Polytunnel

[foxy]

Rats are down by three in the rat community. My lates in another polytunnel are becoming a worry. Not much of summer left though our autumns can be hot. These toms had better get a wiggle on if they are going to get consumed.

 

[MashBag]

Do you use straw in the poly to suppress weeds or keep the moisture in?

 

[foxy]

Do you use straw in the poly to suppress weeds or keep the moisture in?

Keep the moisture in and encourage bacteria.

 

[MashBag]

Have you found it causes rot around the plant stems?

 

[jeremy Hall]

Rats are down by three in the rat community. My lates in another polytunnel are becoming a worry. Not much of summer left though our autumns can be hot. These toms had better get a wiggle on if they are going to get consumed.
View attachment 95796

You can pick green and ripen on a window sill, or green tomato chutney.

 

[foxy]

You can pick green and ripen on a window sill, or green tomato chutney.

March can be hot, so there is some hope yet. Just the days are shorter. I do like them fried just as they start to turn.

 

[foxy]

Have you found it causes rot around the plant stems?

No, never had a problem like that. But you may get more rain than me.

 

[MashBag]

Thanks. Been meaning to try it around the toms on the poly. Maybe this year.

 

[foxy]

I would have put money on my winter seedlings and the first to show. My bet would have been Pak Choi, lost out there it was Daikon. Never mind, most are all starting to show their heads.

Chili is still self-seeding, love these Medusa never let me down.

 

[MashBag]

Just planted out the toms and the chillies in the poly. After a few days they just seen to accelerate away in the ground. Good to see spring coming.

 

[Clint]

We've some first early spuds doing well in the tunnel. A couple of the cabbages in there went to seed so ended up on the heap.
Picked some of the forced rhubarb today. Another potato planting...second earlies. Broad beans also planted out. These will be supplemented with a direct sowing when things warm up a bit. Also planted were some onion seedlings and shallots.
At home the last of the tomatoes and chillies have been potted on and cabbage,broccoli and caulis sown.
Food for the soul...

 

[MashBag]

Weeding: toms & chillies

Cropping: kale & salad leaf & celeriac & f.nettley weeds.

Planting: beans & beet

Setting: courgette & gurkin & spring onions

 

[foxy]

All seedlings are up apart from parsnip. My wife has a couple of horses in agistment and mentioned to me about the manure they are trying to get rid of! Say no more, two loads and I have about two cubic meters along with a good helping of stable straw.

I always knew those grain bags would come in useful.

 

[MashBag]

I have to get on there today. Bit behind.

 

[foxy]

While it is a bit sad when one season ends, sadness doesn't last too long, busy getting the winter crops ready, gave the rhubarb patch a good feed and the rhubarb is starting to look lively. Planted out my Sugar Snap peas, and harvested some of my pumpkins, I need the space even though they are still flowering and setting.
Funny, I assimilate gardening with fishing. These two pastimes are where one can let their mind wander while not losing focus on the job at hand.
Not only that the potting shed is the ideal place for a beer, I wonder what the poor people are doing?
Curing the Pumpkins.

Nothing beats a beer in here after an honest day of hard yakka.

 

[MashBag]

Pumpkins look good.

Harvesting for space is today's job.. Gotta get my beans out.

 

[foxy]

Broad beans were planted out today with a dressing of sheep tish, going to rain tomorrow night so I will give a dressing of blood and bone beforehand

.

 

[foxy]

Everything is starting to take off despite Thursday being the coldest day in 5 years 10.1 C peas are starting to flower and Pak Choy ready for harvesting.
cabbage top row, Broccoli middle and Cauli bottom.

Daikon and Garlic protected from the Possums

Rhubarb recovering from the summer and an abundance of limes.

Beetroot and Choy, again a Possums delicacy

Grapefruit another heavy crop

And Mandarins, Honey Murcott.

Inside the polytunnel swede, red cabbage, cos lettuce, shallots and broccoli with silver beet at the end.

 

[MashBag]

Never considered that grapefruit are tree fruit.

 

[Clint]

Got a few grapes in the tunnel...hope they ripen.