Making a new bed on the new plot yesterday. As i'm gardening no-dig as much as I can I haven't dug this narrow bed at all. The bed ground is full of couch grass and all I have done is placed a thick layer of cardboard or newspaper directly on top of the couch grass and then covered this with a 3-4" layer of garden compost. Into this bed i'm going to plant a row of sunflowers not only for the bees but the seedheads will go towards feeding the poultry in the autumn and into winter.
As you can see on the photo below the bed looks nice and tidy now and the thick layer of mulch on top will eventually weaken the couch grass and kill it off- without having to even pick up the spade!
Today I decided to put the first collars on the pendle leeks im growing for Malvern. As you can see the leeks are looking nice and healthy and growing away strongly. They are currently getting 12 hours artificial light supplemented by whatever daylight we are getting. These leeks are in John innes No2 with added vermiculite and Antagon.
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| The first collar. About 6" long threaded onto a split cane with a support ring of wire near the top to support the flags (leaves). |
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| The collar is slipped over the leek and the cane is pushed into the compost to stop the collar from moving. We want a straight leek so it is vital that this collar doesn't get knocked so it's leaning! |
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| Looks like we'll be repotting again next week! |
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| All collars now on and the leeks are returned to the heated bench under the lights. On the right you can see the onions (nothing special just Bedfordshire Champion'. |
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| Pricked out 36 'Tasco' onions yesterday. These are a nice 8oz onion which i'm hoping also to stage at Malvern this year. |
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Here's a natty little idea I read in the garden news I think! Cracking don't you think!
I'm organising our annual allotment open day again this year. This year the charity is going to be diabetes uk. A charity close to my heart as I've suffered with type 1 since the age of 7 and now do 5 injections a day.
The open day is 19th July 11am-3pm. Opening by Margot James MP. Grand raffle with prizes from Dudley zoo, black country museum, Geoff Hill electricals and much more. Tombola. Refreshment stall. Homemade preserve stall etc.
Charles Rd Allotments Stourbridge
(Behind Alderman Tye scout hut) |
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