1 00:00:02,279 --> 00:00:05,919 Speaker 1: Hello, and welcome to Gardening with Ben. You'll go to 2 00:00:06,000 --> 00:00:09,439 a podcast for all things green and growing. I'm Ben, 3 00:00:09,640 --> 00:00:13,400 your allotment guide and here to help you cultivate your 4 00:00:13,480 --> 00:00:17,079 garden and your passion for plants. Whether you're a seasoned 5 00:00:17,120 --> 00:00:20,519 gardener or just starting out, this podcast is for you. 6 00:00:21,320 --> 00:00:24,879 Each episode will dig into tips, tricks, and techniques to 7 00:00:24,960 --> 00:00:30,000 make your garden and allotment thrive from planting, sewing, and growing. 8 00:00:30,199 --> 00:00:33,640 We will share all the tips and add advice. We 9 00:00:33,679 --> 00:00:37,039 will also have regular episodes talking about what we have 10 00:00:37,200 --> 00:00:40,039 been up to on the a lotment. So sit back, 11 00:00:40,560 --> 00:00:46,840 grab a brew and enjoy today's episode. Hey everyone, and 12 00:00:46,960 --> 00:00:52,960 welcome back to Gardening with Ben for another brand new episode. Well, 13 00:00:53,000 --> 00:00:56,399 these are the new episodes for the week. Over the 14 00:00:56,439 --> 00:00:58,880 weekend we talked about all the things that we've been 15 00:00:58,920 --> 00:01:04,120 getting up to at the allotment. Well, today's episode, we're 16 00:01:04,159 --> 00:01:09,319 going to talk about planning your allotment for springtime, the 17 00:01:09,359 --> 00:01:13,799 best planning the best allotment for the springtime, and planning 18 00:01:13,799 --> 00:01:19,040 your best garden. And we've touched on this quite a 19 00:01:19,079 --> 00:01:23,680 few times and I'm getting prepared ready for the springtime. 20 00:01:24,000 --> 00:01:26,519 As you know, all my allotments pretty much cleared and 21 00:01:26,599 --> 00:01:30,480 tided ready for next year now, and we're getting it 22 00:01:30,799 --> 00:01:35,120 all settled ready for the new season ahead. So we're 23 00:01:35,120 --> 00:01:38,079 going to be looking at what we're going to be 24 00:01:38,120 --> 00:01:41,560 growing next year and how we're going to plan it out, 25 00:01:41,840 --> 00:01:46,040 and keeping a record of how things are growing and 26 00:01:46,120 --> 00:01:51,400 getting on. Now, every single year, I purchased myself a 27 00:01:51,680 --> 00:01:55,120 gardener's log book, and you can usually buy them offer 28 00:01:55,239 --> 00:01:58,599 Amazon or from different shops, or if you just want 29 00:01:58,599 --> 00:02:01,239 to buy normal diary and keep a note in there, 30 00:02:01,280 --> 00:02:04,120 but I usually buy a garden log book and support 31 00:02:04,159 --> 00:02:08,800 a local, support online businesses and stuff like that. So 32 00:02:09,199 --> 00:02:11,400 I like to buy one of them, and I usually 33 00:02:11,439 --> 00:02:14,840 do that far writing down all the things that I'm 34 00:02:14,879 --> 00:02:18,360 growing that month, for that weekend, when I planted it, 35 00:02:18,800 --> 00:02:23,240 how I planted it, the temperature of the month when 36 00:02:23,280 --> 00:02:26,639 I planted it, just like keeping a record of everything 37 00:02:26,719 --> 00:02:29,199 and when I planted it out, when I harvested it, 38 00:02:29,560 --> 00:02:32,560 which varieties I grew, and how well it growed, and 39 00:02:32,599 --> 00:02:35,360 whether I'll grow it again. So I like to keep 40 00:02:35,400 --> 00:02:38,000 a record of things that I'm growing so that I 41 00:02:38,120 --> 00:02:40,280 know what to purchase the year after or what not 42 00:02:40,400 --> 00:02:44,560 to buy if it did absolutely rubbish. So I like 43 00:02:44,599 --> 00:02:47,159 to keep a log at that, and that's one way 44 00:02:47,360 --> 00:02:51,280 of planning for next year, because you can look back 45 00:02:51,680 --> 00:02:55,960 and see how successful things were and whether you'll think 46 00:02:55,960 --> 00:02:59,680 about doing it again next year. So we've done that, 47 00:03:00,520 --> 00:03:07,879 and the next up is obviously planning our allotment. Every year. 48 00:03:08,560 --> 00:03:11,520 I drought a plan of my allotment. It's not changed 49 00:03:11,599 --> 00:03:14,759 much over the last few years, my allotment and keeping 50 00:03:14,759 --> 00:03:17,719 it in the same style as I've always got it. 51 00:03:17,759 --> 00:03:21,680 Now as I've got the layout salted, it's all pretty 52 00:03:21,759 --> 00:03:24,840 much a good layout. I've got my paths laid, I've 53 00:03:24,879 --> 00:03:26,719 got my beds where that I want them to be, 54 00:03:27,599 --> 00:03:30,479 and I've got all my fruit trees where they're growing. 55 00:03:30,599 --> 00:03:33,280 I won't be moving any of those obviously. All my 56 00:03:33,360 --> 00:03:36,879 strawberries are in a special strawberry patched through some black membrane. 57 00:03:37,280 --> 00:03:41,120 They're all pretty much straightforward, and yeah, everything's in its 58 00:03:41,120 --> 00:03:44,120 own place. So I've just got my beds, my growing 59 00:03:44,120 --> 00:03:49,120 beds where I've grown my vegetables for that year. And 60 00:03:50,080 --> 00:03:54,879 obviously I like to improve the soil every year and 61 00:03:54,960 --> 00:03:58,280 add some nutrition into it. But obviously we don't want 62 00:03:58,319 --> 00:04:00,759 to be growing stuff in the same place as last 63 00:04:00,800 --> 00:04:04,599 year because obviously that plant's taking out some nutrition from 64 00:04:04,680 --> 00:04:06,639 the soil, so they might not be that nutrition for 65 00:04:06,719 --> 00:04:09,159 that certain plant in the soil. So we have to 66 00:04:09,199 --> 00:04:11,439 move things around. So we'd like to draw a plan 67 00:04:11,680 --> 00:04:15,080 of all our beds and write down what we're going 68 00:04:15,120 --> 00:04:19,920 to be growing in each bed and how what variety 69 00:04:20,000 --> 00:04:25,360 will grow or Yeah, we tend to do that and 70 00:04:25,439 --> 00:04:27,959 just like make a plan of it all just to 71 00:04:28,000 --> 00:04:30,120 give us an idea where things are going to grow. 72 00:04:30,199 --> 00:04:33,000 We'll probably change things as we go along because we'll 73 00:04:33,079 --> 00:04:35,839 end up shoving things in gaps and if a plant 74 00:04:35,839 --> 00:04:39,079 don't grow, we'll plant something else there. But we tend 75 00:04:39,120 --> 00:04:42,120 to stick to that plan. And again, you can save 76 00:04:42,160 --> 00:04:44,879 a copy of that and look back on it the 77 00:04:44,959 --> 00:04:47,639 year before to see what you actually grew in them beds, 78 00:04:47,680 --> 00:04:50,839 because if you ask me what I grew in certain 79 00:04:50,879 --> 00:04:53,680 beds this year, I've forgotten already. I'd have to either 80 00:04:53,720 --> 00:04:56,959 look back on photos or look back on my planet 81 00:04:57,040 --> 00:05:00,959 and see how it's getting on. So we plan are 82 00:05:01,600 --> 00:05:06,959 year ahead now ready for next year. And then the 83 00:05:07,000 --> 00:05:09,079 other thing that we need to plan is what we're 84 00:05:09,079 --> 00:05:11,600 going to be growing. And as you know, I get 85 00:05:11,639 --> 00:05:14,040 really excited about buying seeds I buy seeds when I 86 00:05:14,079 --> 00:05:16,680 don't really need to buy seeds, but I just waste 87 00:05:16,720 --> 00:05:20,879 money on buy seeds. It's an addiction. I can't help it. 88 00:05:21,519 --> 00:05:25,120 But yeah, i just buy loads of different seeds, and 89 00:05:26,800 --> 00:05:30,920 I've a look on Amazon and a typing like poppy varieters, 90 00:05:31,279 --> 00:05:33,360 which is why I've got loads of different varieties of 91 00:05:33,399 --> 00:05:37,319 poppies this year to grow. Or I'll get a seed 92 00:05:37,360 --> 00:05:40,079 catalog and I'll have a look through the seed catalog 93 00:05:40,199 --> 00:05:43,519 and tick which ones I want and order them that way. 94 00:05:43,759 --> 00:05:48,079 But I do like to grow all different varieties of seeds. 95 00:05:48,360 --> 00:05:51,079 I don't like to stick to bog standard varieties. I 96 00:05:51,240 --> 00:05:55,399 like to grow unusual varieties that you won't see and 97 00:05:55,439 --> 00:06:00,639 got shops or supermarkets to eat. And yeah, that's what 98 00:06:00,720 --> 00:06:03,839 makes it more exciting. And if you're getting different colored 99 00:06:03,879 --> 00:06:06,680 vegetables as well, they're not just a bog standard green 100 00:06:06,720 --> 00:06:09,160 ones like most of the veget it's good to have 101 00:06:09,240 --> 00:06:11,639 some color in your allotment and in your garden as well. 102 00:06:14,120 --> 00:06:19,439 It's how I basically plan for my year ahead. And 103 00:06:20,160 --> 00:06:23,680 obviously I watch a lot of videos as well, and 104 00:06:24,600 --> 00:06:29,240 obviously watch Gardeners World and different gardening programs and see 105 00:06:29,240 --> 00:06:32,639 what varieties they're growing and how well they're growing, because 106 00:06:32,680 --> 00:06:35,800 it's always good to get feedback off other people, Like, yeah, 107 00:06:35,839 --> 00:06:38,319 you might see seeds online or something like that, and 108 00:06:38,319 --> 00:06:40,199 you think, oh, I might give that a try, but 109 00:06:40,360 --> 00:06:42,319 if you've seen somebody else grow it and if they've 110 00:06:42,319 --> 00:06:46,439 had success from it, it's always good to try stuff 111 00:06:46,519 --> 00:06:51,639 what you know will do well. And there's obviously a 112 00:06:51,680 --> 00:06:55,439 lot of fake sites as well online where you can 113 00:06:55,680 --> 00:07:04,480 buy purple bananas or black cauliflowers and stuff like that, 114 00:07:04,920 --> 00:07:09,959 but never get sucked into buying any of those because 115 00:07:09,959 --> 00:07:13,120 they are all fake, a lot of them, and hopefully, 116 00:07:13,480 --> 00:07:15,680 like the online stores, keep on top of that and 117 00:07:15,800 --> 00:07:18,720 get rid of those fake sellers. But there is a 118 00:07:18,759 --> 00:07:21,439 lot of different colored variety of vegetables out there which 119 00:07:21,480 --> 00:07:24,360 are real and which are legit. So if you are 120 00:07:24,399 --> 00:07:26,720 looking at buying seeds, make sure you're buying them from 121 00:07:26,759 --> 00:07:31,000 a legit seed company on Amazon, not just a random seller. 122 00:07:32,519 --> 00:07:35,879 But yeah, I'm excited for next year, and I'm excited 123 00:07:35,959 --> 00:07:38,839 for the new things that we're going to try and 124 00:07:39,040 --> 00:07:41,480 the old things that we're going to keep on doing. 125 00:07:41,480 --> 00:07:43,600 What we did last year, which did really well because 126 00:07:43,600 --> 00:07:46,759 obviously we grew all ap potatoes in tubs last year 127 00:07:46,759 --> 00:07:51,279 and they did absolutely fantastic. We did some garlic last 128 00:07:51,360 --> 00:07:55,600 year that was amazing. The sweet corn always does well. 129 00:07:56,639 --> 00:08:00,680 We grew that in a different position this year, and yeah, 130 00:08:00,879 --> 00:08:04,480 as peas was the best peas that we've ever grown 131 00:08:04,600 --> 00:08:09,079 on my allotment. Ever, I've never had a successful year 132 00:08:09,160 --> 00:08:12,240 as I did last year with my peas, and hopefully 133 00:08:12,399 --> 00:08:15,839 we can continue and do that again. As what I 134 00:08:15,839 --> 00:08:17,959 did with my peas this year. Rather than sew them 135 00:08:17,959 --> 00:08:19,759 all into the ground, which I've done in the past 136 00:08:20,199 --> 00:08:24,439 and they'll get eaten by rats, mice and slugs when 137 00:08:24,439 --> 00:08:27,399 they're popp him through, we told them all in seed 138 00:08:27,439 --> 00:08:30,240 trace first, and then we planted them out when they 139 00:08:30,240 --> 00:08:33,159 were big enough to be able to handle themselves, and 140 00:08:33,559 --> 00:08:37,039 they did the absolutely amazing, the best seeds that I've 141 00:08:37,080 --> 00:08:40,399 ever well, the best peas that I've ever had, and 142 00:08:40,600 --> 00:08:44,919 they tasted absolutely delicious. So we're gonna That's the thing 143 00:08:45,039 --> 00:08:47,399 like as well. Like I always say obviously with that 144 00:08:47,480 --> 00:08:51,279 log book, is that write down your successes, write down 145 00:08:51,279 --> 00:08:54,759 your failures and what worked well and what didn't work well, 146 00:08:55,279 --> 00:08:58,360 and if it worked fantastic, good try it again next 147 00:08:58,440 --> 00:09:01,519 year and hopefully I'll have success, but I've done that 148 00:09:01,559 --> 00:09:03,720 in the past. I like if I've had a success 149 00:09:03,759 --> 00:09:05,440 for something and then I try it again the next 150 00:09:05,519 --> 00:09:08,039 year and it's absolutely failing. I'm thinking, what have I 151 00:09:08,120 --> 00:09:10,879 done wrong, what we've done differently? But at the end 152 00:09:10,879 --> 00:09:13,000 of the day, it's all down to gardening, and it's 153 00:09:13,039 --> 00:09:16,600 all down to the weather as well. And sometimes things 154 00:09:16,600 --> 00:09:20,159 will do well, sometimes things will do rubbish, and yeah, 155 00:09:20,960 --> 00:09:23,639 that's the joy of gardening. You win some, you lose some, 156 00:09:24,759 --> 00:09:27,960 and never get disheartened by anything that you grow. Just 157 00:09:28,080 --> 00:09:31,240 keep trying, try and try it again. So that is 158 00:09:31,320 --> 00:09:34,960 how we will plan for a successful spring next year, 159 00:09:35,960 --> 00:09:41,720 being organized, being planned and getting prepared ready for next year. 160 00:09:42,120 --> 00:09:44,840 So I hope you found those tips useful. Get yourself 161 00:09:44,840 --> 00:09:48,279 a log book, draw yourself a plan, and have a 162 00:09:48,279 --> 00:09:51,840 look in those sea catalogs. Ready for next year. Until 163 00:09:51,879 --> 00:09:56,080 next time, everyone, remember, keep smiling, keep shining, and keep 164 00:09:56,120 --> 00:10:02,519 gardening with Ben. Everyone, m thank you for joining me 165 00:10:02,759 --> 00:10:06,480 on this episode of Gardening with Ben. I hope you 166 00:10:06,639 --> 00:10:10,679 have found some useful tips and inspiration for your own gardening 167 00:10:10,759 --> 00:10:14,200 and a lotment journey. If you have enjoyed today's episode, 168 00:10:14,360 --> 00:10:17,960 please make sure to follow and subscribe to the podcast 169 00:10:18,360 --> 00:10:21,000 so you never miss a new episode, and if you 170 00:10:21,039 --> 00:10:22,919 have a moment, I'd love for you to leave a 171 00:10:22,960 --> 00:10:27,399 review and share the podcast with fellow gardening enthusiasts. Your 172 00:10:27,440 --> 00:10:31,799 support helps us grow this community and continue bringing you 173 00:10:32,120 --> 00:10:35,600 great content. You can also follow us on social media 174 00:10:36,240 --> 00:10:40,360 on every platform called Gardening with Ben for daily gardening 175 00:10:40,440 --> 00:10:45,039 tips and mondays. Happy gardening, and until next time, remember 176 00:10:45,559 --> 00:10:49,879 keep smiling, keep shining, and keep Gardening with Ben.