Category Archives: Planting

A Year in the Garden

Through the use of an effective vegetable garden design scheme you will have a vegetable plot to supply most, if not all of your vegetable needs through out the year.

What a lot of people getting involved in the vegetable gardening field don’t know is that you have to work at it all year round. You may only be harvesting crops in spring, summer and fall but you will be out in the late fall and through out the winter preparing it for the coming year.

Through the utilization of proper vegetable garden design you will have chores to do all year long and this is turn will reward you hopefully with a bumper crop year on year. Some of the chores that have to be attended to in the late fall / early winter are-

When to plant vegetables Digging the gardenDig the ground to get hard lumps to the surface – the frost will break it down for you.

Rake up leaves – you can store these in a compost plot (make a frame out of chicken wire and 3 or 4 posts, then pack the leaves into it and now you leave it for a year or so), this will give you mulch for the garden.

If you are planting for a spring crop now is the time to plant your

carrots
Broad Beans

If you have an undercover area now is the time for you to plant

Lettuces
Radishes

If this is not your first year you may have crops which are ready for harvesting, these will include

Cabbage
brussels Sprouts – just in time for the turkey
Lettuce
Carrots
Leeks
Potatoes
Pumpkins – now where’s that carving knife?
Radishes

If you are only starting off then in your first winter you are going to be preparing the soil for your crops. The winter brings a time for organization

Get digging – the winter frost will have broken up the large lumps you left in the fall, now is the time to dig them back into the bed. If you have plantings done in the fall you can cover them with polythene or straw to protect them from a frost.

Get all your tools sharp or purchase any new ones you need. This a good time to walk your plot with you vegetable garden design in your hand and picture your crops growing. If this is not your first year then walk your plot and remember what went right and what went wrong in previous years and plan your attack for this year.

As for planting, it is now time to sow your seeds for

Shallots
Rhubarb
Garlic

If you have an undercover area now is the time for you to plant

Leeks
Cabbage – for your summer harvest
Cauliflowers – these are also for your summer harvest
lettuces
Radishes

If this is not your first year you may have crops which are ready for harvesting, these will include

Cabbage
Cauliflowers
Your Broccoli will be sprouting
Lettuce
Carrots
celery
Leeks
spinach
Parsnips
Radishes

Spring

Now we are into the spring and everything is brightening up and with the weather picking up so do the chores round the garden. This is when we start to get everything going.

-You dug the beds in the fall and then again in the winter, now is time to check that they are ready for the seeds.
-cover fragile plants with nettings to protect them from pests.
-check the fall and winter planting for spacing out.

As for planting, it is now time to sow your seeds for

Spring Onions
Radishes
Beetroot
Carrots
Broad Beans

If you have an undercover area now is the time for you to plant

Onions
Peppers
Celery
Indoor Tomatoes

There maybe a need here for nursery beds for being on some early plantings

Brussels Sprouts – the fall plantings
Lettuce
Leeks
Cabbage – both fall and winter

As Spring progresses you will have to

  • Start the hardening up process for the young plants you had undercover for the fall and winter
  • Ensure the soil doesn’t become dry due to lack of rain
  • Keep the weeds down by hoeing regularly
  • Put up supports for climbers
  • Keep thinning out as you go

planting is still going on, now we have

Cabbage
Onions
Potatoes

Have the spring frosts passed? Good time for the

Peppers
Celery
Sweetcorn
Tomatoes the outdoor kind
Beans

We still need the undercover for

Cucumbers
Tomatoes

One more thing to do harvest your crops

Broad Beans
Leeks
Lettuce
Brussels Sprouts
Cabbage
Carrots
Radishes
Rhubarb

Summertime and the living is easy – sorry just started signing there, getting back to the garden. Even though Summer is a time for harvesting you still have chores to do. These include

  • Add fertiliser to areas where you are sowing new crops
  • With Beans and Tomatoes you need to put in supports to keep them growing
  • keep a look out for pests and diseases and act straight away if you see any signs
  • This being the hottest time of the year keep watering your crops
  • Don’t forget that some plants like Tomatoes and Beans are repeat growers so pick them as soon as they are ready
  • Towards the end of summer clear away crops that have finished and prepare the ground for your next planting

Summer maybe a time for harvesting but there is still sowing to do, this will include

Carrots
Lettuce
Onions
Turnips
peas for fall
beetroot

Did we mention that Summer is a time for harvesting, well it is and this includes

Broad Beans
Shallots
Sweetcorn
Tomatoes
Beans
Potatoes
Garlic
Cauliflowers
Beetroot

Now we are back to the fall and it all starts again but now you have a vegetable garden design that works and hopefully you have enjoyed all the work. With time it will all come easier to you as you get used to the routine and the chores won’t seem so much like chores.

We moved to the country a few years ago and I got the “grow your own Bug”. Needless to say the first time I tried to grow my own crops I ended with a plot full of grass and not much more. Undaunted I did some research and had another go. This time with some proper vegetable garden design ideas I got a good crop and a good bit of exercise and fun, as well as a good tan. Due to the failed first attempt I felt that maybe a lot of people have this problem and don’t know here to turn for help. With this in mind I have started a blog to help in the setting up of and maintaining of a vegetable garden.

You can have a look at it for help and advice on your vegetable garden

July Guide

Mid May Planting This is a guide to the plants you should be looking at getting in the ground now. Vegetables differ not only in size, color, shape, and taste, but in their preferred growing conditions, too. Understanding when to plant vegetables depends on your climate and conditions — and the vegetable itself

July Planting Guide

The table below shows information as to which plants you should be planting. The table also gives guides on how to sow the vegetable or has a link to a page offering this information.

NameActionGuide
BeetrootRoutinely sow your Beets in a cycle to be certain that you will have an on going yieldGuide to growing Beetroot
BroccoliIf you haven't already you should now transfer these to the outsideGuide to growing Broccoli
CabbagesSow spring ranges at this point , not to mention transplant out any of the ones you've had under shelterThere is a wide variety of cabbages: some are suited for harvesting in spring, some summer and other for winter. Preferably, begin your plants in a seedbed or deep tray, when sowing separate them by about 10 to 15cm and put them down about 2.5cm.
As for your Fall/Winter harvest.If you have plants sown inside or under cover then you will want to transplant them when they are about 10cm tall and with three or four leaves. You want to sow them about 60cm apart.
CarrotsRoutinely sow your Carrots in a cycle so you can be certain that you will have an on going supplyGuide to growing Carrots
CauliflowersPreparing the groundFor the best results growing your Cauliflowers you need to do a bit of preparatory work – work in some well-rotted manure about a year before sowing. Also insure the ground is well-drained.
Relocate Fall/Winter species to the outside near the beginning in the monthWhat we are doing now is transplanting our Fall/Winter harvest into the ground. These have been grounding away in our seedbed inside out of the cold. We sowed them 15cm and 2 ½ cm down in the soil. Transplant them to their main bed when they reach about 10cm tall and have 3 or 4 leaves.
LettucePreparing the groundBefore sowing you need to prepare the ground, you will need to break it up by forking it over, clear out any weeds, if the ground is dry add some good quality compost and rake it over gently. 
Routinely sow your seeds in a cycle to be certain that you have an on going yieldTo sow your Lettuce spread the seeds thinly along the bottom of your rows, these should be about 2cm deep. Put a light covering of compost over the seeds and water them.
RadishesRoutinely sow your seeds in a cycle to be certain that you have an on going yieldSummer sowings like a bit of light shade but you will still need to sow in a sunny spot. Sow the seeds about 2.5cm apart in shallow drills – only about 1cm deep, after sowing rake the soil lightly. When the seedlings start to appear you will need to thin them out and to stop them drying out they will need watering.
Spring onionsPreparing the groundA couple of months before sowing you will need to insure your ground is well-drained and fertile, if the soil is heavy you will need to dig in some organic matter, when it is time to sow the Onions tread the soil down firmly.
Sow these at this point for harvesting in OctoberFor planting in summer you will be using onion sets. For planting position the onions in rows and with the pointed end up place them about 10 to 15cm apart. Backfill the soil over the Onions but leave the necks just above the soil. Position your subsequent rows about 30cm apart.
TomatoesIf you have some ready to harvest - you can tell by squeezing them and if there’s a little give they’re readyGuide to growing Tomatoes

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September Planting Guide

September Planting Guide

We follow on with our guides on what to plant and when to plant it, here we have the September planting guide.

nameActionGuide
CabbagesSow spring ranges at this point , not to mention transplant out any of the ones you've had under shelterThere is a wide variety of cabbages: some are suited for harvesting in spring, some summer and other for winter. Preferably, begin your plants in a seedbed or deep tray, when sowing separate them by about 10 to 15cm and put them down about 2.5cm.
Lettuce - sow a hardy variety for winter harvesting.Preparing the groundBefore sowing you need to prepare the ground, you will need to break it up by forking it over, clear out any weeds, if the ground is dry add some good quality compost and rake it over gently. 
Routinely sow your seeds in a cycle to be certain that you have an on going yieldTo sow your Lettuce spread the seeds thinly along the bottom of your rows, these should be about 2cm deep. Put a light covering of compost over the seeds and water them.
OnionsThis is the time to plant Japanese varieties.When they are planted you will need to cover them to protect them from the frost.

This will help you ensure that your garden keeps producing into the winter.

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August planting guide

When to Plant VegetablesFollowing on in our guides on what to plant and when to plant it, we have below our August planting guide.

NameActionGuide
CabbagesSow spring ranges at this point , not to mention transplant out any of the ones you've had under shelterThere is a wide variety of cabbages: some are suited for harvesting in spring, some summer and other for winter. Preferably, begin your plants in a seedbed or deep tray, when sowing separate them by about 10 to 15cm and put them down about 2.5cm.
As for your Fall/Winter harvest.If you have plants sown inside or under cover then you will want to transplant them when they are about 10cm tall and with three or four leaves. You want to sow them about 60cm apart.
CarrotsRoutinely sow your Carrots in a cycle so you can be certain that you will have an on going supplyGuide to growing Carrots
KaleBecause they will continue to shoot after the main crown is harvested you don't need to stagger your planting.Plant directly in the garden in rich soil. A high nitrogen content in the ground will improve the quality of the leaves so have a good organic mix in the soil. Plant the seed about 45cm apart and 1cm down in moist soil. Keep the soil moist until the seeds have germinated by covering with mulch.
LettucePreparing the groundBefore sowing you need to prepare the ground, you will need to break it up by forking it over, clear out any weeds, if the ground is dry add some good quality compost and rake it over gently. 
Routinely sow your seeds in a cycle to be certain that you have an on going yieldTo sow your Lettuce spread the seeds thinly along the bottom of your rows, these should be about 2cm deep. Put a light covering of compost over the seeds and water them.
RadishesRoutinely sow your seeds in a cycle to be certain that you have an on going yieldSummer sowings like a bit of light shade but you will still need to sow in a sunny spot. Sow the seeds about 2.5cm apart in shallow drills – only about 1cm deep, after sowing rake the soil lightly. When the seedlings start to appear you will need to thin them out and to stop them drying out they will need watering.
Spring onionsPreparing the groundA couple of months before sowing you will need to insure your ground is well-drained and fertile, if the soil is heavy you will need to dig in some organic matter, when it is time to sow the Onions tread the soil down firmly.
Sow these at this point for harvesting in OctoberFor planting in summer you will be using onion sets. For planting position the onions in rows and with the pointed end up place them about 10 to 15cm apart. Backfill the soil over the Onions but leave the necks just above the soil. Position your subsequent rows about 30cm apart.
TomatoesIf you have some ready to harvest - you can tell by squeezing them and if there’s a little give they’re readyGuide to growing Tomatoes

This will help you ensure that your garden keeps producing into the winter.

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  • July planting guide
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    Tags: guide, table, vegetable, planting, vegetables, guides, growing, plant
  • Guide to growing Beetroot
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    Guide to growing Beetroot. Beetroot are cool season vegetables that will quickly grow and come in many different varieties, they also come in a wide variety of colors - deep red, yellow and white. Being a cool season vegetable they can survive frost and almost freezing temperatures, which makes them a good choice…
    Tags: will, planting, plant, growing, guide, help, vegetables, vegetable

July planting guide

Mid May Planting This is a guide to the plants you should be looking at getting in the ground now. Vegetables differ not only in size, color, shape, and taste, but in their preferred growing conditions, too. Understanding when to plant vegetables depends on your climate and conditions — and the vegetable itself

July Planting Guide

The table below shows information as to which plants you should be planting. The table also gives guides on how to sow the vegetable or has a link to a page offering this information.

NameActionGuide
BeetrootRoutinely sow your Beets in a cycle to be certain that you will have an on going yieldGuide to growing Beetroot
BroccoliIf you haven't already you should now transfer these to the outsideGuide to growing Broccoli
CabbagesSow spring ranges at this point , not to mention transplant out any of the ones you've had under shelterThere is a wide variety of cabbages: some are suited for harvesting in spring, some summer and other for winter. Preferably, begin your plants in a seedbed or deep tray, when sowing separate them by about 10 to 15cm and put them down about 2.5cm.
As for your Fall/Winter harvest.If you have plants sown inside or under cover then you will want to transplant them when they are about 10cm tall and with three or four leaves. You want to sow them about 60cm apart.
CarrotsRoutinely sow your Carrots in a cycle so you can be certain that you will have an on going supplyGuide to growing Carrots
CauliflowersPreparing the groundFor the best results growing your Cauliflowers you need to do a bit of preparatory work – work in some well-rotted manure about a year before sowing. Also insure the ground is well-drained.
Relocate Fall/Winter species to the outside near the beginning in the monthWhat we are doing now is transplanting our Fall/Winter harvest into the ground. These have been grounding away in our seedbed inside out of the cold. We sowed them 15cm and 2 ½ cm down in the soil. Transplant them to their main bed when they reach about 10cm tall and have 3 or 4 leaves.
LettucePreparing the groundBefore sowing you need to prepare the ground, you will need to break it up by forking it over, clear out any weeds, if the ground is dry add some good quality compost and rake it over gently. 
Routinely sow your seeds in a cycle to be certain that you have an on going yieldTo sow your Lettuce spread the seeds thinly along the bottom of your rows, these should be about 2cm deep. Put a light covering of compost over the seeds and water them.
RadishesRoutinely sow your seeds in a cycle to be certain that you have an on going yieldSummer sowings like a bit of light shade but you will still need to sow in a sunny spot. Sow the seeds about 2.5cm apart in shallow drills – only about 1cm deep, after sowing rake the soil lightly. When the seedlings start to appear you will need to thin them out and to stop them drying out they will need watering.
Spring onionsPreparing the groundA couple of months before sowing you will need to insure your ground is well-drained and fertile, if the soil is heavy you will need to dig in some organic matter, when it is time to sow the Onions tread the soil down firmly.
Sow these at this point for harvesting in OctoberFor planting in summer you will be using onion sets. For planting position the onions in rows and with the pointed end up place them about 10 to 15cm apart. Backfill the soil over the Onions but leave the necks just above the soil. Position your subsequent rows about 30cm apart.
TomatoesIf you have some ready to harvest - you can tell by squeezing them and if there’s a little give they’re readyGuide to growing Tomatoes

Related Posts

  • July Guide
    100
    This is a guide to the plants you should be looking at getting in the ground now. Vegetables differ not only in size, color, shape, and taste, but in their preferred growing conditions, too. Understanding when to plant vegetables depends on your climate and conditions -- and the vegetable itself…
    Tags: guide, table, vegetable, planting, july, conditions, plants, vegetables, guides, ground
  • August planting guide
    97
    the August planting guide
    Tags: guide, planting, plant, guides, table, vegetables, vegetable, growing
  • September Planting Guide
    97
    September Planting Guide We follow on with our guides on what to plant and when to plant it, here we have the September planting guide. This will help you ensure that your garden keeps producing into the winter.
    Tags: guide, planting, plant, table, guides, vegetables, vegetable, growing
  • Hi Everyone!
    95
    Hi Everyone When to plant Vegetables - Hello This site is to help you get organised in the garden and to inform you of the up and coming and soon to be published book "When to Plant Vegetables" written by Me! For now we are going to put up regular…
    Tags: plant, vegetables, vegetable, planting, growing
  • Guide to growing Beetroot
    73
    Guide to growing Beetroot. Beetroot are cool season vegetables that will quickly grow and come in many different varieties, they also come in a wide variety of colors - deep red, yellow and white. Being a cool season vegetable they can survive frost and almost freezing temperatures, which makes them a good choice…
    Tags: planting, ground, plant, growing, guide, size, plants, vegetables, vegetable