Inspire Planting Planning Meeting notes
Inspire Planting Planning Meeting
Held at Inspire Garden
14.1.2026
1. Rotation for 2026
Rotations for plots, greenhouses, raised beds and polytunnel were agreed as per the last meeting - with the addition of parsnips to Plot A.
2. Seeds
Helen was thanked for putting together a seed order.
Taking seeds home to germinate :
Chris B and Jill will both take tomatoes and chillies
Pauline will grow marigolds at home.
Chris B to ask Mike if he is happy to take leeks to grow as per last year.
Martin will sow basil and parsley at home and has thyme and oregano growing already - all to be sold on the May Day stall, as well as for growing on at Inspire.
Some salad crops are already growing in the top polytunnel - to sow some more varieties.
3. Potato Day Order
Again, Helen was thanked for putting in our order.
4. Green Manures
Helen and Angela to review stocks after the meeting - Update : there are plenty of different types of green manure already, so no further stocks needed.
5. Equipment Review
Following a good review of equipment last winter all seems in order. Mike is to follow up on a second brassica cage. Labels need reviewing and relabelling where necessary.
6. Lime, Hot Boxes and Compost stocks
Plot C needs to be limed this year, ready for brassicas, and we have enough lime for this. Chris A will head this up.
Martin is happy to go and collect Alpaca manure for the hot boxes again.
Compost - we need the good quality "Silverdale" for potting compost. Helen will organise an online delivery of 3 bags to her house and Martin will transport to the garden.
7. Pruning
Martin reported that most of the apple trees will just need summer pruning apart from the row of trees on the left of the downward slope (looking from the caravan).
For future action : to decide on the fate of the large apple tree with horrible tasting apples.
Next meeting : 1pm at the caravan, 11.2.26.
Inspire Planting Planning Meeting
Held at Inspire Garden
15.10.2025
1. Rotation for 2026
Plot A : Onions, leeks, beetroot, garlic, onions.
Plot B: Brassicas and sweetcorn
Plot C: Courgettes, runner and broad beans and squashes
Plot D: Potatoes
2. Polytunnel, greenhouses and raised beds for 2026
Top polytunnel: Tomatoes and dwarf french beans
Bottom greenhouse:Tomatoes
Small lower greenhouse: Cucumber
Top greenhouse: beans, peas and chillies
Raised bed near caravan: parsnips and parsley
Raised bed near top greenhouse: carrots - need to replace compost first.
3. Seeds
Tomatoes: same tomatoes as 2025, additionally, Helen to research a small plum tomato.
Chillies: to use Chris B's seeds
Cucumber: Beth Alpha - it was suggested to mulch with comfrey.
Beetroot: Cylindra and Boltardy
Brassicas: Brussels, Cavolo Nero, Sprouting Broccoli, Red Cabbage, Calabrese and Kale.
Herbs: same as 2025
Parsnips and Carrots: same varieties as 2025
Courgettes: Green Bush and Trombolino. Helen to source a yellow courgette.
Squashes/Pumpkins: as per 2025
Sweetcorn: Helen to choose the variety.
Rainbow Chard: as 2025
Lettuce: Winter Density
4. Potato Day Order
Potatoes: Same varieties as 2025, but increase the order by 25%.
Onions: same order as 2025 but add red onions.
Broad and French Beans: Blue Lake and Cobra climbing beans for outside. We have enough Aquadulce broad beans to sow now, order The Sutton and Aquadulce for 2026.
Runner Beans: Scarlet Emperor and Lady Di.
Peas: Alderman
Garlic: one hard neck, one soft neck. Update : Helen reports only soft necked garlic available via Potato Day.
5. Green Manures
We have sufficient field beans and rye to plant now. For discussion with Martin and David regarding other green manures.
6. Strawberries
David's raised bed of strawberries should produce better quality strawberries in 2026.
It was suggested planting borage in the lower plot of strawberries as a companion plant.
7. Equipment
Mike will look into the purchase of another brassica cage.
Next Meeting: 1pm, 14.1.2026