2011 Planting

Have you already planned what your going to plant next year? Are you trying to grow anything new?

My garden is very shady and fairly small so I container grow alot of my plants. Being in containers I can chase the sun during the year. I've got some 'Ramrod' Spring Onion seeds but thats it so far. I want to grow some more tomatoes my favourite is 'Tumbling Tom' which gave me a huge crop this year. I'll be growing potatoes too for the first time and I want to get my herbs back to health. For some reason my mint (normally indestructable) died, I think it was because it was too shady under the tree. I am pleased that I made notes this year as my memory is shocking sometimes and now I have the varities I grew written down.

I've got some wonderful Old fashioned Marigold seeds from ebay so I'll grow them in the front garden under my gorgeous Rose 'Warm Welcome'. It grows by the front door which gets full sun. On a hot summer's day you get the most amazing waft of scent when you open the door.

I love planning the year ahead, especially when its cold and dark outside.

Just starting to think about next year's garden. Got two weeks holiday for Christmas. Been too busy with work to take any off through the year, but a day or two. Now I'm in to "Use it or lose it" time. So, I will.

Speaking of Marigolds, the city I live in is "The Marigold Capitol of the World". I'm not sure just how official that is, but the Marigold was championed by one of our Senators from decades past. Sadly, we have no producers here, but an amazing variety of cultivar are grown here every year. City puts out some fabulous planting beds, as well as private homes and civic groups for judging. There's no purse, just bragging rights

Wow I bet it smells amazing where you live. I love the traditional English or Pot marigolds. They attract hoverfly but unfortunately they also seem to attract green fly as well.

Apparently the petals were used years ago as hair dye

I've been thinking of planning the details of next years crops etc - just to give some hope and cheer....... Just wish it was February, seeing as that is the weather we are having.

Kramer I would suggest Harbinger as a variety of tomato that seems to cope with a tougher time and easily ripens and is well behaved with its laterals! Mint needs moist rich soil, unlike most other herbs so it could have dried out too much.

Using shade to your advantage means summer lettuce/salads and blueberries for me! If you could divert a down pipe a pond and a bog garden. This is all a craving for me as I live somewhere where summer shade is very valuable!

Can you use your front garden intensively? Even grow veg in it (gasp shock horror!)

kramer wrote:
I love planning the year ahead, especially when its cold and dark outside.

Me too! I've just been a bit nerdy and drawn out my new raised beds on the computer so I can print out a new plan every year. (Two of the raised beds are still in bits in the box in the shed, but anyhow....)

Hum. I planned for next year a month or two ago. I've even bought all the seeds I need ! After all, only about 8 weeks or so 'til sowing starts ...

I'm glad to hear the recommendation for Harbinger, Zoe. I'm trying them for the first time next year

Thanks for the recommendation I'll give Harbinger a try and I'll post my results.

Yeah, the mint drying out is the most probable reason for its sad demise. I thought I was doing it a favour putting it somewhere sheltered, doh! The applemint, lavendar, and rosemary liked it there, just not the mint.

I will definately try and grow some veg in the front garden. The only thing that puts me off is the husky that lives down the road. Our front gardens are open (no fencing allowed thanks to the heritage foundation) and the darn thing scent marks my plants. I guess I could find something tall to grow out there. Garden peas amongst the rose would be lovely

I brought a white buddleia cutting last year at a boot sale and whilst it grew really well I haven't seen it flower yet. I'm looking forward to seeing it in full bloom this year and I hope it attracts butterflies and bees. I'm also looking forward to watching the birds pinch the fallen leaves from my potted bamboo to be used in their nests. I love winter but I can't wait for spring too.

Dandelion wrote:

kramer wrote:
I love planning the year ahead, especially when its cold and dark outside.

Me too! I've just been a bit nerdy and drawn out my new raised beds on the computer so I can print out a new plan every year. (Two of the raised beds are still in bits in the box in the shed, but anyhow....)

Yeay its not just me then that does things like that I have a thick book, a sort of diary I guess, and I write a page each month of bullet points like what was in bloom, what did well, what didn't, where I went and what I did. I draw a birds eye view of the garden and where I want things to be. We visited Knebworth House gardens this year and I got so much inspiration from the gardens especially the kitchen garden, so thats all gone in the book too.

What did you like in particular about Knebworth?

I'm not very good at visiting big gardens - it's the other visitors mainly! I just feel I want to have the garden to myself, to think, and not have to get out of the way, and to not have people playing the 'I know the Latin name of the plant and I've got three in my garden at home' game in loud voices. (I know, I'm horribly intolerant.) But there are a couple of gardens near here which are much quieter, where you can think and take photos without people getting in the way. Outside Hereford there's the Weir garden, which has just had the greenhouse restored - it's full of stacks of earthenware pots, and is just a lovely place to be in.

Not actually sure where I'll be next year so I'm holding off on doing anything elaborate which can't grow in pots and tubs, so I'll be using up the seeds I have rather than trying to buy anything else. I do want to dig out the herbs I planted in their beds and take them with me in the early spring if I'm still here, if not I suppose they won't be too difficult to replace but I was looking forward to harvesting the mallow for my herb stash, and it was rather hard to find. Around here I'm sure they'll all just be considered "weeds" as either mowed down or neglected entirely! Heigh ho.

I am however going forth with my Cunning Plan for a small minarette pear tree as son loves pears, possibly a minarette apple. I also will be getting a mulberry. Already have the pots for these and they can keep my potted cherry company. I'll be doing tomatoes again, and more lettuce (and more slug protection so I actually GET some lettuce), with more onions, more round carrots - child loved these - and peas. I wanted to do my early broad beans but sadly no chance of that, though I might be able to get them into one of my boxes to get started, have to have a think.

Dandelion wrote:What did you like in particular about Knebworth?

I'm not very good at visiting big gardens - it's the other visitors mainly! I just feel I want to have the garden to myself, to think, and not have to get out of the way, and to not have people playing the 'I know the Latin name of the plant and I've got three in my garden at home' game in loud voices. (I know, I'm horribly intolerant.) But there are a couple of gardens near here which are much quieter, where you can think and take photos without people getting in the way. Outside Hereford there's the Weir garden, which has just had the greenhouse restored - it's full of stacks of earthenware pots, and is just a lovely place to be in.

How about a separate thread for inspirational gardens to visit?? As I'm like you D and like just to "absorb" the feel of the garden. Sadly my mother is one of those that you describe so many garden visits have been tainted!

Those from other nations might be interested what we have in our area which is know as the "garden of France"!

I've got a project book for my veg growing... hang over from project manager days! I'm amazed what I can forget, especially as I do similar things every year. I always write up recommendations for next year based on that years experiences, especially the experimental crops.

We've got the "Jardinez avec la Lune" diary in which we record "weather events" and when I planted things out etc. I've also started a Garden Year dairy (not specific to each year). I'm just recording what I do or what I should have done so that over the years it becomes more complete.

I can draw my garden plots from memory now! 2010 was sketched out back in July but needs refining and the seed list drawn up. I love sorting all that out. The joy of the seed catalogues will wait for after the joys of Christmas had past though!!

Dandelion wrote:What did you like in particular about Knebworth?

I'm not very good at visiting big gardens - it's the other visitors mainly! I just feel I want to have the garden to myself, to think, and not have to get out of the way, and to not have people playing the 'I know the Latin name of the plant and I've got three in my garden at home' game in loud voices. (I know, I'm horribly intolerant.) But there are a couple of gardens near here which are much quieter, where you can think and take photos without people getting in the way. Outside Hereford there's the Weir garden, which has just had the greenhouse restored - it's full of stacks of earthenware pots, and is just a lovely place to be in.

I know what you mean. We went when it was raining lightly which put other people off so it was just us walking round. I loved so much about the place the huge Redwoods in the grounds and the grazing deer, the sunken garden surrounded by gorgeous roses, the walled garden, maze and the kitchen garden. It was so peaceful and calm with a few hidden areas waiting to be discovered and statues round every corner. It was very peaceful and a soul restoring place. We also saw a Harris Hawk his trainer was trying to get it used to people. Lastly there was a wedding, I am very nosey and loved seeing the excited guests and some pretty hideous outfits

It sounds really beautiful - I can imagine that it smelt beautiful in the rain as well as looking lovely.

My planning for 2011 is a bit up in the air as our neighbour has said he will plough an area of our top field for a bottle of whiskey.

I have already given him the whiskey but the weather seems to have stopped play. I don't want to get too excited but there may be 40mx40m of extra land to play with! Its out of the frost pocket (so 2.5degC min increase in temperature), its should have a longer growing season but has no water supply. It will take the pressure of the other 3 clay beds (50sqm each) and allow less intense cropping, more room for experiments and room to try some oats and wheat! Probably do need to start thinking about water storage...

Found this plot planner if its of use to anyone:

http://www.seedtoplate.co.uk/plot/

Dug a raised bed

Turned over a compost bin and extracted some "black gold" ...

Felt good to be out doing " stuff"

It would be totally fantastic to be able to get outside and work in the garden. No such luck for us, I'm afraid. Here in Nova Scotia it's a bit chilly and we are expecting a couple of feet of snow before the weekend. Still, my seeds are all ordered and I just have to sit at the window watching the mailbox. Once that little flag is up, I'll be out there like a shot.
But most likely the ground will be frozen and snow-covered for another couple of months.
That's where the seed catalogues come in - they are like gardeners' dirty magazines. We dream and drool and ogle the colour photos until the pages are stuck together with coffee and lunch residue.
At least I can get a head start - I raise lots of veg seeds indoors so that will all start happening in the next few weeks. Can't wait to bring the bags of soil into the garage to defrost !

I love the way you describe the seed catalogues!

Its been too wet for me to get outside at the moment. I can't wait for a clear day to get in the garden and give it a good clear up.

Started the first of 2011 season seeds in the polytunnel cloche.