Planning for 2016 Season

Hi. Well I have my winter potatoes to plant, lots of crops still to harvest and a few sneaky carrots and spring onions to sow.

So my attention is now drifting to NEXT YEAR.

All my growing is in containers, pots, raised beds. I have a very patient hubby who allowed me to use the dining room and kitchen window sill to germinate this year.

So - I have three plastic grow homes and a fruit cage. Will these survive the winter outside or should I put them away until March time? Worried I wont work out to assemble them especially the netting on the fruit cage.

Thinking about buying a wooden cold frame as that may be more resilient to the weather and a possible way to start earlier in the season next year.

Also consider the big decision of buying a green house. Are the 'tough' plastic as good as glass?

Ordered some more raised beds as they are a more effective way of using the space I have than the dozens of containers.

Any help, suggestions are soooo welcome.

 

Im starting to think about next years garlic planting. Im needing to do better than this years crop which are smaller than normal with a bit of rot too.

I too will be on the lookout for a greenhouse maybe but also thinking of building a removable one myself which will consist of 2x2 and corrugated plastic sheeting. I dont really want a greenhouse sitting through the long winter looking abandoned and messing up the garden.

Netting on fruit cage btw faces being ripped/stretched if theres a snowfall in winter so best left till spring.

 

I guess I will just have to be uber organised when I take things down and put them away.

If I purchase a 'proper' greenhouse - I would want it up all year so it could be used all year. The question is whether I get plastic or glass. Swaying towards plastic.

Pic attached which I forgot before.

 

Hi GYO I would suggest a toughened glass green house you can get some bargains at this time of year, I have two greenhouses and two large aluminium cold frames which I bought from the greenhousepeople around this time of year or later. I bought two simplicity classic's two years apart with base and toughened safety glass and auto vents for half price. One I had at my old house which I stripped and brought to my new place and re-assembled without any damage, They have withstood gales (I can see the north sea from my place). I was wary about buying online but they are so well packaged and the delivery man carries the packages to where you want them.
You may pay more than plastic but worth it IMO.
Regards Alex

 

Still debating about a greenhouse. Not working at the moment, so all thoughts of getting one are a little way off.

I have though bought the timber to make two 1.5m x 2m raised beds.

This year the 'plot' in my garden has just 'happened' - no planning and I think I can make better use of space and make things generally easier.

Should I set up the raised beds end of Sept/Oct time or leave it until next year. Only thinking of setting up frames - wouldn't put compost in until I am rdy to plant.

Also the compost in my existing two raised beds needs a zhuch up. I read about putting a mulch of stable manure on the top and leaving it. I guess that's everything that comes out if a stable including straw etc? What to i do next year and how long before planting? Do I just turn it over?

Can I grow anything in the soil then?

My head is so excited about making next year bigger, better and hopefully a tad easier.

 

I have read on another site that carrots do not like manure. Anything else not a fan?

 

Ok, I'm not an expert, but I did used to help dad with the veg growing, when he was around, and have had a few successes, and failures(!!), myself over the years.

Re making a raised bed - do it now, not next year. Next spring, the ground will be cold, it will be cold, you may well have a cold!! Much better to set it up now... If your garden soil is half-decent, I would cut the turfs (assuming it will be going on a current grassed area?) and set them aside upside down in a quiet corner. Will turn into topsoil/compost for you! Fork down a fork-depth into the soil below, and turn through any home-made compost you have. Doesn't matter if it is not ready - it will have 4-6 months to rot down in the raised bed. Same with any horse manure you might wish to add. Take a sack or two of the soil out, fill bed with your horse manure, then top with the set-aside soil. This will minimise any odours - In a few days you won't know that the muck is there. I did this with fresh muck in my compost bays (the muck heap is removed every 7 days, so it was fresh!). no smell at all, within a week.

If you do both of these additions, the raised part of the bed will seem nicely full. But it will bed down over the winter, and you will need to top up in the spring, and probably again at the end of next season too. I had to redo my raised bed last autumn, and filled it to a domed top for the start of the season. It has already settled down to be at least 6" below the top of the boards! Once the last of the crops are out, I'm off to the stables to put some manure in, and top off with soil for the winter.

I've just re-read your post.... You've already got two raised beds that need a pep-up. I'd take out the top 6" of soil, a good layer of manure, and put the soil "lid" back. The new raised bed will be useful as a holding area for this!

Once nature has done her thing with the manure/compost, yup, I'd go ahead and plant next year, expecting things to grow well.

 

(I'm suggesting the soil "lid" on the manure, as a way of keeping neighbourhood peace. Some people just don't know / understand how good horse poo is!!)

 

Thank you so much. I need to shift stuff around to accommodate everything I want to do next year. Which like you means waiting for crops to be harvested. But I can measure up, plan all in prep for end of Sept or Oct. Cant wait.

Thank you. Will call by the stables and 'stock up'!