What Will You Change Next Year?

[scottishbaby84]

As a first time grower I will be changing a lot.

* I'll put much more thought into what I want to grow. This year I bought one tomato plant and loads of thin stemmed broccoli which I'm not even using because I'm not getting enough from them to bother cooking it. I bought 4 strawberry plants which produced 2 strawberries each of poor quality and size. The thing with the broccoli is I have so many of them potted up not being used. What a waste of compost and pots....

* I'm definately investing in a proper greenhouse. I have the £20 plastic one from B&M bargains, which to be fair has done a fantastic job germinating everything. I bought this not thinking I'd end up so hooked on growing and gardening, so I'm buying a really good greenhouse which will last.

* I'm going to really think about getting the right growing accessories next year. I bought the basics, like insect spray and liquid feeder but did no research on composts, meshes or supports etc.

* I'm going to get in the know about more diseases to look out for and how to prevent them.


What about you guys? what will you change? if anything, next year?

[stupo74]

Hi SB 84,
The thing i would most like to change, is our seasons length, a couple of months more sunshine would do my chillies the world of good

However, on a serious note, I go through lots of changes from 1 year to the next, as i am always experimenting with how i can get the best start to the next season.

As you stated, you are going to change alot, thats because you have already learned, where the mistakes were made in your very first attempt at growing.

So with your first season nearly behind you, all that knowledge will be carried forward to the next 1.

You are addicted now, so good luck for the rest of this year, and hope for better next. cheers stupo

[lisa4star]

Next year I will be watching for sawfly on my gooseberries and I'll be putting netting of some sorts over my blackcurrants and blueberries because the birds have got them all, little blighters.

I've learned to sow herbs thickly, not like the packets say. I sow half a packet per pot. Also put a bag (I use a freezer bag) over them until they have germinated.

[scottishbaby84]

Originally Posted by stupo74

Hi SB 84,
The thing i would most like to change, is our seasons length, a couple of months more sunshine would do my chillies the world of good

However, on a serious note, I go through lots of changes from 1 year to the next, as i am always experimenting with how i can get the best start to the next season.

As you stated, you are going to change alot, thats because you have already learned, where the mistakes were made in your very first attempt at growing.

So with your first season nearly behind you, all that knowledge will be carried forward to the next 1.

You are addicted now, so good luck for the rest of this year, and hope for better next. cheers stupo

I wouldn't mind some sunshine in summer too! imagine that lol

I am soooo addicted stupo, i'm out there every morning and evening inspecting the progress of my plants hehe.

Its going to be a long winter because I cannot wait until next year, and my little boy will be old enough to help out which just adds to the fun.


lisa - is that true about the herbs? how annoying because I followed the packet and sowed them thinly, they're in the greenhouse hopefully germinating as we speak...its funny you say this because I was in sainsburys the other day looking at the potted basil and I thought then it seemed there were a good dozen germinated seeds in one pot.

[itsgrowinglook]

Next year I will plant in stages. As its my first year I wasnt sure if anything would grow, it has and now we have 9 little gem lettuces ready to eat. So stages next year.

[lisa4star]

Originally Posted by scottishbaby84

I wouldn't mind some sunshine in summer too! imagine that lol

I am soooo addicted stupo, i'm out there every morning and evening inspecting the progress of my plants hehe.

Its going to be a long winter because I cannot wait until next year, and my little boy will be old enough to help out which just adds to the fun.


lisa - is that true about the herbs? how annoying because I followed the packet and sowed them thinly, they're in the greenhouse hopefully germinating as we speak...its funny you say this because I was in sainsburys the other day looking at the potted basil and I thought then it seemed there were a good dozen germinated seeds in one pot.

Yes, last year I put around three seeds per pot and struggled to even get them to germinate and done the same the beginning of may this year and it just seemed a waste of time so decided to put loads in and it's worked - I've masses of basil now and as I love pesto (I find Asda's fresh is best) but it's expensive, I'm going to make my own wen I eventually get round to it.

[Cornish Lass]

Hiya, I am new to both veggie gardening and this forum (hello!). I have learnt loads this year and am going to change the following for next year:
1. make sure spinach and lettuce are in some shade as lasted much longer than when I planted them in full sun (and bolted!)
2. plant more strawberry plants (and take runners from my one plant this year!)
3. will not plant three pumpkin plants as they are running amok in my veg patch!
4. definitely agree with thickly sow herbs, i currently have one basil plant!

I also have a better understanding of how tall/wide plants grow and so will plan a little better next year.

CL x

[templebell]

Only my 2nd year - had a bit of sucess, but started late. So next year its get an earlier start

[mags16]

I will plant my courgette in a different location - I stupidly planted it in the same place as last year and it is not doing as well.

I will throw out my basil seeds from this year - I think there was something wrong with them. They would germinate but had stunted growth.

There are plenty more things I will do differently. Veg gardening is a learning curve. I hope I will remember my mistakes so that I don't repeat them next year.

[hiyatim]

ive so much ill change next year.

I dont think ill grow any brassicas, maybe just cabbage and sprouts. They are so much hassle and take so much space for tiny rewards.

ill net my beans i think

ill start potatos early so i get some early ones, and look for early onions i think.

i wont try and grow carrots and parsnips in small pots

ill harvest my lettuce earlier

i wont attempt to grow melons

ill get a walk in greenhouse for my toms

ill change pepper variety

ill grow all onions from sets not seeds

most of all ill make a plan. without one i feel all un organized.

[Kimby]

I will.....

Get finer net for my raised beds to keep the cabbage moths out (thought it was fine enough but clearly wasn't judging by all the caterpillars!)

Use onion sets and not seedlings

Find some kind of repellent for blackfly as my crops have been covered in the things

Be more organised

Get troughs for the greenhouse for my carrots (they've grown brilliantly in pots - far better than in the garden)

Get something that eats spiders as I keep finding them hanging from my fringe when I've been weeding!