I’ve got more than I bargained for.

[Matt2584]

Hi folks,

This year I had a bed all to myself where I could plant some of my own plants.

The rest of the garden belongs to my mum.

In the bed, all I sowed were onions, spinach, kale, sunflower and pumpkin but I got a whole lot more than that on the grow.

I don’t think my pumpkin seeds took in the end but I think one of my sunflowers is up, just waiting for it to flower now.

Some of my spinach was growing but we noticed other leaves growing around it which happen to be cucumbers.

I don’t think the onions are growing either but instead I’ve got, what looks like, a courgette/zucchini and I’ve got poppies growing as well :).

I’ve got some other, alien-like plants growing too. I did have a beetroot plant as well.

So how did all these other plants appear then and not what I planted?

We think it might have something to do with the excessive composting we do.

My mum got the bed ready for me last year and started by putting a layer of leaves/branches (nitrogen and carbon).

On top of that was a lot of cut up fruit and veg peels and she puts soil on top of that.

All the cut up fruit and veg not only act as food for the plants you are growing but also provide water for the roots, as well as the carbon.

It is true that you can regrow a tomato plant from the fruit alone so I would not be surprised if the fruit/veg peels is the biggest reason why I’ve got all these plants.

But anyway, it is excellent stuff though.

And if I didn’t want any of those plants that have grown I can simply take them out and compost them.

[Cooper27 Administrator]

I wouldn't be complaining, that sounds pretty fantastic!

I once had a tour around a wastewater treatment works, and it was pretty amazing to see the plants growing there. Won't go into too much detail, but seeds are designed to be pretty robust, and they don't break down easily. As soon as you give them the right nutrients, some water and some light, they find a way to grow! I wouldn't have wanted to eat any of the veg there, but I think yours will be lovely

[Matt2584 in reply to Cooper27]

Oh we’re not complaining. We think it’s brilliant.

I did say to my mum that I think all she needed to do was prepare the bed and leave it as it is, no sowing extra seeds.

Your right about seeds being robust or roots too.

At the end of a season you normally chuck out the soil you used and get rid of any roots to prepare for next season.

When you are preparing a pot, if it has roots in the soil already, they will find a way to start growing.

That’s nature for ya :).

The volunteer beetroot plant grew well but did not provide any fruit, sadly

:(.

We think the reason why was because we had so much rain weeks ago and that didn’t do any good.

[Cooper27 Administrator in reply to Matt2584]

Yeah, I planted some potatoes, mint, chives and garlic on our balcony last year, but didn't manage to harvest a lot of it.. It's all come back again this year though, and I like how little work is involved in getting it to grow again

I wouldn't bother stripping out the soil, unless I wanted a more organised crop. I'll let it grow as it pleases (because I'm also lazy that way)!

[Matt2584 in reply to Cooper27]

I prefer your way of thinking and being lazy :).

I myself, probably wouldn’t strip out the soil but I think my mum does. She has done gardening for years, she knows more than I do and so she handles most of what goes on in the garden, I mostly do some potting, some sowing, some harvesting but she does the rest :).

I started getting into gardening around 2010 but since then we have learnt more about permaculture and composting and it makes gardening so much more easier and enjoyable to do... plus it can be cheaper as well. No real need for spades and store bought compost/fertalizer that is laced with chemicals. Make your own compost, we do :).

[Cooper27 Administrator in reply to Matt2584]

We have rabbits, and their waste is meant to make great fertilizer! They call it bunny poo tea all natural and free!

[Agoodenough]

That’s great Matt. It’s good it’s all going well and I love your enthusiasm 👍😁 Ali

[Matt2584 in reply to Agoodenough]

Thanks very much Ali :).

[Bobbi6]

It truly sounds like a blessing to me.