the wind and a few other tall plants like the lupins really suffered too. I found this old Gardeners' World clip today and we (he) made Monty's plant supports. They are fab! Link here 😊🌱

www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p035dmd5

Yy to plant supports. The winds have been horrendous this year (today, two of my lovely lavatera were wholly uprooted) and I need to have all that stuff ready in advance.

I want to have lots of horse manure and compost and straw and so on and spend the autumn and winter enriching my beds. I hope to buy a fancy rose around Christmas time.

I need to take more cuttings. Things like osteos are quite pricey bought as larger plants.

I need a proper hoe and a plan to get rid of the convulvulus (current approach fsiling)

I need some heated propagator mats (2 at least) so I can raise everything I want to raise from seed next year, starting around January.

I need to remember I don't really care for growing vegetables and should stick to planting flowers, which I don't begrudge maintenance time to.😂

Lovely to see all the wallflower love, as I went overboard and have three 40-cell seed trays full of wallflower seedlings growing at the moment. (Why?!)

I need to dig up and burn all my hollyhocks as not only have they got hideous rust, they have also been eaten by something as the leaves are all lacy and manky looking. I really don’t want to do this is they are old friends :-(
Then in the spring I’m going to propagate some seeds and also splash some new hollyhock plants and hopefully break the cycle of disease.
Any advice gratefully received

That plant support thing is great! I always wonder if I’m doing something wrong with my plants that flop over. And not really keen on the bamboo stick and twine look.

I have some wallflower seeds to get started however I do have clubroot in my soil which affects cabbages etc. Unfortunately it also affects wallflowers so I plan to plant them in tubs and use bought compost.

Great thread, I'm a beginner learning on the hoof in an established garden (1st year here) I've made notes for myself, much appreciated

My list is;

To be more confident about the topiary. Had to do it this year, it looks ok to me so next time don't be afraid and go for it. Not against having a masterclass for tuition though.

Plant bulbs, the ones that came up in spring were very cheery.

Sow seeds, sweet peas, sunflowers (to fill gaps)

Practice 5 minute gardening, doable because I stay in the garden to keep an eye on my deaf, old dog. Just gotta "do" and not wander about looking at what needs doing.

@ThickFast we've made loads of them over the last few days! They look very professional. I couldn't believe the cost of some of the plant supports online. Up to £100 for large peony 'rings' 😱

Like everyone else, start earlier!!

Did strawbs for the first time this year. They taste nice but I won't bother again.

I have a huge sloping bed to renovate over the winter. It's been neglected for years since before we bought the house and is full of ivy, nettles and brambles. They need digging out, the soil needs rotavating and then I want to plant it out. I have my design sketched to turn it into a herbaceous border. That's probably the biggest task for next year!

My new strawberry plants haven’t done well despite the promise there would be a small crop this year, but I suppose they deserve a chance to earn their keep so they can stay at least for another season. I don’t have a lot of room so it’s space I can’t really afford for such a limited harvest period, but I did see a tip on YouTube to plant garlic in the spaces, so I’m going to give that a go.

@catwithflowers I think I looked at plant supports once and couldn’t believe they were so expensive. So just did bamboo and twine. Which looks a bit shit really.

We moved here three years ago and over that time planted about 80% of what’s in the garden.

It’s just getting to where it feels full enough, it’s very long garden.

I’ll keep focussing on plants / trees I love - copious blossom / roses / greenish hydrangea, acer, clematis and red, pink, orange, white spectrum.

I still want to grow French lavender without it dying and we’ve just started planting more grasses

So I guess more if the same

Plant LOADS more alliums in the autumn. We had about 20-25 this year but want to have at least double that next year. They are THE most perfect spring flower and beat tulips hands-down for wow factor - though tulips still remain my favourite flowers to have in a vase!

That plant support system of Monty’s is genius! I am super impressed. I need loads of supports of all sizes, some quite low (for fuchsias and alchemilla mollis) as well as for taller perennials and shrubs like hydrangeas.

@Shenadoah which alliums? I’ve got summer drummer. Is that one? Massive tall stem with a purple pompom on the top. I love it.

Those plant supports are genius!! Also RIP Nigel - was so lovely to see him in the clip.

I've added alliums to my list. I want to put a drift of daffodils in but will depend on money in September as I have a 25 metre run to fill.

shenandoah and others, did you see that there is an offer for alliums at hayloft ? 100 bulbs for "20 plus £5 postage

hayloft.co.uk/product/ultimate-allium-mix/dbu109a20

@thickfast I just googled Summer Drummer. Have never seen an allium 6ft tall! Must look incredible.

@DDemelza they’re amazing! Bit pricey for the bulbs, think it was £15 for three. But I love them. And generally don’t seem to have been munched by anything.

I want to get a ton of alliums. I started a big bed from scratch with perennial plugs. Most have done amazingly well but I’ve lost a few. I’d do the same as I start new beds as I’m patient enough to wait given the cost difference. The bed looked amazing in July but a bit sparse before then and I’m not sure how long everything will last into the autumn. Most things in pots have done badly. I’ll also not make the mistake of planting trees in the spring again-I’d do it in the autumn to give them a better run before the hot weather.