Helo All

Hi from Maldon in Essex.

My wife and I have just started growing vegies at our local pub. It's a little country pub just outside the town, and has about an acre of land lying fallow, some of which we've dug up, manured, etc.

We started in March, and at the moment we've created nine 10' X 4' plots with paths between them (the idea being that once dug etc. there's no need to step on the soil again until it needs re-digging). We're preparing a couple more and a strip alongside to grow some flowers to attract the Bees and, perhaps, the blackfly away from the Beans etc. As you might expect, keeping the weeds, crouch grass, bind weed and thistles down is a major exercise and will be for at least a couple of years.

Since everything is 'new' we're attempting to grow just about everything (with our fingers crossed) basically to see what happens. So far, the Potatoes, Onions, Garlic and Shallots are doing very well as are the Beetroot, Radish and Lettuce. Tomatoes and Sweetcorn are hadening off at home, and the Carrotts need thinning. The runners are looking a bit sick at the moment and we had very poor germination results (< 50%)

We're starting off with the intention not to use any chemicals but we'll have to see how that goes. There's a farm next door and they're using spray, so I guess we'll get some of whatever that is whether we want it or not !

The general idea is that we share the produce with the Landlady and perhaps, add a little extra value to the pub (in these hard times) by them using home grown fresh vegies in their food offerings. (eg "if you want runners with your Sunday lunch you can go and pick them and we'll cook them" :D )

We've joined here to get advice and guidance and to share our experiences together with what little knowledge we, well I, have. I guess we'll be using the Search facilities quite a lot as I doubt if many of our problems will be unique, except perhaps for the Mole that seems to think that digging up the Broad Beans, on a daily basis, is fun

 

Hi Doogle
Welcome to GC. :wlcm:
You seem to be very well organised with your venture. Good luck and keep us up to date

 

Hi there and Welcome,

Its nice to meet you,

 

Howdy Doogle welcome to g c.

 

Hi Doogle welcome to GC

 

Welcome to GC Doogle. Enjoy your stay.
robert

 

Hiya and welcome. Keep us up to date on your successes and not so successes