The new year is here and I’m excitedly planning all the yummy and pretty things to grow. Due to the postal strikes last year I decided not to order my seeds when I usually do, just in case they go missing with the volume of backdated post (I’ve only just received a bulk of very late Christmas cards and a couple of Christmas gifts ordered in good time are yet to arrive). Instead, I plan to use saved seed, left over seed from last year and gifted seed as much as I can. Experience has taught me to use fresh seed for crops such as sweetcorn and parsnip to ensure good germination rates but it’s always worth trying slightly older seed, you’ll never know otherwise and gardening is always full of surprises!
I visited a garden centre during the hectic festive period, it was for medicinal purposes, the change of scenery did me good after fighting through the crowded supermarkets for a trifle or mince pie. Nightmare. I was instantly drawn to a vegetable seed rack that I was surprised to see had survived the Christmas cull, needless to say a few packets dropped into my basket. Apart from 1 or 2 things I’m pretty much good to go with my seed stash for the year ahead, if the post starts arriving more regularly I might sneak a cheeky little seed order in. I haven’t got my seed potatoes yet, I usually have no trouble getting some locally and will probably do that in the next couple of weeks. Last year Suttons gifted me some Charlotte tubers and they were very good quality.
After years of growing my own food and making all the mistakes (and often still do!), I am mindful of growing the things I actually enjoy eating and try not to get carried away, which is very easy to do. So here’s what I plan to grow in 2023:
- Beetroot Boltardy
- Carrot Autumn King
- Carrot Purple Sun
- Parsnip Gladiator
- Potato Charlotte
- Runner Bean The Czar
- Dwarf French bean Safari
- Broad Bean The Sutton
- Climbing French bean Borlotto
- Pea Deliketta (sugar snap)
- Courgette Black Beauty
- Winter Squash Sweet Dumpling (in my opinion the absolute best for flavour)
- Cabbage Golden Acre (summer)
- Cabbage Romanov (red)
- Cabbage January King (savoy winter)
- Brussels Sprout Igor
- Radish Nero
- Calabrese Marathon
- Broccoli Early Purple Sprouting
- Kohl Rabi Modrava
- Kale Nero Di Toscana
- Onion Bedfordshire Champion
- Onion Red Baron
- Garlic Red Duke
- Leek Musselburgh
- Chard Bright Lights
- Pak Choi Yuushou
- Salad and mustard leaves
- Tomatoes (numerous varieties) and chillies in the greenhouse
Allotment Flowers from seed/tubers:
- Gloriosa Daisies
- Dahlias (I’m planning on adding more)
- Sunflowers
- Cosmos Sensation Mixed
Already on the plot:
- Rhubarb
- Asparagus (fingers crossed!)
- Soft fruits
January is a quiet month for allotment gardeners, so now is a great time to plan your plot and growing year. I use VegPlotter.com which is free to sign up to plan your garden/allotment layout. You can choose to upgrade which unlocks other useful features with the monthly or yearly subscription options if you wish. Use discount code ALLOTMENTHAVEN for 20% off if you do.
I like to plan where all the things I have listed are going to go, and I try to double crop beds where possible, looking back at previous years helps me with crop rotation too. I have a bit more planning to do for Plot 11w with regards to the area near the shed and I will use this time to plan away and dream of warmer days on the allotment.
Allotment Haven 
Amazing plans – we always just go with the flow, LOL! Great flowers – love these!
LikeLike
I forgot to add foxgloves and calendula to the list, they should self seed but if not I grow them on using saved seed at home.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Plotting and planning the potager is my very favorite winter activity! Love the photo of the flowers! Sounds like you have everything in hand for a successful and productive year.
LikeLike
I love planning too, it helps when juggling lots of seedlings in spring! The flower border was lovely in 2021, last year was just too hot and many of the flowers fried. Hopefully it will be lovely again this year 🙂
LikeLike
We are planning as well at the moment. We order our seeds by internet or use our own seeds when possible. The new catalogue of seeds has just arrived but no seeds from England ! and it’s not possible to order directly in England… due to Brexit I suppose. We’ll check if we can find what is missing in Ireland. This year we have enough of Sutton broadbeans, and Maro fat peas, we’ll not carry on with Hurst Green Shaft peas though it’s a very good pea.
LikeLike
Oh that is a shame you can’t order direct 😦 If you ever get stuck for seeds give me a shout and I’ll send you what you need. Happy planning!
LikeLike
Thank you so much for your offer !
LikeLiked by 1 person
Your white beans on the picture on top look like the one we get from our neighbor, an old Portuguese woman who brought them from Portugal a long time ago. We don’t know the name, for us, they are “Portuguese beans”…
LikeLike
Ahh yes these are Greek Gigantes, a runner bean with very short pods with large beans inside. A lovely bean for drying, I actually freeze mine fresh and cook how you would for dry beans.
LikeLike
They are like perennial plants, you can leave them in the ground for 7 years.
Yes, short pods, large white beans and white flowers.
LikeLike
I’ve never tried leaving them in the ground, but I know others that have successfully overwintered runner beans. Might be worth experimenting!
LikeLike
A most enjoyable post and good pictures.
That’s an impressive list of vegetables for this year. Happy sowing, growing and eating. xx
LikeLike
Thanks so much Flighty! I wish you a wonderful growing year to come xx
LikeLiked by 1 person