[vegegirl]

Hi,

I'm still a beginner when it comes to growing vegetables and need some advise. Last season I grow a few vegetables (carrots, beetroot, and beans) in a small garden bed and they did ok. So this season I have made four new beds so I can grow more and do crop rotation. I know the basics on grouping  the vegetables into their families but I'm not sure which follows what each season. Here is what I would like to grow this season:

1. Beetroot, Carrots, Celery, Leek, Onion, and Spring Onions

2. Beans and Peas

3. Broccoli, Chinese Broccoli, Chinese Cabbage, and Pak Choy

4. Aubergine, Capsicums, and Tomatoes

Could someone give me some advise on which order I should grow these each season.
Thanks.

[paintedlady]

I've been pondering over this post for a while and trying to work out how best to answer.  I could just post the order as I would do it direct from your list:

2. Beans & peas
4. Aubergine, capsicums & tomatoes,
3. Brocolli, Chinese brocolli, Chinese cabbage & Pak Choi
1. Beetroot, carrots, celery, leek, onion & spring onions

but it's leaving me with an itchy finger to add more  

I think what is puzzling me is that there are a lot of different types of veg - so either you are only growing one or two of each, or the beds are a lot bigger than I imagine (in which case, maybe you should "sub-divide" into more?)

The pea & bean bed is fine - if your soil pH is a bit on the acidic side, add a little lime as this will help nitrogen fixing bacteria to work properly.

The aubergine might be better in a greenhouse (so would the capsicums & tomatoes for that matter, but only because we've had a couple of cool summers that have given disappointing results)  Definitely dig in some extra compost or manure into this bed for good results.  

Celery needs more food than carrots, as do beetroot (in my opinion), so they might be better in the aubergine/tomatoe bed - but my concern is their growth can be quite sprawly or bushy which might affect the celery & beetroot.

Adding lime prior to planting the brassicas raises the pH (helps to prevent clubroot), and if you have heavy clay, helps to make it more workable by the time the carrots are growing the year after.

The alliums are a group in themselves, but many people do like to companion plant them with carrots in an effort to confuse carrot flies so perhaps leave them if you want.

Hopefully if I bump this up, someone else might see the post & add to it (just to confuse you more    )

[Janeymiddlewife]

Sorry - have no advice to give - BUT
read your post as Advice on growing OLDER  :oops:  :oops:

[Sven The Swede]

The alliums are a group in themselves, but many people do like to companion plant them with carrots in an effort to confuse carrot flies so perhaps leave them if you want.

 

Good tip that I will give that ago next season. Luckily my carrots did not get attacked last season. But doing what you say will hopefully confuse the *.