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So many varieties but what to choose?
Dan-C
Posts: 30
in Fruit & veg
Hi all, like I've said in a previous thread, ive recently got an allotment.. Still a lot of work to do to get it ready for this years growing season though. I was forwarded to a really good thread on here which for the last month or so I've been reading a lot of posts with a lot of tips and ideas on there, haven't yet caught up to the latest posts as there's over 1000 but I'm around mid 800s. My question is though, for everything I want to put in it, there are soooo many different varieties and it's basically got my head baffled! I wondered if people could recommend the easiest/best varieties of the following I should get to put in. As it's my first year on an allotment I'm probably not yet up to the challenge of growing some certain varieties which may be a little harder than others if you get my drift? Anyway, all help is very welcome and i'd be very grateful! 
White cabbage Red cabbage Brussels sprouts Kale/curly kale? (The tortoise loves the stuff!) Leeks Red onion And finally, courgettes. Thanks in advance.
White cabbage Red cabbage Brussels sprouts Kale/curly kale? (The tortoise loves the stuff!) Leeks Red onion And finally, courgettes. Thanks in advance. 0
Posts
I cant quite remember the varieties i grew when i had my allotments, but they would usually have been from the local shop which stocks country value seeds.
I find all kale really easy to grow as long as the slugs dont get it! I grew redbor this year as i like the look!
All the courgettes ive grown were really easy too, once they are a decent size, not much care is needed, the last ones i grew were climbing ones called black forest i think.
Have you got somewhere you can raise brassicas out of the way of every pest in a 10 mile radius? They are so vulnerable from germination until they have a fair few leaves, of you havent got a suitable place, consider buying some baby plants, it cuts down on the hassle tons
I think the red cabbage i grew was called marner- something, they got huge from an autumn sowing, i think they might to a white too, these seeds were from the organic gardening catalogue
I was really impressed with kailaan last year, im not the best in the kitchen, but from what i gather, it can be used for lots of things, i reckon your tortoise will like it too;)
Dont be afraid to grow anything, if you can grow brassicas well, you can grow everything else
I'll second it is the brassicas that will be the only ones to present big challenges.
Everything else I tried in my first year grew well enough, though I made a note of a few pests and problems and am tweaking the varieties this year to avoid those problems second time around. Most though I'm sticking with as I was more than happy with the crops and they were just random picks from the garden centre.
I got the brassicas going at first though the seedlings needed covering in fleece after the first 'attacks' by pests but the cabbage whites and soil quality meant I was having a loosing battle with it all. I'm ahead of the game this year, better prepared soil and starting the seeds off indoors so I'm planting out well established plants, they are going in fleece tunnels to keep those pesky cabbage whites off them too.
The Courgette to look out for is a yellow one which is resistant to mildew. Think it is a T&M one.
Hi Dan, try googling "growing vegetables for beginners", here is one to go on with:
http://hub.suttons.co.uk/featured/complete-beginners-guide-to-growing-your-own-vegetables
Good luck and enjoy!
Hi Dan
This thread http://www.gardenersworld.com/forum/fruit-and-veg/i-will/i-wont-grow-that-again/139715.html gives some varieties that forum members found successful and some that they won't bother to grow again - I hope it's of some help
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.