[chimaera]

I had great success last year putting in fennel after the spuds; it stops you sowing them too early and them bolting that way.
My neighbour puts in butternut squash close together and trains the growth towards the spuds which he lifts just before the squash march over them.

Charlie

[Snoop]

Choices, choices. It's getting more and more complicated!

On the question of putting in winter brassicas, I'm just a beginner so maybe I've misunderstood, but I thought they like firm soil. Will they do OK after the soil has been loosened to get the potatoes out? If they will, then that looks like the perfect solution for me too.

[mumofstig]

you have to stamp up and down all over the beds to firm them really well, if you are going for the brassica option. John Seymour the self sufficiency bloke suggests brassicas after early spuds in his books

[Snoop]

Thanks mumofstig. That's absolutely fantastic information.

I just love this site. Whenever I have a question, there's always someone here to put me right or on the right path. I'd start a new thread on how much I love this site, except it would come across as ridiculously effusive.

Shame there isn't a smiley type symbol for singing as you walk off into the sunset. That's about me at the moment.

[HugglescoteGrower]

It took me a while to get my head round the rotation system but in the end I opted for brassicas to follow my spuds because the "seasons" seemed to fit better than peas and beans.

What I will be looking for is a summer crop to follow the winter cabbage. Spring and summer cabbage and cauli will follow my second earlies and the first of my mains to be dug. Sprouts will go in when the last of my mains come out. It means in effect that I will have brassicas in the bed for 18 months or more, from planting the winter cabbage to harvesting the last of the sprouts, and at any given time my brassicas will actually span two beds.

[nobby90]

i was thinking about the winter veg, leeks, kale, psb as its the one thing that will still be in the ground next spring when the tates have to go in so it wont be in the way

I used one of my potato beds for PSB & Kale - only problem is the PSB is so late this year, I want to sow my root veggies but can't yet as it's just about peak cropping now! Have squeezed in one row of snips 2 weeks ago, but the rest will have to wait!!

Sorry for being thick but what are PSB ?? prob obvious but just cant think at the moment.

[mumofstig]

purple sprouting brocolli 

[kingston boy]

It seems i'm the odd one out here. My grandad always used to say plant cabbages  as the ground will be nicely dug. Not sprouts or caulis cos they need firm well settled ground. Ive usually had nice cabbage from doing this.Just firm the soil by treading it.
I'm listening!!

[Zippy]

I have all kinds of squashes and corgettes waiting in pots to follow up behind as the potato plot is the one with the whole year's compost spread on top of it.

I just trowel them into the compost and let them find their own way.

[fekq]

winter onions = works for me