Lasagne Garden

We have just built two raised beds and started a new project which we hope is successful.  A Lasagne Garden..  it seemed the kind of garden plot which would suit us and we have build it up with all the "ingredients" suggested.. We have planted out lettuces which are now sprouting little leaves and sowed rocket, spring onions, broad beans, but am impatient for them to grow (only doing this 2 weeks ago)..and keep checking every 5 mins!  Well a bit of an exaggeration!

 

What I would like to know is has anyone tried this method of gardening and if so how successful was it.  We are amateur gardeners but will have a go at anything.. but feel slightly nervous about the responsibility of "babysitting" all our little vegetables.  Just need a bit of a confidence boost... perhaps if and when it all starts growing we shall feel better.

Hi Buttercup, I've never tried it but have read about it a few times recently & it looks a great way to kickstart veg. growing without having to double dig etc. I'd be interested to hear how you get on with it.

We have lettuces growing, broad beens poking through the soil and keeping warm under the straw mulch. rocket has also started. too.... it does look a bit messy, someone thought we were keeping rabbits  but it does help keep the weeds down and the soil damp. When its a bit warmer will plant out my french beans, strawbs are in there already and doing ok.. beetroot and spinach will be transplanted soon too along with the courgettes and carrots... dont think we shall have much space for it all, but I will cram it in.. have got one mange tout and a mini sweetcorn to try out... if it takes fine if not nothing to lose, its all experience and good fun checking out my "babies" each morning.

Hi Buttercup, it sounds as though everything's coming along nicely. The only thing is if you've only got one sweetcorn plant I think you might not get cobs as you usually need a few plants to cross pollinate. If the lasagne method works you could try the 'three sisters' method  of planting next time where you grow sweetcorn with beans or peas planted next to them so that they grow up the sweetcorn stems for support & then plant something from the squash type family at the base of the plants where they sprawl about & keep the weeds down under the plants, you could use butternut squash or even courgettes for that.

Thanks SueA... brilliant Ideas.. I will use them..  didnt know that about the sweetcorn so will go and look for a couple more.  I have got more french beans to put in and my butternut squash will go in as well  where you suggested.  Thanks so much... I dont think I will get the best out of it this year as I am new to this and dont really know what I am doing.. but next year hopefully will be better.  Fed up with this cold weather though.

Glad the ideas were of use, it's cold, miserable & drizzly here today as well so I've just been potting things on indoors!

Well, it is all growing well... more beans and even more beans, I bought two more sweetcorn and they look healthier so will put some beans around them!  I am stuffing everything into every nook and cranny...  had a few lettuce leaves yesterday.. it is so nice to pick your lunch.  I bought some Courgette Ball seeds and they are coming along too, cant wait to see how they turn out..  the only problem I have had is remembering what I have planted as the writing has been washed off the labels when I water them, especially in the seedling stage.. bit of a mish mash...did try doing it in rows then tried just a small patch at a time which seems to work for me.  Do you think I should feed everything now, will Tomorite be ok?

Everything has certainly gone mad for our first time Lasange/Raised bed gardens..  Broad and French Beans were fine apart from a small black fly problem... they ravaged my nasturtiums.. any tips for that would be great.. I used soapy water but it didnt work.

 

Courgettes are abundant... the round ones are great fun, easy to stuff and bake.  But my tomatoes are brilliant, some are going red already.. A friend from Romania gave me some advice, his dad has 600 plants in a green house in Romania so I thought he would know what he was doing... he stripped all the leaves off the bottom (I was too frightened to have a go) leaving the biggest branches at the top and it makes sense to allow the fruit to be in the sun and grow quicker and ripen,.  I didnt know you could do that..   they are still growing with loads more flowers and the stems are very thick and there are loads of tomatoe vines..I must have about a dozen plants and I am feeding and watering regularly.   I am so pleased with the results.. but.. there are some things I would do again properly for next year, I am learning by my mistakes

 

What I need to know now though is what can I plant as seeds or plants to take me through the winter.  Is it too late?

 

 

p.s.   my carrots and beetroots and radishes were a bit disappointing tho,