0:00
gardening mistakes that beginners can
0:02
make when starting an a lotment and a
0:05
gardening. So, there's plenty of
0:07
mistakes out there and I make mistakes
0:09
all the time down at the a lotment. I'm
0:11
still making them 20 years later down
0:14
here at the plot and every day is a
0:16
learning day and I'm still learning
0:17
every single day. So, what are the
0:19
biggest mistakes that people seem to
0:21
make when this beginning an a lotment
0:24
and the main one being is trying to do
0:28
too much at once. Now, whenever somebody
0:30
new comes down onto this lotment, I
0:32
always say to them, trim it down, cover
0:34
it over, and work a bit at a time. It
0:37
doesn't matter how long it takes you,
0:38
just do a tiny bit at a time. It's took
0:40
me 16 years to get to the top of my a
0:43
lotment, and there's still improvements
0:45
that I want to make down here at the
0:46
plot. Next up is planting without
0:50
checking the season. Now, certain things
0:52
need planting at certain times, so it's
0:54
always good to check the seed packets.
0:56
But obviously, that doesn't mean it's
0:57
necessarily in your area, and like it's
1:01
March now, and I won't be planting my
1:03
sweet corn, my runner beans, my French
1:04
beans until next month because it's
1:07
still too early to be starting them. So,
1:08
check the seasons and check when to
1:11
actually plant stuff. Don't start stuff
1:16
Ignoring planting spacing. Now, that's
1:18
one thing that I always do. I try and
1:20
squeeze as much in as possible and it
1:22
doesn't always work because it's so hard
1:24
to weed in between and keep on top of
1:26
the weeds and certain plants need lots
1:29
of root space. So, make sure you don't
1:31
overplant. Less planting produces more
1:34
harvest sometimes. So, don't over plant
1:38
and don't think, oh, I can just squeeze
1:39
that in here. It doesn't always work.
1:43
Forgetting to label. My biggest mistake
1:46
I always make, I think, oh, I'll
1:48
remember what that is. But when you've
1:49
got a broccoli, a cabbage, a
1:51
cauliflower, they all look the same. The
1:54
same goes for corettes, squash, and
1:55
pumpkins. They all look the same until
1:57
they actually start producing. So yeah,
2:00
make sure that you do label and don't
2:02
think I'll stick my packet underneath
2:03
because it'll disintegrate. I've done
2:04
that in the past. And then you forget
2:06
what it is. Overwatering. Don't
2:09
overwater. Only water when it seems to
2:12
have dried out and too much water can
2:14
cause root rot and cause issues further
2:17
down the line. So don't overwater. Only
2:19
water as and when needed.
2:22
Expecting perfect results. Now I'm still
2:25
expecting perfect results. Every year
2:28
one year I might do really well at
2:29
something and something might grow
2:31
fantastic and think, "Oh, I managed to
2:32
learn how to do that now." Try it again
2:34
the next year. It doesn't work. So don't
2:38
expect big results. Just be happy with
2:40
what you get. And if you get a harvest,
2:42
fantastic. If you don't, you can try
2:44
again next year or maybe the same year
2:46
if you've got time. But yeah, don't
2:48
expect big results. Just be happy with
2:50
what you produce and what you get from
2:52
the aotment. So for more tips and
2:54
advice, make sure you drop us a follow
2:56
to stay up to date with all our advice.
2:58
Until next time everyone, remember keep
3:00
smiling, keep shining and keep gardening