VegetableBen: Weed it and Reap!

26 October 2011

Holiday pottering

Tidy shed

Sown 'Feltham First' Peas

Pea Frame

Moose! (thanks Jo)

Inner security door

Bottom plot

Refelted shed roof

Cool but sunny autumn day

New 'ranch' skull motif

Tidy shed 2

Seed bank

25 October 2011

Soil pH and Vegetables

As I am using a 3 plot rotation systems for next year, I will need to get my soil pH roughly correct for the types of vegetables in in each section:

Plot A = Potatoes and Parsnips
Plot B = Brassicas
Plot C = Peas, Beans, Onions and Squashes

Most plants prefer a pH between 6 and 7, as this range gives you the best access to nutrients and avoid any deficiencies and diseases.

Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/12/Soil-pH.svg/512px-Soil-pH.svg.png

Crops and pH

Plot A = Potatoes (5 to 6.5 pH) and Parsnips (6 pH) = so 5.5 to 6 pH
Plot B = Brassicas, Swedes and Beetroot = 6.5 to 7.5 pH
Plot C = Peas (6 to 6.5 pH) , Beans (6 to 7 pH), Onions (6 to 7 pH) and Squashes (6 to 7 pH) = 6.5 pH
Extra small plot for Sweetcorn (up by Runner Beans) = 6 to 7 pH

Next purchase = pH testing gadget

Worth noting:

Chicken Manure Pellets are slightly alkaline
Wood ash is alkaline
Raspberries and fruit like acid soils

Links

RHS Chicken Manure = http://apps.rhs.org.uk/advicesearch/profile.aspx?PID=297
RHS Wood Ash = http://apps.rhs.org.uk/advicesearch/Profile.aspx?pid=621
General pH Veg chart = http://www.thegardenhelper.com/soilPH.htm

23 October 2011

Clearing and rotating the plot

Sown winter lettuce and cauliflowers

Cleared sweet peas

Mad an onion drying thing

Dug over plot

Harvested butternut squashes

A full green waste bin

Finished the path and carrot bin area

Fresh earth

Top pilot for brassicas

Planted some parsley (thanks Gaz)

Made wicker fence from raspberry canes

Planted red and white onion sets

Cleared raspberry area

Cut back tree for better growth

Onion rows

Rainbow chard

Decorative bit

15 October 2011

The mysteries of 'crop rotation' & Allotmenteering - 1940s style

Now I have a bigger plot - can do a bit of proper crop rotation for much better results.

'Take-away' tips I have learnt:

Potatoes don't like Lime (get scab)
Brassicas like Lime to prevent disease
Root crops don't like fresh manure
Peas and beans don't mind fresh manure
Don't mix fertiliser / manure and lime

So planting patterns!

Potatoes et al. = Rotted Manure / Fertiliser OK
Brassicas et al. = Lime OK
Peas, Bean etc... = Fresh(ish) Manure OK

Great read: http://www.earthlypursuits.com/AllotGuide/AllotGuide.htm

Source: http://www.earthlypursuits.com/AllotGuide/Allotment1_1.jpg

Source: http://www.earthlypursuits.com/AllotGuide/AGG2_4a.jpg

Source: http://www.earthlypursuits.com/AllotGuide/DigforVictory1/DigForVictory1_2-3.htmnbsp;

9 October 2011

Misty and drizzly autumn day on lotty

Been busy on lotty today clearing away flowers and old summer veg (beans, courgettes etc..). Have decided to make one big are at the top of the plot cut in 2 by a path and a feature. The feature is a large old round black plastic tub, into which I think I will grow carrots!! Anyway, next year this area will be more of your typical cottage vegetable plot with herbs as flowers as well as veg. The bottom plot ill be potatoes, climbing beans and squashes