[englishladyMember]

Hi Bluebell   —  Just had a look on ebay and there are some of the 1000 caged plastic containers around the £35 upwards range.  Those I looked at had all been used for other purposes.  The pastel coloured ones had been used for paint, and the seller said they had been washed but “were not perfect”.  Another one had something else in it before which was stressed in the advert.

I am no chemist but would it be safe to use items like this when just water is needed ? 

You paid the going rate for your water butts but you have no doubt that what comes out will be pure.  Reading the warnings and descriptions on ebay, I am just not sure how useful they would be having been used for deisel or some other difficult to clean out substance.

You will have peace of mind and that is priceless!

Best wishes

Julie

[englishladyMember]

Hi Bluebell  –  How funny, I have some of those long white radishes to grow, and did wonder quite how low down they would go……super !!

Absolutely agree, the makers would not want the bags to fill with water, they would exceed their weight then as well and maybe even a forklift could not pick them up !

My soild is heavy clay, hence the idea of planting straight into black gold (3-5 years rotted horse manure).  It looks just like black soil, like from the fenlands.

Thanks for your comments, always look forward to reading your posts.

Best wishes

Julie

 

[englishladyMember]

Hi Bluebell  –  How funny, I have some of those long white radishes to grow, and did wonder quite how low down they would go……super !!

Absolutely agree, the makers would not want the bags to fill with water, they would exceed their weight then as well and maybe even a forklift could not pick them up !

My soild is heavy clay, hence the idea of planting straight into black gold (3-5 years rotted horse manure).  It looks just like black soil, like from the fenlands.

Thanks for your comments, always look forward to reading your posts.

Best wishes

Julie

 

[englishladyMember]

Hi Bluebell  –  What fastastic tips, thank you very much !  The posts in the corners sounds a great idea, especially if they protrude four or five inches, then they could be covered more easily if needed.

So just to be clear on the punching holes in the base, do you think that the fabric they are made off, some kind of woven plastic, would allow excess water to drain away anyhow, without holes?

I’d hate to waste water that way !  Thanks for your comments, always very interesting indeed !

Julie

[englishladyMember]

Despite it being WAY superior to dried garlic, I have never EVER seen ‘wet’ garlic sold in shops or supermarkets here.  It is juicy and full of goodness but seems here the only way to get it is to grow it…………of course it is all over the place in France.

Best wishes

Julie

[englishladyMember]

Congrats rtj, that is brilliant.  I didn’t know that nettle tea could even be made.  I know they are nutritious and obviously your beans adore it !

Superb !

Best wishes

Julie

[englishladyMember]

Hi Carol  —  Just had a look in a very comprehensive book I have and there is no mention at all of Cleavers/Goosegrass being compostable like Comfrey.

Had a quick scoot around the web, and again, nothing positive.

Think you will have to wait for Charles to pop in and let you know.

Best wishes

Julie

[englishladyMember]

Hi Bluebell  –  you sound like you have it all sorted out, congrats.  I have to figure out how to fix up a water gathering system from a polytunnel after we have moved. 

It will be essential as we will be on a water meter…………….

Best to you and thanks, always good to read your posts

Julie

[englishladyMember]

Thanks for your reply.  I have not considered the watering aspect yet, but have to address it quite soon.  We will be on a water meter in the new place, so every drop I can gather from the skies will be a wonderful bonus.  I intend to re use as much water as I can on the crops, but not that which is too bad with washing up liquid in it.  Or maybe it would be ok to use that, I dont know.

I will have to figure out how to do the gutters into a butt system myself as moving to a new place, know nobody. I am fairly practical but not an engineer !  Wish me luck !

Best

Julie

[englishladyMember]

YIKES Richard   –    I had not considered that it would be noisy, no the neighbours would definitely not like that, for absolutely sure.

Wonder why you chose a greenhouse over a polytunnel, and over £300 does not sound cheap to me !  But I am a cheapskate for sure, well no choice really if you dont have the dosh.

Thanks very much for your input, really interesting.  Can you take out each pane and put something like putty in there to stop the noise or rattle?

Good luck

Julie

[englishladyMember]

Interesting, I found a great deal about growing them on the RHS website.  Apparently canteloupes are the best for growing in this country.  So I was lucky !

They are absolutely romping away and I have about 50 of the germinated ones so far. Anyone who would like some let me know, happy to post some to you.

Best

Julie

[englishladyMember]

Thanks for that — certainly confirms that turning the compost is highly beneficial, yours sounds great.  The aeration must be hugely improved. I dont have garden tools yet, hoping to pick some up cheaply at a car boot or somewhere like that. Thanks for your reply.

Best wishes

Julie

[englishladyMember]

Daucus  –  How about salt?

I do remember my dad using salt to get rid of slugs, putting it in a ring around the plants individually.  Would that work or would it damage the balance of the soil or something ?

Best

 

Julie

[englishladyMember]

I guess I could get my son to empty the beer traps.  That is something I dont think I could do without upchucking.  Would they be good for the compost heap, surely the beer would be also?

I have seen a rather ingenious mini home for a hedgehog, and was tempted to buy it, but I thought rats may get there first and that would truly freak me out.

How else can I encourage hedgehogs into the garden, any ideas please ?  And would I have to feed them or do they live on slugs and snails, eeeeeeeeeeewwwwwwwwwwww.

I have dealt with overflowing septic tanks, mucking out the rear end of a 747 full of Pakistani farmers and yet the thought of slugs just creeps me out entirely…………

Best to you

Julie

[englishladyMember]

Never Heard of these either.  I will investigate.  The folded down builders sacks are 44″ deep and whilst I am going to perforate the bottoms to allow for drainage, I kind of thought that might be deep enough even for the deepest rooted crop. 

I get what you are saying about the straight sides, and that is a huge advantage I agree. Thank you for the tip.

I have lots of germinated canteloupe seeds as well as some which are dried, do let me know if you would like some, there are more than enough to go around.

Very best wishes

Julie

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