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I grow grenoble, all year wonder (? correct name) and Reine des glaces, but my favourite variety is “Waitrose” … don’t laugh, but I’ve grown the most delicious and long-harvest reds and greens by using the “living salads” punnet found in Waitrose’s fresh food/vegetable aisle.
Hi. From what I’ve learnt – plants do have a filtering system (more like a firewall). Systemic pathogens usually get in through stems or leaves not roots. This doesn’t stop root crops from having localised root pathogens … they just don’t travel very far upwards, generally speaking. I hope this helps & hasn’t put you off carrots & potatoes.
Phew … I also sowed outside today during our lovely warm day, after making a new bed using my own compost. Because of rodents though I have covered with a large hoop mini poly-tunnel, temporarily. We are expecting cold weather too so this might stay up for a while.
mycorrhizal fungi – sorry
Or you could leave them in situ for a Winter or longer, then plant your strawberries in the rotting bale. I did this and it protected the berries from all but birds. I had lovely soft/fluffy compost at then end when I cut the twine still binding the sagging biscuits of straw. I added it to my garden and compost bin (the less degraded bits). Where are you in the world? This might help when others are contributing.
Which part of the world are you in, please?
I guess I would use a trowel to gather up as much equisetum as I could, placing it into a trug or basket to stir myself on that I was collecing so much (otherwise it feels heart breaking). Then I would put down double layers of cardboard, going around the perennials you wish to leave. And finally I’d add the mulch. Where you are (ie. how dry/wet) would decide for me whether to wet the cardboard first or not at all. Good luck! Rome wasn’t built in a day.I know you know about the green (nitrogen) and brown (carbon) alternating layers, but some items are both green and brown. Coffee grounds might do the trick for you. I believe Starbucks only has organic coffee now, but you might wish to check this. They give it away for free. For brown/carbon items that aren’t newspaper or cardboard … what about a small amount of ash? You would need to burn your own non-chemical/clean fuel but it might be worth a go. Clean (as in ‘no added chemicals’) wood shavings such as the hypoallergenic ones used for animal bedding perhaps? There are also Autumnal leaves (fully brown ones). How do any of these sound to you?
Is this fresh green wood chip? I’m afraid I wouldn’t put it on my growing areas at all. I know it aids VAMs but I made that error once before with shredded twigs and its 16 months later and I’m still rueing the day.
I believe others tend to let it rot in a covered pile for a long while before applying it, but I shall let their voices chime in for now.I have to confess I read this thread because the title sounded like a choice (!)
Who says “gardening is dull”? … not I 🙂As an addition to the supermarket garlic … my neighbouring allotmenteer said the ‘dried instant peas’ from Sainsbury are a good way to grow peas (he was partly right) and the lady in our independent bakery said Waitrose’s living salad provides ample lettuce seedlings. I tried both. Waitrose … amazing lettuce harvests and stunning varieties I wish I could put a name to … Sainsbury peas, hmmmm. germination is patchy but the plants are strong.