. 1. No two years are the same - Admittedly this is a proviso that undermines all the
rest. Draw from your experience but realise that the current experience is just
one of many possibilities. (how Zen!) Rainfall
in particular is hard to predict.
22. The wider variety you plant the more chance that
something will succeed. “It’s been a
good year for ______. “ - Blueberries this year.
3. If something works, try it again next year. Your ratio of success should grow year on year. – Elephant garlic, cavolo nero, fennel, sweetcorn. These novelties have all become bankers for me.
4. Try something new every year. You will never run out of possibilities and some will enrich your repertoire. This year I have been growing chicory as an experiment (yet to be evaluated). The Zebrunne shallots from seed have been another novelty. One that didn’t work well. New varieties of familiar crops can also add novelty and excitement. This is the area seed catalogues, TV programmes, magazines and word of mouth excel at.
5. Timing is everything. Once missed a window of opportunity becomes a bolted door. Here poor germination or predation by birds or slugs can upset the well balanced applecart. After initial sowings parsnips, leeks , carrots have all missed the sowing boat in years gone by. Multiple sowing by way of insurance is a good idea. There is also an optimal time for planting out seedlings as anyone with left over brassica seedlings will appreciate. The leftover plants are a sorry bunch before they are finally consigned to the compost heap. Timing is also important for weeding: The earlier the better.
6. Don't stop sowing once summer arrives. That first flush of salads will pass and where will you be then. Autumn and Winter can be the most rewarding times to be growing your own!
7. Don’t go on holiday in July!
3. If something works, try it again next year. Your ratio of success should grow year on year. – Elephant garlic, cavolo nero, fennel, sweetcorn. These novelties have all become bankers for me.
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| Elephant Garlic - Now a banker |
4. Try something new every year. You will never run out of possibilities and some will enrich your repertoire. This year I have been growing chicory as an experiment (yet to be evaluated). The Zebrunne shallots from seed have been another novelty. One that didn’t work well. New varieties of familiar crops can also add novelty and excitement. This is the area seed catalogues, TV programmes, magazines and word of mouth excel at.
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| The hopefuls! |
5. Timing is everything. Once missed a window of opportunity becomes a bolted door. Here poor germination or predation by birds or slugs can upset the well balanced applecart. After initial sowings parsnips, leeks , carrots have all missed the sowing boat in years gone by. Multiple sowing by way of insurance is a good idea. There is also an optimal time for planting out seedlings as anyone with left over brassica seedlings will appreciate. The leftover plants are a sorry bunch before they are finally consigned to the compost heap. Timing is also important for weeding: The earlier the better.
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| Current crop of carrots - sown at the right time. |
6. Don't stop sowing once summer arrives. That first flush of salads will pass and where will you be then. Autumn and Winter can be the most rewarding times to be growing your own!
7. Don’t go on holiday in July!
Multiple amusements and truths in this post ... the hammock in the snow is priceless, (5) timing is everything, in many ways; all bush beans planted two weeks apart three times are ripening simultaneously, all tomatoes including those planted from seed after the starts have started are producing small fruits .. will I have a glut of tomatoes or will the deer mice have a feast? ... (6.) Don't stop sowing once summer arrives.) well, yes, today I'm planting more summer squash and bush beans, I've got two months of warmth left. Maybe. Good post.
ReplyDeleteNow I have no excuse for not following my own advice. Deer and mice? and everything inbetween? ;-)
DeleteNo, deer mice. They are cute little beggars but carry a nasty disease. Once I saw one rolling a small tomato along the ground and have seen other examples of their preference for small tomatoes
Deletehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peromyscus
Aaah... I see!
DeleteWe’ve had a good blueberry year too and they’re still coming. Definitely no two years are the same but every year we have successes and disappointments.
ReplyDelete"Everyone" has reported good blueberries but poor yields for blackcurrants!
ReplyDelete