This year I have planted fewer vegetables than usual. Partly because I have been growing flowers for my daughter's wedding but also because, well, I was just bored of growing veg. I am not very dedicated at growing veg and my lack of caring leads to a poor crop more often than not. So this year I decided to only grow what I really wanted. I have not grown any potatoes for the first time in so many years I cannot count and what I have missed in having fresh new potatoes I have gained in space.
I decided to grow courgettes as I use them in cooking a lot. I also wanted runner and french beans, peas and some sweet corn. I sowed some seeds and also bought some as plug plants. I grew few of each as I did not want to get bored of them.
When it came to planting out I remembered the Native American system of Three Sisters, which should be pumpkins, climbing beans and sweetcorn. So I planted my courgettes, beans and sweetcorn together and let them romp about.
The results have been wonderful. Firstly I have had a nice steady crop of beans and courgettes. I am very enamored of these yellow courgettes, they have great flavour and are rather well behaved in the glut department.
The purple beans and yellow beans have also been a revelation, especially the yellow beans which are just wonderful when eaten when small and tender.
The sweetcorn ripened last, and has also been successful this year. I am really enjoying have fresh sweetcorn on tap. The fact that it ripens so late in the season means that the veg season has been a long one.
Best of all I have enjoyed growing veg this year. I have kept it weeded and looked after it. It has looked a bit chaotic at times and in the recent strong winds the beans did collapse a bit, but I care not. I think growing veg in this way is far more satisfying than strict rows and I shall do it again next year. It turns out it is not veg growing in itself that is boring, it was just the way I was growing it.
I decided to grow courgettes as I use them in cooking a lot. I also wanted runner and french beans, peas and some sweet corn. I sowed some seeds and also bought some as plug plants. I grew few of each as I did not want to get bored of them.
When it came to planting out I remembered the Native American system of Three Sisters, which should be pumpkins, climbing beans and sweetcorn. So I planted my courgettes, beans and sweetcorn together and let them romp about.
The results have been wonderful. Firstly I have had a nice steady crop of beans and courgettes. I am very enamored of these yellow courgettes, they have great flavour and are rather well behaved in the glut department.
The purple beans and yellow beans have also been a revelation, especially the yellow beans which are just wonderful when eaten when small and tender.
The sweetcorn ripened last, and has also been successful this year. I am really enjoying have fresh sweetcorn on tap. The fact that it ripens so late in the season means that the veg season has been a long one.
Best of all I have enjoyed growing veg this year. I have kept it weeded and looked after it. It has looked a bit chaotic at times and in the recent strong winds the beans did collapse a bit, but I care not. I think growing veg in this way is far more satisfying than strict rows and I shall do it again next year. It turns out it is not veg growing in itself that is boring, it was just the way I was growing it.
Bored with growing veg?! What wonderful heresy. I see that Lia Leendertz has become ambivalent about her allotment too. Makes sense to me - as does growing what you did how you did. Almost tempts me!
ReplyDeleteI find veg growing a chore, I think it’s too worthy :)
DeleteI'm intrigued - anything that saves a bit of space is worth knowing about! Did you plant the courgettes at the edge of the raised bed and the beans inbetween the sweet corn? I can't quite see from your photos! Any chance of a quick sketch planting plan with spacings?
ReplyDeleteYes I’ll do a plan. I had 2 beds planted slightly differently- one was beans & sweetcorn only and one had the courgettes planted towards the edge - this was mainly so I could get to them easily to harvest but it turned out it also helped them get enough light
Deleteis it possible that this time you didn't over do it?
ReplyDeleteI tend to do the same thing. I try to grow all kinds of vegetables and than reality kicks in.
In no time everything is overrun with weeds and I almost get depressed when trying to see through the mess.
I do hope you keep growing vegetables as this is really the most healthy way to go.
Keep up the good work, just followed your blog by email