How much to grow?

Karen_D · Post: # 88975Post **Karen_D** » Tue Mar 11, 2008 2:14 pm

Most books, if they say anything at all, give figures for the "average family" if grown in rows. We're a two adult household, although we do like lots of veggies, and we're using a bed system so how to work out how much to plant for each crop?

I think the 500 sprouting brocolli seeds in the packet might be a bit excessive

but we're happy to eat it twice a week - how many plants is that?

Anyone got any ideas, figures or can point me at them?

Wassail

Karen the confused

MrFalafel · Post: # 88978Post **MrFalafel** » Tue Mar 11, 2008 2:18 pm

Not everything you plant will grow. You'll be thinning out, slugs will help themselves, birds and bad weather can take its toll on your crop. Its always better to plant too much and have lots to give away or use in canning/preserving than to not have enough, provided you have the garden space.

If its just the two of you, just half the 'average family' recommendation.

ina · Post: # 88979Post **ina** » Tue Mar 11, 2008 2:18 pm

I don't think I can alleviate your confusion. It all depends...

One plant doesn't give a certain yield; you might not get all your seeds (or even a certain percentage) to seedling stage... I always sow a few seeds, see what I get in the way of plants, check how much space I've got left in the garden, and then give away the rest of the plants (if there are any over). I think it's something everybody must find out for themselves, as so much depends on your particular situation of the garden, too - soil, aspect, climate...

Sorry I can't be more helpful!

Wombat · Post: # 89583Post **Wombat** » Fri Mar 14, 2008 11:10 am

Hey Karen!

It is pretty much a personal choice thing.

But,

I put together an Excel spreadsheet that I use to plant by and it is pretty close for 3 to 4 people and what we like to eat. PM me your email address if you want a copy.

Nev

Post: # 89644Post **MKG** » Fri Mar 14, 2008 4:29 pm

Thanks for the Spreadsheet ... big surprise No. 1 was how little is needed for a family. But that's all to the good, and gives me a great guide, so converting it to our needs should be a walkover. Thanks again.

Wombat · Post: # 89739Post **Wombat** » Fri Mar 14, 2008 10:49 pm

The trick is to keep planting stuff. The fruiting veggies just keep on giving too!

Nev

Jack · Post: # 89780Post **Jack** » Sat Mar 15, 2008 10:03 am

Gidday

Yep old Nev is right on it when he says, just keep on planting.

I like to plant a few things every couple of weeks. A packet of seed could last you a season if you plant a dozen seeds every couple of weeks.

Andy Hamilton · Sun Mar 16, 2008 9:29 am

Well we are a family of two also.

It can be very difficult to the quantities right due to losses. We had some bother with purple sprouting broccoli when we last grew it. Many of the seed suffered from damping off. The plants that did survive got eaten by pigeons meaning that we only had about 3 plants left. The 3 plants was about enough for broccoli for dinner around twice a week.

In short I think it is always better to have more growing than you need, if loads of seedlings survive then you can give them away on freecycle. If you have loads growing on your veg patch then you can always freeze something.

Hawthorn · Post: # 89956Post **Hawthorn** » Sun Mar 16, 2008 10:23 am

I agree with Andy

You can preserve any leftovers also, by bottling, canning, pickling, freezing. It means no wastage and you still have some of your own stuff to eat in the 'famine months' where not much grows.

I plan to get some canning equipment from the USA. Can't find it over here, but it's very popular over there.

There are a few good books on doing this on Amazon :)

Peggy Sue · Post: # 90351Post **Peggy Sue** » Tue Mar 18, 2008 9:40 am

We did broccoli for the first time last year, I got some quick growing type form Real Seed. The OH set about 12 plants, and we picked and picked off those for months. He did a second batch of about the same and that has taken us right through the winter. However, the few we planted in the garden on clay soil (rather than the lovely allotment soil) were pathestic and each plant has one small head then died. You have to get used to you local soil & pests I guess

ina · Post: # 90359Post **ina** » Tue Mar 18, 2008 10:28 am

Hawthorn wrote: I plan to get some canning equipment from the USA. Can't find it over here, but it's very popular over there.

Why not use screw top jars? I have done that for years - no need to buy expensive equipment, and definitely no need to import the stuff from the States!

Hawthorn · Post: # 90386Post **Hawthorn** » Tue Mar 18, 2008 1:13 pm

Not the jars - I plan to get kilner jars from over here. There's even I site I went to that does previously loved ones, which is great, or I'll advertise on freecycle. What I'm getting from the states is the pressure canner.....it works much like a pressure cooker, but it's bigger. This is for bottling, as I think it's known over here :)