Wednesday 16 April 2014

A Minor Quandary.



From my very first year of vegetable growing up at Haddock's, I've always sowed/planted North-South.

As I was planting my red onion sets recently, I wondered if it might not be better to try East-West for a change.

If you believe N/S to be better than E/W, or vice versa, I'd be pleased to hear from you. I'd also like to hear of any 'olde-age wisdome' on the subject, if such exists. 

Haddock's slopes gently down to the South (in the picture, the far distance is South); it's served me very well up until now, so maybe there's no point in 'mending wot ain't broke'.

So far this year I've sowed two rows of Red Baron onions, and planted out a few red cabbage, half a dozen tomato plants, a few sprouts, and some calabrese plants, everything else will have to wait a while (apart from half a row of dwarf beans, which I'm just off to sow).



28 comments:

  1. I'm the same as you Cro, my land slopes North to South and this is how I normally plant. I did try going the other way a couple of years ago but it just didn't feel right. I didn't notice any change in the quality or quantity though so I guess I go with what feels right. I will stick to the slope. Very brave having the tomatoes out yet. There was a frost in the valley 2 nights ago.

    Paul

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    1. I put some tiles covering my toms last night, but there was no need. No frost forecast for a while now, so I may be OK. We'll see.

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  2. Replies
    1. There's only one person who's BONKERS around here; he's an Irish, Pixie, Druid.

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    3. Wrong!
      At 6ft 2" am too tall for a pixie and my nationality is not Irish either matey.
      Bonkers: I say because it is the not the direction that you plant in, rather the fact that your plants are exposed to sunshine.

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    4. We have plenty of sunshine here, but very few 6ft 2" Pixies.

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  3. Personally I believe the phase of the moon is far more important to planting than the lay of the land.

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    1. The locals, here, do their plantings according to the moon. Once, when my garlic crop failed, I was told it was because I'd planted when the moon wasn't right. I thought they were nuts.

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  4. I have always planted my potatoes, North to South. I think if you have a South facing vegetable plot you can't go wrong. Red onions love heat. I think onions originate in Greece. Your plot looks really neat and tidy.

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  5. I plant mine east/west as that's the way the sun moves round the garden.Yours is looking good - not a weed in sight. Bravo.

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  6. I plant north to south, because that is the way the land lies. Though I sometimes do short rows west to east within the N - S rows. If you see what I mean.

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    1. I do see what you mean. I'm beginning to think I'll stay as I am.

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  7. I have to say that - for once - I agree with the Heron. Any plant that likes light will not want to be in the shadow of the one in front of it.

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    1. P.S. At 6' 2", Heron must be a short version of a Tuath Dé Danann, not pixie. They were about 8' tall on average, which is big for a fairy.

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    2. As long as taller plants were planted on the northern end of the plot, and shorter ones to the south, I can't see that it would make any difference.

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    3. I feel lucky that you haven't suggested that I am bonkers, everybody else has.

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    4. As for the 'Pixie', it was offered in the same sentiment as when R Cook was described as 'Yon wee Labour health pixie'.

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  8. I have no opinion on the directional planting but wanted to mention how envious I am as our garden is still under eighteen inches of bloody snow.

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  9. I plant my veggies on the side with the southern exposure. That is all I know.

    It is a rule of thumb in my area not to plant tomatoes until May 10th. However, in years past, I have put them in the ground a week earlier. This year, because of the changing weather pattern, I am hoping that May 10th will be OK.

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    1. Normally we don't plant anything 'tender-ish' before the Ice Saints have passed; May 11th 12th and 13th. I've looked at the long term forecast, and it looks hopeful. If we do get frost, I won't really have lost that much. My fingers are crossed!

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  10. I envy you your wonderful garden! Hopefully by next spring Husband and I will be in our own house and can start working on a garden.

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  11. I always plant north to south. We are still having some cold nights so it will be a while before the toms go in.

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  12. The only reason I can think of to change would be if the slope was enough for heavy rain to wash the soil down the slope but that obviously is not the case.

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  13. My plot faces/slopes north (as does the rest of my land) which is less than ideal. I plant mine east to west but only because that way works out best for how the garden is laid out.

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