[johnfh]

I certainly find improved flavour is one of the bonuses of growing your own veg.  Reading through the posts you get the odd remark about additions to the soil that seem to help the flavour.  It would be very intersesting to have a list in one place of additions which members have found (or think) add to the flavour.  I suppose the soil you have may effect this in combination with additions but worth a try; details of soil type could be included too if you think they are relevant.

All I can offer so far is well rotted horse manure on a medium clay soil.

 If you are willing to share your sectrets please post away.

[Paul Plots]

This sounds a very good idea... one problem might be that floavour is all a matter of personal choice... but certainly worth a try.

All I know is that the difference between fruit and veg grown slowly in the big outside world on a decent patch of soil and that grown speedily and commercially is often outstanding.

This season my tastes to die for have been:

• baby leaf spinach
• strawberries
• new potatoes
• new peas
• cucumber
• raspberries
• beetroot

Next I am looking forward to the first ripe tomato!

[PAULW]

John I dont think it is anything in the soil that gives the flavour it is the variety of veg you grow that has the taste, take supermarket carrots someone will correct me but I think they are called "APACHE" these are not grown for taste but for transportability and uniformity in size as are "ELSANTA" strawberries, try buying a few differant packets of the same veg ie cauli's/cabbage and grow them in the same row under the same conditions and see if there is any differance in taste.

[Ice]

For me, flavour is a combination of good soil, flavoursome variety, time and lurve.

[mumofstig]

The soil does make a difference to taste, that's why certain types of wines can only be grown in certain areas, if the vines are planted elsewhere the wine doesn't taste the same...'terroir'.

I find that tomatoes grown in pots with only chemical feeds to not taste as good as those grown with the help of manure/compost. The potted tomatoes can taste good, but the manured ones taste better IMO. Best tomatoes I ever grew were with goats manure  

[Ice]

Yup, the secret is in the s**t.

[colleensj]

lol @ Ice....

I shan't be telling my kids though!! I struggle enough to get veg down their necks! 

[johnfh]

Thanks for all your replies already! Looking at the times do some of you never sleep!

Ice you are probably right but Mrs Boquet woiuld not like it.

[Trillium]

I add poop to everything I grow. My neighbour supplies me with a load of free chicken poo every year which I'm thankful for, but I'd actually prefer cattle poo for the veg. Until the chickens grow horns, I'll accept in silence 
I grow peaches and I find the best for them is a few dead whole fish buried just under the soil about two feet from the trunk and around the circumference. It adds the best flavour. If I can't get fish, I use fish emulsion which isn't as great but still works.
For blueberries, we prefer pigeon poop for best flavour.
For my flowers, which I don't eat, I prefer sheep manure.

[Dave Mack]

Hmmmm i can get hold of elephant , rhino ... well any animal dung , yeah a good friend of mine is the manager at Knowsley safari park , i think i will try a few different flavour dungs next year 

[JayG]

Hmmmm i can get hold of elephant , rhino ... well any animal dung , yeah a good friend of mine is the manager at Knowsley safari park , i think i will try a few different flavour dungs next year 

Do they keep birds at Knowsley? I've heard the right sort of bird poo makes everything flamin'go! 

[Paul Plots]

There's been no sh… natural animal deposits on my plot for many years.... other than canned chicken what-sit.                   (Buckets full of that until the price rocketed and the pension kicked in).

I use just compost – huge amounts of it dug in every autumn and much of this just plain old grass-mowings. The soil is wonderful…..

Grass-flavoured everything! 

Seriously folks:
I have two plots “old” and “new” each with very different soil composition – both originally clay for brick making I think!!

The old plot is wonderfully fine and so easy to work all but Swede does well in it.

The new plot is horrid for some crops but others thrive survive. The soil dries out quickly and is like concrete in places – when wet it is very wet! Raspberries (several different varieties) have a wonderful flavour on this plot with continuous top dressing of a grass-mulch. 

[Swing Swang]

I feel that outdoor-grown toms can be over-fed and over-watered. The resultant large, fleshy fruits have less flavour than the smaller, denser produce of less indulged plants.

[DD.]

My outdoor toms are left to get on with it, straight into the soil, no manure & only watered if there's really a drought.

The flavour beats the greenhouse ones hands down.

[Kristen]

This season my tastes to die for have been:

• baby leaf spinach
• strawberries
• new potatoes
• new peas
• cucumber
• raspberries
• beetroot

Wot no Sweetcorn on your list? Of all the more-tasty-than-Supermarket-stuff that I grow the Sweetcorn is head-and-shoulders in the lead. Always fun to server when we have a few folks round for lunch in the Summer - "Where do you get your Sweetcorn from?" gives me a wry smile