It’s early January and a perfect time to think about what you’re going to grow in the coming year, putting this down on paper (especially for food crops) look through your seed collection, and plugging any gaps. With not much to do in the garden at present, this is just what I’ve been up to in the last couple of days.
I’ve done what I usually do- slotted the packs of seeds I’m going to use into a weekly organiser so that I know when to sow them (always being prepared to adjust this if the weather doesn’t quite go to expectations where outdoor sowings are concerned), adding in a few more things where I want to grow more succession crops (e.g. carrots) or widen the range (e.g. squashes).
I’ve also bought some additional asparagus crowns to add to the bed I started last year (only a couple of plants came through their first season). As last year, I’ve been collecting seed from some plants and adding to my collection through purchases, including taking advantage of the RHS Members’ Seed Scheme where I can buy packs of 12 different seeds for just £8.50. I placed my order yesterday and look forward to receiving some interesting ornamentals to add to Old School Garden.
As far as food is concerned I’ve prepared a new plan for the Kitchen Garden and showed both early and follow on crops…
Changes for this year include:
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Relocating the three large pots of blueberries – I’m planning to partly sink these into the ground in a spot where I can more easily erect a bird proof cage over them and at the same time release some gravelled space next to the Greenhouse and Cold Frame where I can store pots and trays for ‘hardening off’ new plants.
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Growing more carrots and parsnips in plastic dustbins, as my experiment last year worked quite well and provides some extra growing space when the rest of the garden is pretty well full.
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I’ve substituted one Blackcurrant bush with a White currant to improve the balance of the fruit we have and bought ten raspberry canes (two varieties of summer fruiting to plug some gaps in the rows and hopefully improve fruiting).
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I’m also continuing to install plastic hoops (I’ve used plumbing pipe available from DIY stores) over some more beds to enable me to use plastic/ enviromesh/netting to provide a warm micro climate and protection from pests.
Old School Garden 
That’s not a bad idea at all to store the seeds in a binder of sorts. Most of mine are just thrown in a bin and I have to sort through them when it’s time to plant. Usually that makes me a few weeks late planting some things. I just got in a rather large shipment of seeds, so I need to find a new way or organizing them.
I’ve been working on my gardening plan too. I have to share the garden at home with my mom who would rather plant more traditional variations of things, but I do have access to my boyfriend’s garden this year who has given me free reign!
Thanks for the comment- I certainly find the organiser very useful, especially if you sow one batch of seed one week and then can slot the pack in again later for succession crops. Good luck with your plans for this year!
Sounds like you have a plan! We have to decide this year if we need to replace our raised beds because the wood is deteriorating. And, if we do, we want to enclose it into a small greenhouse. Decisions, decisions.
Hi- yes, I feel like i’m on the way…it’ll be interesting seeing if what happens in practice is what is on the plan! Your ideas sound interesting, do you mean to fully enlcose your raised beds inside a greenhouse? That will give you some interesting opportunities!