Planning for next year

Cold and damp, we trudge towards the solstice and look forward to lengthening days. But, we're not just sitting on our hands here: planning ahead for next year is well in hand.

Seeds have been bought and our allotment plan is sorted. I show our allotment plan for 2009 below.

We use a four year organic rotation that begins with the potato bed. This is manured/composted before potatoes are planted.

Next into that ground will go the legume family (peas and beans) that like higher fertility and then the following year, brassicas (cabbage family) are planted.

In the final year, onions and roots are planted.

Planting in strips does allow us to blur the edges a little, and so parsnips have gone onto the brassica bed from this year. carrots will not be planted in that strip the following year.

Allotment Plan 2008/9

4 beds, each 5 m X 10 m

Comfrey Apples Raspberries: Summer Autumn Asparagus: Mary Washington; Connovers Colossal

Leeks Musselburgh followed by Sharpes Express First Early potatoes Followed by Nicola as a late second crop potato

Leeks Musselburgh followed by Nicola Second Early potatoes

Field beans Followed by Three sisters bed, Corn, cl blue French beans and Crown Prince Squash

Field beans Followed by Feltham First Peas

Nicola Second Early potatoes

Kestrel Second Early potatoes

Field beans Followed by marrowfat Peas maro

Broad beans Aquadulce Followed by Mustard

Kestrel Second Early potatoes

Field beans Followed by beans for drying

Strawberries Marshmellow 2006

Field beans Followed by Three sisters bed, Corn, cl blue French beans and Crown Prince Squash

Strawberries Marshmellow 2005

Pink Fir apple Maincrop potatoes

Field beans Followed by beans for drying

Garlic Followed by Carrots A. King

Electric O/w red onions Followed by Carrots A. King

Mustard followed by EPS Brocolli

Mustard followed by Turnips snowball

Onions Sturon

Garlic Printanor Followed by Carrots A.King

Mustard followed by Chevalier Calabrese

Early Purple sprouting Broccoli Followed by Musselburgh Leeks

Early Purple sprouting Broccoli followed by Onions Red Baron

Mustard followed by Chevalier Calabrese

Senshuii Yellow O/w white onions Followed by Carrots A. King

Garlic Rob’s dad Followed by Carrots A. King

White Lisbon Spring onion

Shallots Jermor Followed by Carrots A. King

Mustard followed by Boltardy Beetroot

Strawberries Marshmellow 2006

Onions Sturon

Strawberries Marshmellow 2006

Mustard followed by Boltardy Beetroot

Mustard followed by Sorrel

Musselburgh Leeks

Shallots Golden Gourmet

Mustard followed by Parsnips tender and True

Onions Sturon

Onions Red Baron

Kale

Cauliflowers

Kohl Rabi

‘Butternut Squash Compost Compost ‘Butternut Squash/ Crown Prince Squash