Controlling the weather

[Deleted]

For some time now this subject has perplexed me.

While we take steps - all too few IMO - to control the soil, we accept with weary resignation what the weather throws at us.

Who amongst us does anything to control the wind blowing over the potager? The Victorians built high-walled kitchen gardens. It wasn't just to keep off the thieving peasantry. Or the browsing tendencies of the parkland deer. No. It was to provide a micro-climate.

Who consciously provides partial shade? Nothing we grow in the potager needs the full glare of the midday sun. Everything we grow will be stressed by the demands of excessive photosynthesis and transpiration.

Compared with the wild plants from which our vegetable varieties are derived we grow delicate plants. How can you be so cruel as to leave them to the vicious vagaries of the weather?

Annon

Disclaimer: The views expressed are entirely those of a rambling and flawed genius. This forum accepts no responsibility for them.

Ps: I'm off to France tonight and will not be hooked up to anything but a bottle of wine. I'll pop in when I get back to see if there are any views on this burning issue, an issue which is so hot it gives off white heat....

[Ali]

It is a very valid point annon.

Around our potager I have grown a leylandi hedge (under control) and in from that is a grass path, this provides a great micro-climate.

At one end I have allowed the cherry tree to grow to provide shade.

The potager is now split into 3 using fencing upon which I'm growing pumpkins and broad beans and in winter provides 3 hen paddocks.

The permanent 'hen-paddock' is sheltered by a small stone built barn (garage).

At the end of the greenhouse, which borders onto the potager, I've a further shadowed patch which is idea for parsley and herbs and shade loving veg.

We're on the side of a hill, although the land is flat around the house and gardens, so we do get a good ole breeze blowing from time to time and the construction and layout of the potager is sheltered from that which can be as drying and battering as full sun can be too.

We haven't got much 'land', about 1,000 m3 or something, so we're compact Would love for you to visit someday and I'd like to listen to your ideas.

[Deleted]

Alison, thank you for your inspired and inspiring reply

I don't think that you need any input from me

[Deleted]

My small veg plot has a wall on two sides,shelter but a possible negative being lack of sun at certain times of the day.What am I saying..sun...sun!!!!

[Deleted]

Britchick, in Hampshire the sun sits in the sky and shines down.

E'en when there is rain and cloud still doth the sun shine down. In Hampshire, we call the light it produces, daylight.

Point being, direct sunlight, bright, hot and bum-burning is not a good thing for delicate plants. Topless models, yes, delicate plants, no.

Daylight alone, even at relatively low levels, bounced off soil, leaves and walls makes for balanced, stressless growth, IMO, rambling though that opinion is, flawed too though it may be...

I'm liking your part-walled veg plot, at this time....

[Elkay]

Jul 12, 2012 20:48:10 GMT 1 @annon said:

Britchick, in Hampshire the sun sits in the sky and shines down.

It didn't last weekend when I was in Portsmouth

Lovely to see you back here, anon

[Deleted]

Resurrecting the topic as I had cause to control the weather today, blustering as it was, and a bit cold with it.....

Had to free-up space in a polytunnel so planted out in the field a lot of potted, evergreen ornamentals grown from cuttings.

50% windbreak/shade netting controls the weather. Pegged down like fleece over the crop it can stay down for a couple of weeks or more.

Also use it a lot on newly-planted-out veg transplants later in the year when the sun and breeze might otherwise cause me to have to water them until they get established - and you know just how much I don't like watering.....