Allotment Planning for 2020

OK I know its only summer 2019 and that planning 2020's allotment schedule may be a bit yearly but when you get a little inspiration its best to go with it. 

Now is when we start to see what did and what didn't work. For instance we can see our leeks are looking good and strong, so what we did this year works well and should be repeated next year. The spring onions however here a complete flop, so we are not doing them next year.

I like to have a plan folder where every crop has its own sheet (A5) so I can keep a record of what we planted, when, and how it did. All of which I can use to improve our yield each year. 

Above is the unfinished sheet for salad tomatoes. I make a note of the required spacing so when we go to plant we get it just right. Each year I learn more and can add to the notes. And most importantly is the timings table, when to sow, plant and when we expect to harvest. Plant too yearly any the young plant struggles, too late and you wont get a harvest, its all very important. 

Bill also likes to go a little mad in spring and sow everything at once, which can work but also means lots of plants need planting out at once, which can make for some knackering weekends. So if we have a plan we can spread the task and know everything will get done. 

As I said, I know I am doing all this a bit early but there is noting left to plant atm and due to unexpected events we didn't get everything in this year. So I am finding my focus drawn to planning next year, how can we make next year even better;

Repeat this years planting for leeks, more space for them, i.e. plant more.

Shallots are great, they went in at the right time this year and split well, but either weather or pests took their tops off. Up the watering next year, id like to say "Hopefully it wont be as warm" but global warming is real. Maybe some bird scarers, and keep up with the bird feeders so they leave my onions alone. 

The same is true of the onions, we also need to buy enough sets next year. We had planned to sew half a block from seeds but they didn't work out and we where left with only half a block of white.  

The first early potatoes where amassing this year, the second early no so much. We did the first early in bags and the second in the ground. We didn't manage to earth up the seconds, which may have contributed to the low yield, as the earth got to hard to break up. If it happens next year we should water them when we arrive and come back to them or use compost. We haven't harvested the main crop yet. 

Starting the parsnips in loo rolls got them off to a good start but the tubes haven't broken down as fast as we would like. The did however grow well and are a good size already, we harvested a couple early. Next year we will start them and the carrots in tall paper pots.

The carrots are not doing badly, its just there is so few of them. As mentioned above starting them in paper pots may help. 

The Brussels sprouts got eaten on site despite the slug pellets, might have been birds, cover them and other brassicas as soon as they go out. 

The corn died as soon as it went out, most likely due to its extended stay in the grow house and not being hardened off properly. 

The runner beans are going well, one wigwam with net out straight away makes for happy plants and a sensible amount of beans.

The autumn sown broad bean plants where much bigger then their spring sown counterparts even though we got them in later than recommended. Plant them in autumn this year (for next year) as soon as is practical. 

The tomatoes are struggling, they went out too late. Mulching them with grass clipping seems to help but we are running out of time before the cold closes in and they die. 

Watering is an issue, install bottle drips on all thirsty plants like tomatoes and courgettes.

Speaking of courgettes, they are doing well. Next year plant them out in a mound of compost again.

Sowing spinach in a slim tray and planting out in clumps worked, until it bolted, see watering. Repeat next year and do the same with loose lettuce. these 2 may end up being tucked in around other crops rather than having a dedicated space. 

the headed lettuce was too crowded next to the loose lettuce, plant in paper pots next year to ensure good spacing when planting out so that we can get some good heads.

I think that covers it, every year we learn more, both about the plants and about our plot. Every year we have done a little better than the one before so I am expecting next year to be the best on yet, fingers crossed.