Someone say something

[Weedo]

Hi folks
We have just made a decision to abandon (mostly) the Veg patch for this year. The reasoning? overall it is a mess, beds in the wrong place, wrong orientation, water points wrong. The soil all needs a thorough work over and more organic material worked in. We need to work on shelter plantings to keep the hot winds at bay and we want to put in some perrennial food plants as well. Sooooo - nearly everything goes, fences down and work over the whole area in preparation for Autumn 2018. This seems to be the best approach for us.

Given our Southern location, hot dry climate etc. most things will be different to what you would do in the North but I will most likely be asking a few questions as we go along - particularly about crop rotation and companion planting so that this can be allowed for at the outset.

[Green Aura]

First tip - save yourself a little bit of it for just growing something (doesn't matter how small or what you grow). Otherwise you'll be desperate to eat something you grew yourself not too much later.

No need to ask me how I know.

Berries and herbs have been our only homegrown this year!

[ina]

We are going to try to find the same variety again, if we can remember what it was.

That's always my problem, too - never remember what variety I grew, whether it was a dud or particularly good!

I had dud broad beans last year - planted rest of bag this year, and same problem... Can I remember what variety they were? Can I heck. They were a dwarf one, though.

[Odsox]

They were a dwarf one, though.

The only truly dwarf broad beans that I know of Ina are Sutton.
I grow used to grow them all the time because they are dwarf and survive outdoor winds, but also in the tunnel as they behave themselves and don't take over the place

[Odsox]

Given our Southern location, hot dry climate etc. most things will be different to what you would do in the North

Not necessarily so different Weedo.
For your shelter belt for hot dry winds substitue my shelter belt for salt laden winds, and growing most of my stuff under cover (tunnels, greenhouses) I also have to consider my water points (rain water harvesting) and irrigation.
It is worth while getting it right though.

[Weedo]

Yes Odsox - the same but different. I will also provide for shade for my tomatoes and leafy greens so they don't get too much sun. Water quantity is not a problem but keeping it in the soil in +35 degree days is. We are considering using low trellis table grape vines and a wind shelter on the West with a citrus hedge on the East.

[Mr_Moon]

Hola

[Green Aura]

Ay up.

[Mr_Moon]

Just thought id see whats going on, its been like 9 years lol

[Green Aura]

In that case welcome back. What've you been doing in that time?

[ina]

They were a dwarf one, though.

The only truly dwarf broad beans that I know of Ina are Sutton.

Sounds familiar. They did certainly not take over anything... Not a single bean this year!

Back to whatever I had before next year, even if I have to stake them.

[Weedo]

Hi Green Aura

I did say nearly all would be going. The patch is a quarter acre total and we will keep about a quarter of this going (chitting spuds with the grandkids this weekend). The rest will be flattened, deep dug and levelled ready for next season. Hopefully the time budget allows for a new chook shed - I have already scrounged most of the materials. I will try to get a pic of its current state (it is certainly in a real state)

[Flo]

They were a dwarf one, though.

The only truly dwarf broad beans that I know of Ina are Sutton.

Sounds familiar. They did certainly not take over anything... Not a single bean this year!

Back to whatever I had before next year, even if I have to stake them.

It's been an odd broad bean year here - it may be nothing that you or the brand of beans did but just that 2017 took a dislike to broad beans in general.

[Mr_Moon]

In that case welcome back. What've you been doing in that time?

Grew up! lol and trying to get an allotment for next year. Theres a waiting list all over Liverpool

[ina]

The only truly dwarf broad beans that I know of Ina are Sutton.

Sounds familiar. They did certainly not take over anything... Not a single bean this year!

Back to whatever I had before next year, even if I have to stake them.

It's been an odd broad bean year here - it may be nothing that you or the brand of beans did but just that 2017 took a dislike to broad beans in general.

It was the same last year - same packet of seeds, so I suspect it was just a dud lot.