Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat
Growing => Grow Your Own => Topic started by: Calou on September 20, 2007, 21:45
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Apologies if this is in the wrong place (just shift me if it is) but I need some help please. Most of my new allotment has now been dug over and I've been thinking about the layout of it, in particular, the seedbed. The plot is average, 10 rods, so what sort of size should I be thinking of for this and what special "treatment" does a seedbed require to prepare it and make ready for sowing? I really have no idea how to divide the plot up for best results, I do know that some areas have to be manured and some must not. I'll be growing just the basic and normal veg and fruit if that helps in your answers (if your kind enough to give me any lol). :D
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big question calou.
i grow my veg in rows 20" apart from one end of the plot to the other,apart from sweetcorn and celery that are in blocks and the brassicas that are under a gazebo covered in net.dont bother with a seed bed ,the only things i sow direct are carrots/parsnips and maybe beetroot most of the stuff is grown in trays or pots 1st
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Manure everywhere except where you will plant carrot / parsnip / salsify / scorzonera. Turnip, swede and radish don't go a bundle on too much manure either.
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You can join the RHS and they will give you a garden plan for free (if you pay £25 for the year's membership!!!).
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a seed bed is just that .its for growing plants ready to plant out in thier final position on the allotment .also some people confuse the issue by calling a carrot row a prepared seed bed ..... dont for sowing carrot seed or similar crop ion rows .just rake the soil down level and fine and then using a string line mark the row out with the edge of the hoe down to about 1/2 inch following the line sow in the depression and rake the soil back over ....................
now a seed bed is as i said an area laid out specifically for growing young plants . so dig this area over and level it it can be a yard square this i find is just about right for starting off cabbages and brocoli etc/ sow short rows as above and then mark the rows as to the plants name . now take care of this bed and the plants will come on to be about 5 /6 inches high ready to plant out onto the plot in the final position .with cabbages and brassicas in general read my post on growing tips above .hope this clarifies the point
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Well thanks. That has certainly given me something to think about especially with the "seed bed". As SHAUN said, it's a big question and people obviously have personal preferences. I noticed that MUNTY said "take care of the bed" What exactly do you mean Munty? Sorry to be thick but I'm just trying to get it right lol
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I noticed that MUNTY said "take care of the bed" What exactly do you mean Munty?
I'd assume - WEED IT!
It's a matter of preference. I start all my brassicas off in the greenhouse in seed tray inserts - one to a cell. (Makes a packet last a long time!).
Pot em up into 3" pots, harden off & then plant out. They go in with a cracking root ball and gives them a fighting chance against my club root!
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yeh wed it n watter it nice take any bugs orf it and ur wil be fine ,,,,,, capporff to ya DD
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Alright, alright, I asked for that one I know (Thanks Digger) LMAO Of course I'm gonna weed it, I just thought MUNTY meant to do something special with my bed..........................and before you all rush to make a comment on that last statement, forget it, I don't wanna get kicked off the site. :lol:
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I just thought MUNTY meant to do something special with my bed..........................and before you all rush to make a comment on that last statement, forget it, I don't wanna get kicked off the site.
oooooooooooerrrr :oops: they wont kick ya off ......ur to funny :lol:
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Why thankyou Munty.................I think, glad I brought a smile to ya face, it's all I can trade for your advice at the moment! :D
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nah no trade needed . i just like helpin if i can ... besides its not just me they loads know more than me on here .... im just a useless info collector :wink: :lol:
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This has got me thinking.I grow things in modules and trays in the greenhouse but once the toms go into bags floor space gets cluttered and watering tricky and I have some little handy beds just by the greehouse and I could save on compost....It`s not something I would even have thought about so thanks for the brilliant question :lol:
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Would also thankyou Munty but I am still reeling over the thought of you in bed with Shaun and Carol! :shock: :shock:
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Would also thankyou Munty but I am still reeling over the thought of you in bed with Shaun and Carol! :shock: :shock:
im not sleeping ietheri got ptscs.. post traumatic shaun n carol syndrome :roll:
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I am still reeling over the thought of you in bed with Shaun and Carol! :shock: :shock:
No half as much as poor Carol would be reeling at the thought of it :!: :!: :!:
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..I expect she`d manage the shock once Munty explained that Shaun is naturally that small....and I hope no one miss reads this as the naughty step is not that big!!
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:shock: I'm lost for words, first time in years! LMAO at WG though.
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What does LMAO mean.?
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Laughing My Ar5e Off (honestly)
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What does LMAO mean.?
Sorry ANNIE, it means Laughing my a** off which I have been doing reading these posts. LOL = Laugh out loud
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..almost as bad as the one I came up with....
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i just like helpin if i can ... besides its not just me they loads know more than me on here .... im just a useless info collector
Thus spake a modest man.
I reckon the quotation in my signature says it all, really. The other one I liked was "It is what we think we know already that often prevents us from learning." Claude Bernard 1813-1878. Thankfully not too many folks on here fit old Claude's description.
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That's a good one WG, I also like: the beginning of knowledge is the point you realize how much there is you do not know...
As about your plans and seedbed, all above goes, it only depends, how bad or good your soil is. If very hard to work, there is clubroot about, you might be better off using a cold frame or a raised bed for seeds.
The layout: symmetry( squarish as opposed to brick shaped, long stretches in dividing your plot) reduces wind damage, plant rows S-N direction, have at least 4 sections for rotating crops, leave for utility: compost, sit down, etc., and the seed bed of any nature would call for a sheltered position.
All the rest is personal preference, apart from things I forgot.
Do not invest in big landscaping hastily, live with it for a couple of seasons, you will know by then, what you want where. Relax!
gobs
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Thanks Gobs, most helpful, good point to remember........the crop rotation!