Inspire Planting Planning Meeting notes

Inspire Planting Planning Meeting
Held at Inspire Garden
Held 18th March

1.  Seeds

  • The tomatoes and chillies Chris B took home have returned to the garden and are being potted up.  Hot boxes have been set up.  Other tomatoes are still with Jill.

  • Onions, broad beans, beetroot and parsnips have all been sown.  Onions to be planted out.

  • To be sown in March : brussels, red cabbage,kale, calabrese, dwarf beans and peas.  Jill will take cucumbers to start at home.

  • Chris has brought in parsley and purple sprouting broccoli which need potting up.

2.  Potatoes

  • The potatoes are chitting well, beds to be cleared ready for planting in Plot D.

3.  Equipment

  • Enough Harris fencing has been found in the garden to make a brassica cage.  There is enough netting to net over the top.

  • We have enough fleece for our needs.

  • Labels - well under way.

4.  Lime

  • Chris A to apply lime to Plot C.

5.  May Day stall planning

  • We aim to sell marigolds (Pauline starting off at home), tomatoes, strawberries,herbs and brassicas.  Chris B may be able to bring in some cucumbers, and also some extra Money Makers and Gardeners' Delight if necessary.

6.  Cleaning

  • To review which greenhouses/polytunnels need a clean and put on the "To Do" list.  

AOB

  • The three blackthorn bushes are to be planted in the wildlife area.

  • The Christmas tree is to be moved to a big planter.

  • Pampas grass has been planted by the pond.

  • Winter triangular bed - to keep as an ongoing topic.

Next meeting : 22.4.26  at 1pm in the caravan.

Inspire Planting Planning Meeting
Held at Inspire Garden
18th February

1.  Rotation

  • No dig plot to be Plot B (weed removal as necessary, minimal disturbance to soil).

2.  Seeds

  • Chris B has taken tomatoes and small red chillies home and sown them.

  • Mike has taken leeks and will take courgettes too.

  • Further salad crops to be sown at the garden "As and when".

  • To be sown in the next couple of weeks : onions and broad beans both in 6 cells, and parsnips.

  • To be sown in March : brussels, red cabbage, kale, calabrese.

3.  Potatoes

  • To start chitting.

4.  Brassica Cage and other equipment

  • After discussion, it was agreed that Chris B will investigate the purchase of second hand Harris fencing, as this would be a more durable option.  It would need netting over the top.

  • We need to buy more fleece in preparation for putting over the tomatoes. 

  • Review labels

5.  Lime and compost

  • Chris A to apply lime to Plot C.

  • Seed compost has been bought and delivered to the garden.

  • General purpose compost (6x500 litres) has also been delivered.  It is hoped that some of the excess can be sold.

6.  Pruning

  • It was agreed  to try to graft another variety onto the large apple tree.

7.  May Day Stall

  • The stall has been booked.

  • Zak is going to try and grow some different types of chillies from seeds garnered from last year's crop.

  • Tomatoes - we may not have enough Kings seeds for both May Day and our needs, so Chris B may top up, or we may buy some more seeds.

  • Strawberries - Chris B2 is preparing for the stall.

8.  Cleaning

  • To review which greenhouses/polytunnels need a clean, and put it on the "To Do" list.

Next Meeting : 1pm in the caravan 18th March 2026

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

  1. 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