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Post by Deleted on Jan 8, 2013 8:55:02 GMT 1
..... talking of average soils I think most people's veg plots may be said to be 'average'....
Some old boys I know put a bit of manure on each year, but nothing like the quantity needed to get it into tip-top condition...
It's understandable really. All of that hauling and mauling of manure is beyond them, even if they can get hold of enough in the first place...
What bit they get is always fresh. So they rotovate or fork it in. I use composted, and just spread it. No forking. Because they use so little, the soil needs to be opened up anyway. It's no longer naturally crumbly....
And they add fertilizers, and later on, watering... They make the soil 'good enough' by digging and fertilizing and watering...
It works for them. Always being busy on the plot keeps them alive. And the beer. Me, I prefer to pile all the effort in now with heavy manuring, then watch it grow all by itself, and drink whisky as well as beer....
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Post by Deleted on Jan 8, 2013 11:01:29 GMT 1
OK what do I do with my soil, it's c**p, I don't have access to manure or a trailer to fetch some. Currently I have two large piles of small branches and bramble cuttings that I need to burn, I know I'm not allowed to have a bonfire, BUT, my neighbours do I want to grow small qty's but big variety.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 8, 2013 13:00:08 GMT 1
Thanks very much Annon its just ornamental plants no veg.
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Post by troll on Jan 8, 2013 13:52:31 GMT 1
OK what do I do with my soil, it's c**p, I don't have access to manure or a trailer to fetch some. Currently I have two large piles of small branches and bramble cuttings that I need to burn, I know I'm not allowed to have a bonfire, BUT, my neighbours do I want to grow small qty's but big variety. Panj, have you asked your local farmer? When i first arrived, had no visible soil and no animals,, but still wanted to grow veg, My local hero was happy to drop of a (jcb) bucketful of manure. I also collected sacksful of horse manure with my car (no trailer) and got on with making compost pdq. You can make excellent compost from nettles and bracken, which I have in abundance. Are you near a beach? seaweed is super for the soil.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 8, 2013 18:08:56 GMT 1
I commend the troll person's industry, initiative and ingenuity..
Even though we're led to believe from Fli that she's a mere slip of a girl, so everyone can do the same, not everyone will or can or wants to...
I came across this when I gave organic night classes. No matter how much some of us big up organic bulk it just doesn't suit some people to go that way. And whatever method we choose it's important that it suits us as individuals...
Double-digging was an alternative. A band/bed approx 4' wide (1.5metres), as long or as short as you like, is dug deeply with a fork. I recommend a long-handled fork. Long handles are everywhere in France so take the head off an old fork and fit new handle.
It's not heavy work if you go about it carefully, a bit at a time. The long handle lets you stand bolt upright, saving your back. It provides the power of Physics - leverage and mechanical advantage. It puts the load of the work on your upper arms and shoulders, which are naturally stronger in a man. It even firms up wimmins' bosoms...
What you end up with is a highly productive bed of soil. By breaking open the sub-soil you encourage deep rooting and you reclaim the plant nutrients lying there. You provide more access to water deep down...
In a comparison with growing normally the deep beds used to produce crops almost twice as big. The method therefore provides measurable benefits in exchange for the extra preparation...
Your only other alternative, pandj, is to spread a general fertilizer (eg Growmore, rated NPK 7-7-7) and fork or rotovate it over. Lime now and leave it a month or more before fertilizing.
ps: There's no measurable benefit in spreading the wood ash over the whole plot. Personally I'd use the smaller branches as a base for a compost heap and burn the rest only if you have to. Either way I'd save every last bit of green waste for composting, ready for next year....
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Post by <-Rinky-Dink-> on Jan 8, 2013 20:42:38 GMT 1
Thank you, Annon .... that is really useful information and I will read it over and over to make sure I haven't missed anything.
Pandj ..... I filled a an old dustbin about half full of stinging nettles and then filled the bin with water. Left it for a couple of weeks and now use it as a very effective fertiliser. I fill about a quarter of a watering can full of the smelly stinging nettle mixture, and then fill the watering can up with water and pour it over the soil and carry on doing this at regular intervals all through the year. It has worked really well for my veg, flowers and shrubs. Maybe this would provide an answer to your problem?
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Post by Deleted on Jan 8, 2013 20:55:18 GMT 1
I am on a look out for nettles now.
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