[dragonetteMember]

I used 14 millions on my allotment last week (purchased on-line, large pack) and the plants look fine. I’m waiting to see if the slug population decline. It is said to be particularly effective on the small ones that lives underground. Bring on some dryer weather, that might help!

[dragonetteMember]

…with a side order of nematodes for those pesky slugs.  Have you read this article? Homegrown nematodes! http://www.telegraph.co.uk/gardening/gardeningequipment/8675592/The-war-on-slugs-starts-at-home.html

 

[dragonetteMember]

I planted the seeds a month ago. I think the soil is too dry because it hasn’t rained much here and I used a thick fleece. I have found several seeds on the soil, ‘sent back’ from the dry clay. 2 are actually growing! It wasn’t the voles, but my lack of mulching and watering + not planting them deep enough.

I will try again this weekend!

Many thanks for all your input, very useful.

Kind regards

Ness

[dragonetteMember]

..I’m still waiting!! It could be a bad seed packet as I used the same one for direct sowing and in module. I will try again with a new one, direct in the ground. The soil is quite clayey, should I mulch with compost? There are a few voles about but they normally keep ‘munching’ to a minimum.

[dragonetteMember]

Hello Charles

The flood at the allotment site has been going on for weeks. The community council is ‘discussing possible actions’. Their track record is not filling me with much hope. What am wondering now is if it would be better to wait to be moved to a plot higher up on the site or hope mine will recover quickly. It is under 2 to 3 inches of water at the moment. It might stay like that for the rest of winter.

many thanks for your message.

Ness

[dragonetteMember]

Hi Ashleigh

I have built 4 very big raised beds but the scale of the problem this year is beyond belief. The drainage system (pump) doesn’t seem to have done anything. The culvert might be blocked. Hopefully this won’t happen again. The question is, how long before the soil can be used again once it has drained? Is the damage easily reversible?

Many thanks

Ness

[dragonetteMember]

Seeds of Italy for Chervil, lambs’lettuce and lots of chicorie.

[dragonetteMember]

My soil is heavy clay with some compost added but not as much as I’d like. I have only had the plot a year. I can see that the larger plants won’t need watering as the soil is still moist a few centimetres down. I’m not so sure about the little ones and I am wondering if some plants benefits from extra water (courgettes?).

Many thanks

[dragonetteMember]

Brassica are affected, I don’t know if other vegs are, I’ll ask when I next see him, hopefully today as we’re expecting sunshine at 4pm so I’ll rush to my plot -luckily unaffected at the moment. It sounds like it might be a different problem then.

I read somewhere that this type of problem happened on ‘heavily cultivated land’ My plot was a bit of field that used to flood and I’ve never dug it, marigolds are self-seeding happily so fingers crossed. For sure I’m not planting anythings that comes from anyone’s plot.

[dragonetteMember]

It would be diffult to see them as they are too small and transparent. However the effect on the plants’ root is very dramatic: round rubbery, tumour-like growths at the end of the root, stopping the growth of both the roots and the plants.

[dragonetteMember]

I’ve been using a special tape that makes a whistling noise in the wind, it’s been really effective with my strawberries and I like the sound, it changes according to the wind. I do not have problem with magpies so I don’t know if it would work with them.

My plot is always windy which is a condition to the tape working.

Hope it helps

Dragonette

[dragonetteMember]

I’m just about to get a new shower cabinet, I think I’ll keep the old screen!! Good idea

[dragonetteMember]

I contacted the real Seed company and they have sent me a new seed packet from a different batch. I tried again and sucess at last! The seedlings are tiny, I hope I won’t damage them when I move them.

[dragonetteMember]

I would like to plant some of my vegs out but the weather has been really difficult (wind or rain or wind and rain). Would it help to plant them out and then cover them with a fleece? I’m thinking of lettuce, pumpkins, courgettes, peas, beans…
I’m worried about slugs and aphids if I use a fleece…and it does feel ridiculous at the end of June!

[dragonetteMember]

There is an awful lot of bad advice being dished out at the allotment so I’m glad I checked. Luckily most of my fellow gardeners have planted way too many broad bean plants (somebody planted a hundred?!?) and they have told me to help myself. I’ll sow the broad beans in November or February next year.

French beans then.

Thanks

[Author]

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