New Crops for 2012

Sep 28, 2012

6 min read

With limited fruit this year we decided we would focus on increasing the productivity of our vegetable areas, which include a dutch light glass house. We are experimenting with a range of unfamiliar techniques such as no-dig mulching, cover crops (Mustard, Clover) and companion planting (Carrots and Onions, Broad Beans and Parsnips). As well as this, we are trying out a range of new crops. Well, new to us.

Glasshouse in July. Tomatoes, French Beans, Cucumbers and Carrots in raised beds

One such crop is Sweetcorn (or Maize), a grain which produces large heads which are eaten immature. We decided to grow this using an ancient native american method called the ‘three sisters’. The sweetcorn is planted in a block so as to maximise wind pollination. In between the sweetcorn, Curcubits (Pumpkin, Squash, Courgette etc.) are planted. Beside each Sweetcorn any type of climbing Bean is sown. The Sweetcorn gives the Bean plant something to climb up. Additionally, the Sweetcorn exudes carbohydrates which feed the symbiotic bacteria in the Bean’s, (a legume), roots. This bacteria fixes nitrogen from the atmosphere into the soil. The Curcubit plant, which grows large and sprawling, covers the ground and reduces weed competition. When the Sweetcorn is harvested the stalk can be laid down to add mulch to the soil and provide a dry surface for growing Pumpkins or Squash to be placed on.

Three sisters – Maize, Curcubit, Climbing Bean. Mulched with cardboard, manure and straw.

We planted a patch outside with this method using Sweetcorn, Pumpkin and Runner Beans (from saved seeds). We mulched the ground with cardboard, manure and straw before planting. Our Sweetcorn were quite successful with each plant providing at least two salable cobs. Due to the adverse weather and low light conditions in late spring/early summer not all the cobs had fully formed right to their tip, But the cobs were succulent and sweet, they was popular with our customers and sold well. The Runner Beans that we planted next to the Sweetcorn, like our others, suffered in the cold spring and failed to thrive. The Pumpkins we had planted grew well with generous helpings of Comfrey tea (Comfrey leaves soaked in water for a week and then diluted). Although, it turned out that the Pumpkin seeds we’d saved last year had cross pollinated with our Courgettes and so the fruits on this planted turned out as a cross between the two. The Courgette/Pumpkin cross still sold well, both cut small like a round courgette or large like a dense marrow with dark green or orange-ish skin and less watery flesh.

Our Courgette/Pumpkin crosses, in September.

Another crop we tried, which is a staple vegetable but new to us, is Onions. We grew these outside in troughs over the soil, full of compost. They were inter-planted with Carrots, as each mask the others smell from their respective fly pests. The Carrots were not as successful as the patches we sowed in our glass house. But, most of the Onions sized up well and thanks to the rain we had an early crop. They dried successfully in our store room and we sold almost every one.

Some of our early Onion harvest in late June

One vegetable that is fairly new to us is Cabbage. We did grow a small block of them in our greenhouse last winter but due to the cold winter and spring they did not heart up well. This July we sowed quite a few seeds of two varieties of pointed Cabbage called Pixie and Advantage, and also Red Cabbages. The first ones we planted out were Advantage into the troughs outside where the Onions had been. This was unplanned, but the seedlings grew quicker than we thought and the troughs were the only space available. They are already hearting up very nicely to produce big healthy Cabbages, having had a growth spurt thanks to that hot weather we had at the end of August/early September. We also planted some outside next to the three sisters patch where we had Broad Beans and Parsnips. (we cut the Broad Beans down after harvest and mulched them, both the roots and the tops should put nitrogen into the soil, which the Cabbages should thrive on. Finally, we have planted some cabbages in one half of the glass house where we had Carrots and French Beans in our new raised beds. Under these plants we’ve sown white Clover which will cover the ground, out competing weeds and fixing nitrogen into the soil for the tomatoes next year.

Cabbages, covered and uncovered, in the glass house.

Our Cabbages in troughs outside, just about to get a drink of Nettle tea.

When we sowed the Red Cabbages, which we will put in the remaining gaps in the glass house, we actually put White Clover seed straight into the pots around in a circle around each Cabbage seed. This idea was given to me by a fellow diploma student. It enables the Clover to thrive in the pot first, being watered when the Cabbage is watered. It then spreads outwards when the Cabbages is planted and grows to form a carpet, this way you also cover a lot of ground using only a small amount of seed. We tried to cover as many of the Cabbages as we could. We managed all of the ones outside and some of the ones in the glass house. The ones that were covered got hit quite badly by Cabbage White butterflies in the hot weather and we spent a lot time picking caterpillars off them. We have now watered the Cabbages with salty water, that’s got rid of all the caterpillars and slugs, and the plants are now recovering, with the help of Nettle tea.

Red cabbages sown with clover.

Covered Cabbages outside, growing with Parsnips and mulched with Broad Bean stalks.

Other new crops we’ve had this year are Rhubarb. We planted this a few years ago but it only this year grew well and produced a crop. This was thanks to a mulching of carpet to cut out weeds and generous feedings of Comfrey tea. We have planted some Globe Artichokes in between two rows of trees in our agroforestry patch. We’ve undersown them with Red Clover and we are hoping to get a crop out of them next year. We have also grown Perpetual Spinach and Turnips this year, but as both were sown late neither have yet to produce a crop. Additionally, I have just planted two Elaeagnus x ebbengei bushes in some gaps in our Spartan Apple rows in our end field (which has the most nutritionally poor and drought-ridden soil on the orchard). These plants, which we plan to add to with other, self grown, Elaeagnus species, will fix nitrogen into the soil through symbiotic bacteria in their roots. They will also block the Apple trees from each other, stopping the airborne spread of scab disease spores between apple trees. We also hope to gain a crop of Elaeagnus berries, juciy red cherry-sized fruits which are picked in April. They are eaten raw or cooked into jams or or pies.

Rhubarb in July, mulched with carpet.

Globe Artichokes, undersown with Red Clover.

As well as new crops, we have also tried out various beneficial plants that don’t necessarily provide a direct crop, but have other functions. In our glass house and veg area we have planted things such Marigolds and Nasturitums to repel pests, and White Clover to protect the top soil and outcompete weeds. However, we’ve also tried planting under some of the trees in our ‘Agroforestry Plot’. Near where I have planted the Globe Artichokes I have planted beneficial perennials such as Lemon Balm, Mint, Comfrey, Penny Royal and Oregano. These species have a range of various different functions, including ones such as accumulating minerals that they put back into the soil, mulch, deep roots which allow apple tree roots to feed, attracting beneficial insects, covering and protecting the ground and some even have an aromatic characteristic which is said to be anti-bacterial and anti fungal. We’ve also started experimenting with broadscale sowings of green manures such as Mustard and Red Clover, with plans to try Borage, Chicory and even Broom and Siberian Pea Shrub next year.