My Woodland Garden

Last Autumn, I was gifted a spot at an allotment. Naturally, I was very excited and rushed out to do some courses related to gardening and growing organic food.

I forked and rotated the soil on my first trip to prepare the patch. I planted my red onion, spinach, broccoli, and a wildflower patch. After going back once a week for a few months, nothing grew. Forlorn, I decided to put cardboard down over the end of the allotment to smother the weeds. I watched Charles Dowding – No Dig Method after searching online and finding out about No-Dig Gardening. I also tried to find advice about vegetables that grow in the shade and Harvest to Table: Vegetables for growing in the shade.

At the end of the year, I ordered some fruit bushes. They produced a steady stream of strawberries, raspberries and blackberries. All of the strawberry plants had runners. Next year, we are expecting a double yield.

Last year for Christmas, I got an allotment seedbox. I planted 30 tomatoes and 30 cabbages in a seed tray and carefully nurtured them on my windowsill. The thing I learned about growing 30 tomato plants is that they are susceptible to blight. I lost all but 3 plants! It was a fantastic lesson that death is part of the gardening process.

Next season, I am going to adopt the Square Foot Gardening approach. I’m going to have two beds. Both of these will be covered to prevent them from being eaten by pests. 

One of the most important lessons I learned is you will make mistakes and do things wrong. Nothing will grow, or it will be eaten. You have to accept and embrace it! Wish me luck for the next year!