#164 |
Productive couple of hours at plot this afternoon. (I wonder how many times I have used the same terminology?)
After watering all that needed watering I planted out my squash bed. Three butternuts and another eight mixed squash added to a 5 foot by 8 foot bed. A bit close together but they can fight it out for space once/if they get growing. The butternuts were buried deeply as they were a bit leggy but should be ok.
I must say I am impressed with this cardboard covered with compost covered with grass cuttings method. We have had no rain for ages yet when I punched through the cardboard with the planting trowel there was an abundance of moisture even though these are raised beds.
A bit of a disappointment that a fair few red onion sets have bolted but luckily most of my Autumn planted white onion sets are growing well and are usable 'in the green' now as my stored onions are about done.
This is the third year I have been self sufficient in onions so its very pleasing. Even some of the leeks could be used now, but having just finished eating last years leeks, a few weeks without will allow me to appreciate them more.
Hoed a couple of the strip paths and left the weeds on top to dry out. Hand weeded the strawberry bed on the plot perimeter which isn't doing as well as the other diagonal bed. I thought they would thrive on the south facing side of the plot getting sun all day but they have wilted a bit with the heat and the lack of water. They are contenders for the next batch of grass cutting as a mulch to try and conserve moisture in the soil.
Finished by flattening and covering more path areas with cardboard. I am the 'Cardboard king' on the site and don't think you can have too much. Its also handy for tearing up into small pieces and adding 'browns' to the compost heap to stop it getting too soggy.
Still didn't get my China Rose radish sown but I have beetroot,spinach and Kohl Rhabi in modules at home just about ready to plant out.
There was a lethargic rat sitting on the fence line and as I poked it with the hoe it slowly moved into next doors plot. I have feeling it had been poisoned as they usually aren't seen and move like lightening.
Settling down to watch the England Scotland game now as I haven't watched any games on telly lately.
After watering all that needed watering I planted out my squash bed. Three butternuts and another eight mixed squash added to a 5 foot by 8 foot bed. A bit close together but they can fight it out for space once/if they get growing. The butternuts were buried deeply as they were a bit leggy but should be ok.
I must say I am impressed with this cardboard covered with compost covered with grass cuttings method. We have had no rain for ages yet when I punched through the cardboard with the planting trowel there was an abundance of moisture even though these are raised beds.
A bit of a disappointment that a fair few red onion sets have bolted but luckily most of my Autumn planted white onion sets are growing well and are usable 'in the green' now as my stored onions are about done.
This is the third year I have been self sufficient in onions so its very pleasing. Even some of the leeks could be used now, but having just finished eating last years leeks, a few weeks without will allow me to appreciate them more.
Hoed a couple of the strip paths and left the weeds on top to dry out. Hand weeded the strawberry bed on the plot perimeter which isn't doing as well as the other diagonal bed. I thought they would thrive on the south facing side of the plot getting sun all day but they have wilted a bit with the heat and the lack of water. They are contenders for the next batch of grass cutting as a mulch to try and conserve moisture in the soil.
Finished by flattening and covering more path areas with cardboard. I am the 'Cardboard king' on the site and don't think you can have too much. Its also handy for tearing up into small pieces and adding 'browns' to the compost heap to stop it getting too soggy.
Still didn't get my China Rose radish sown but I have beetroot,spinach and Kohl Rhabi in modules at home just about ready to plant out.
There was a lethargic rat sitting on the fence line and as I poked it with the hoe it slowly moved into next doors plot. I have feeling it had been poisoned as they usually aren't seen and move like lightening.
Settling down to watch the England Scotland game now as I haven't watched any games on telly lately.
"The problem with retirement is that you never get a day off"- Abe Lemons