[HempieParticipant]

Hi Charles,

Thanks.

The layer of compost (half rotted) over the garlic is about 10cm
Over the onions is about 3-4cm.

And yes, as mentioned, the patch was not dug for over 8 years, and no mulch added whatsoever.
One couldn’t see the red currants through all the bind weed etc. Also through the years the weeds where allowed to make seeds. So that is why the cardboard layer 🙂

I forgot one thing to mention: I also sowed mustard over the layers of compost as a green manure, and hopefully, they will die during this winter. I would like your opinion about this.

I have done this because i truly believe in the “living root” technique. You need a living root in order to feed the mycorrhizal fungi in the soil.
What is your opinion about that?

Regards,
Herman

[HempieParticipant]

I too did plant garlic and onion sets this weekend.
I would like to know your opinion on how i did it.

Having a patch which has not been digged for over 8 years where currant bushes have been. I dug them out trying to not to disturb the groung too much.

Then i put some cardboard over the soil, in there i punched holes and filed them with a little potting soil.
In there i places the garlic cloves and onjon sets.
Then i put a little potting soil over it.
As a finish i put a thick layer of half rotted compost.

I think everything will be ok, but my concern is, als the half rotted compost will keep decomposing over winter, will it affect the garlic and onions to decompose also?

Thanks.

Sorry for my English. I am Dutch.

[HempieParticipant]

Thanks for the replies and xplanations.
I think i am am on the right track. 🙂

[HempieParticipant]

Noone??

[HempieParticipant]

Thanks. Will check out right away.

[HempieParticipant]

Hi Udo,

I was planning to do so, not for the voles, but for the moles 🙂
We do have a lot of moles in our plot. I catch 1 of them every 4 days.
So far, and i live here for over 18 years now, we have not seen any voles.

But thanks for ur thinking.

regards,
Hempie

[HempieParticipant]

Hi Charles,

I replied already yesterday evening since i was in the garden all day, but somehow the message didn’t show up. So here again 🙂
I think i’ll go for mustard then.

I have a lot of cardboard available and i mean a lot! Nice clean cardboard plates of 120x100cm, no tape, no labels whatsoever.
Can i use this cardboard to cover the mustard after the 1st frost, and cover that again with compost and then in coming spring plant all the David Austin roses i have?

thanks.
Hempie

[HempieParticipant]

.

[HempieParticipant]

I was thinking of sowing covercrop on a patch were we want to grow roses next year.
But my question is: what to do with the crop next year.
Because i want to do no dig gardening, but i always read that one needs to dig in the cover crop?
How is this then a no digging approach?

[HempieParticipant]

I forgot,

I also have a piece of land that is full with nettles over a meter high.
But they have a lot of seeds on them.

Is it wise to use these in the beds or compostbin?

[HempieParticipant]

Hi Rhys / Jan,

Thank you for replying.
Hugelkultur is something i was considering too.
I have a ton of old logs, twigs and bits lying around.

I already have one compostbin full with fresh material decomposing now and a selfmade composttumbler fullof material.
Also the topsoil (with grass) from the paths i will add as Jan suggested,
Then ofcourse during this fall i will collect all leaves.
I live in the country and have a lot woodland around, so i guess i have enough organic matter by spring next year.

Something i dont have is manure.

Can i do without manure?

Thanks,
Hempie

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