exile
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Massif Central
Posts: 2,691
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Post by exile on Jan 31, 2024 20:41:45 GMT 1
It's no good trying to grow veg.if there is not a good supply of water,soul destroying when nothing grows! Alternatively/additionally making the soil water retentive. Essentially getting a lot of vegetable matter preferably well rotted into the soil. After rain or watering, mulching the top surface to keep that moisture close to the plants rather than just evaporating.
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Post by houpla on Jan 31, 2024 21:17:40 GMT 1
Somehow or other, this year I really want to pursue the idea of digging a deep trench the length of the plot (250m ) and use it as an alternative to compost heaps. Just chuck in all the vegetable waste through the summer, back-fill and wait for it to rot down. At least then it's already where it needs to be. I'm too old and knackered to enjoy carting tons of materiel all over the place. I've got a good source of composted chippings mixed with manure which is ideal for mulching the borders but even that, although lightweight, has to be trailered from the heap to the borders, then shovelled on. Then the soil in the polytunnel is decidedly tired now, so a few tonnes of something good required in there. It's never-ending!
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Post by cernunnos on Feb 1, 2024 9:19:18 GMT 1
It's no good trying to grow veg.if there is not a good supply of water,soul destroying when nothing grows! Alternatively/additionally making the soil water retentive. Essentially getting a lot of vegetable matter preferably well rotted into the soil. After rain or watering, mulching the top surface to keep that moisture close to the plants rather than just evaporating. We mulch, we have a very good supply of leaves and mulch our bean plot with a thick layer before sowing .This is then covered with ash from our wood burner and takes three years before it needs doing again ( we use a three year rotation). Makes veg.growing easy , very few weeds.
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Nifty
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Posts: 5,040
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Post by Nifty on Feb 1, 2024 10:10:02 GMT 1
Somehow or other, this year I really want to pursue the idea of digging a deep trench the length of the plot (250m ) and use it as an alternative to compost heaps. Just chuck in all the vegetable waste through the summer, back-fill and wait for it to rot down. At least then it's already where it needs to be. I'm too old and knackered to enjoy carting tons of materiel all over the place. I've got a good source of composted chippings mixed with manure which is ideal for mulching the borders but even that, although lightweight, has to be trailered from the heap to the borders, then shovelled on. Then the soil in the polytunnel is decidedly tired now, so a few tonnes of something good required in there. It's never-ending! Have you got a JCB or ditch witch ?
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Post by jardiniere on Feb 1, 2024 10:55:16 GMT 1
Alternatively/additionally making the soil water retentive. Essentially getting a lot of vegetable matter preferably well rotted into the soil. That was my plan. I tried last year but this year I just feel too tired and am looking for ways to make the garden as easy to manage as possible. That's the thing. I thought of this garden as quite small because it's half the size of the last one but it seems to have grown. That plus the "communal" courtyard which no-one wants to take responsibility for.
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exile
Member
Massif Central
Posts: 2,691
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Post by exile on Feb 1, 2024 11:44:08 GMT 1
Alternatively/additionally making the soil water retentive. Essentially getting a lot of vegetable matter preferably well rotted into the soil. That was my plan. I tried last year but this year I just feel too tired and am looking for ways to make the garden as easy to manage as possible. Mulching is not hard work. Just spread your mulch around but not touching the plants. The worms will do the hard work of getting this into the soil. Mulches can be compost - garden or bought, leaves, even bark chippings ( which have the advantage of taking a long time to break down, but equally take longer to improve the soil)
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Post by houpla on Feb 1, 2024 12:02:26 GMT 1
Somehow or other, this year I really want to pursue the idea of digging a deep trench the length of the plot (250m ) and use it as an alternative to compost heaps. Have you got a JCB or ditch witch ? Not any longer, Nifty. Couldn't justify keeping the JCB sitting on the drive doing so very little. I do miss it, though
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Post by houpla on Feb 1, 2024 12:10:18 GMT 1
Mulching is not hard work. Just spread your mulch around but not touching the plants. The worms will do the hard work of getting this into the soil.
I'd qualify that statement! It's do-able with a tractor and benne or a ride-on and trailer, depending on the size of the borders or veg plot. What is hard work is shovelling materiel into a wheelbarrow, barrowing it where required, tipping it or shovelling it again...x 100 or x 500. One barrowload just about covers 1m2. Don't forget that you're talking to girlies, here, exile We're not all built like Serena Williams!
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exile
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Massif Central
Posts: 2,691
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Post by exile on Feb 8, 2024 12:26:12 GMT 1
Well I double dug the asparagus trench. The test prodding with the fork suggested rather a few stones so instead of using the rotavator (which is a bit lightweight in every sense), I opted to do it by hand. Good job too since I hit a few 250cm+ rocks which required the help of a crowbar to release.
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mysty
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Posts: 1,318
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Post by mysty on Mar 2, 2024 9:02:40 GMT 1
If you have not looked at your grass recently it needs cut but very wet on the lawn at the moment.
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Nifty
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Posts: 5,040
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Post by Nifty on Mar 2, 2024 9:04:52 GMT 1
Grass. Where?
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exile
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Massif Central
Posts: 2,691
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Post by exile on Mar 2, 2024 13:37:35 GMT 1
Ours could do with a trim but it won't happen until next weeks cold snap is over. Snow tomorrow followed by several days of heavy overnight frost.
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Post by gigi on Mar 2, 2024 13:52:32 GMT 1
Our lawns are flooded due to the huge amount of rain in the last few weeks. The bottom lawn is rather soggy for most of the year due to springs running under it through clay. The top lawn, where we put fairly good drainage in years ago doesn’t usually flood although the flower beds round it do - and they are wider and deeper than usual. Birds are enjoying the flooded areas, seems more fun than the bird bath.
Cutting the grass won’t be done for several weeks unless we have a sudden warm episode.
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Nifty
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Posts: 5,040
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Post by Nifty on Mar 2, 2024 17:51:38 GMT 1
Seems to be fashion. The grass outside our gaff looks more like a paddy field again.
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Le-Dolly
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La Souterraine (23) depuis '05.
Posts: 575
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Post by Le-Dolly on Mar 2, 2024 18:04:16 GMT 1
In my greenhouse, and doing very, very well.
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