New veg plot

Hello, may I ask some advice please?

I have a new greenhouse on order (going up 12x8 from 8x6) and this will mean moving my current veg plot around - it may make it smaller but in intended to do more container growing and greenhouse growing anyway the plot will be 14ft x 7'6'' - how many different crops would you consider growing in this space - it gets good sun and although naturally clay soil I have managed to improve it from my compost heap etc so that it is pretty good now - also has anyone any experience of growing such as beetroot in pots and if so any advice welcome, in fact any advice on growing veg in pots would be appreciated.

I'm keeping the greenhouse for tomato, cuces, peppers (sweet and hot ones) - any more ideas?

thanks in anticipation - can't wait for my greenhouse to arrive :-)

 

Hi LittleD

Can I suggest an alternative to pots?

After years of having a large traditional veg plot, I now grow my veg in two small raised beds that have a bit less growing area than your plot. I choose veg like lettuce, dwarf French beans, onions, leeks, carrots, summer cabbage. I've been impressed how well everything grows in a raised bed and how easy it is to maintain them (after the hard work of setting the beds up, of course!)

I think raised beds are more versatile than pots and don't need as much watering. Pots have their uses, though, e.g. for many types of herbs or for a few climbing beans.

 

Last year we grew onions in pots (actually a polystyrene fish box) and it worked very well. We usually grow some early spuds on pots and start them in our polytunnel before putting them outside. A couple of years ago I grew cabbage in box but they didn't grow big, though in a big pot should be ok.
For growing in the ground in a small plot I think you need to think about underplanting and catch crops.
Think 'tall' for things like beans and peas, that way you can have shorter runs. I grow climbing french beans - only about 6 plants and underplant with lettuce and shallots. If you want to grow things like cabbage and cauliflower go for the mini varieties, I'm moving to them as we've been finding that if we grow the big ones we end up throwing half of each picking away as we can't use it fast enough. A few chard or spinach plants will crop for a long time and don't take a lot of space.

 

Thank you for the replies - what a co-incindence - saw some old railway sleepers advertised last night for a tenner each, so went out and piled them into a pick-up - they're in the garage waiting to be made into raised beds, yet another co-incidence - local fishmonger saved poly boxes for me for my new greenhouse - looks like I'm on the right track - phew! I'll check some of the mini varieties!
Now, another question please! I own a horse stabled on shredded paper bedding, could I use this and the manure in my compost heap? I know what she's fed on and when any chemicals (wormers) have been given so the manure is quite "clean" should I leave out the wet areas? Thanks so much for your replies.

 

Hi LittleD

I've not had the benefit of a supply of horse manure of the type you describe but it sounds OK to me. Perhaps it would be sensible to do a trial with just a small amount of the driest added to your compost heap to begin with? You should be able to tell if it's breaking down properly in about 8-10 weeks. Do you turn your compost heap? I do because I think it speeds decomposition up but it's hard work.

 

Oh lucky, lucky you!
Yes get it all mixed into your heap and post a bag or three up here :D

 

line raised beds made from old railway sleepers with polythene to stop the chemicals leaching. I have no experience of this but it seems to be the general consensus.

 

Flinty,

how high are your raised beds and how did you make the sides and the soil as I know your plot is very flinty.

HBC

 

Hi HBC

The sides of my raised beds are 150mm high. I used decking timbers 150mm wide X 47mm thick to make them. That was the easy part!

Before I put them in place, I double dug the plot to get all the flints, builder's rubbish and old tree roots out. Then I added lots of compost and soil conditioner. It was very hard work and I'm still finding big flints that work their way up to the surface.

Originally, I was going to make the sides 300mm high but preparing the plot took so long, I was impatient to get started and so I opted for just one course of decking timber. I thought I could add a second course as I built up the soil/compost mix inside. So far, though, my veggies have done well with just the lower level.