The veg plot is taking shape

Until quite recently we have been having frosts in the morning so have held back from planting the veg plot. This week the weather has changed and at last we have been having lovely warm sunny days. It was time to start off the veg plot.

We are experimenting with doing things a little differently this year. We used to grow tomatoes and courgettes successfully in pots but last year planted them directly into the veg plot and had our worst crop ever.

We usually grow our potatoes in the veg plot and have good crops but are plagued by wire worms in them.

Our runner beans also gave us our worst crop last year and they take up so much space.

There seems little point in having our patio crammed with pots of veg and struggling to fill up the veg plot so we have come up with a plan to trial. We are sinking the tomato pots into the veg plot and planting courgettes and potatoes in bags on the veg plot. We are trying dwarf beans instead of runner beans from some beans that Jackie has given us.

On Thursday my husband started work on the veg plot

My husband has sunk some pots for tomatoes and planted broad beans on the left. The courgette and potato bags are filled with potting compost in readiness.

On Friday my husband continued with the veg plot.

The tomatoes are now planted in the pots at the front and a chilli plant, that was on offer, is in the metal container (a chimney cowl that my husband kept in case it came in useful!).

Three courgette plants are in this bag

Three potato bags with maris piper seed potatoes planted

The beans have been planted within this square marked with string

On Friday Jackie and I visited the allotment and we dug up dandelions and chard. I added a few more dandelions to fill any gaps in the girl’s dandelion patch and planted chard in the rest of their strip. Some were plants from the allotments and some were from the garden centre. The girl’s strip is now filled.

The girl’s dandelion patch being checked out by Peaches

The girl’s chard being checked out by Emerald

The girl’s strip

The veg plot on Saturday

We have added leeks on the left and peas on the right. Next to the path on the right is a row of pak choi.

My husband has added some pea sticks he collected from the woodland behind our garden

The plot from the other direction

We have a bit of space in the middle in front of the potato bags to add something else. We are quite pleased with how it is looking and now just have to watch everything grow and hope it will be a good year.