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Check out this book:
It’s brilliant.
Also, see if any local farmers can help you out with cow manure. For example, 110 barrow loads locally here cost £40 – an absolute bargain. Good luck.
Jermor and Zebrune both grew well and provided huge harvests for me Al. Good luck.
P.S. Gunston did cultivate the top layer a bit using his “Crome”.
Great question Angela. I’ve read books by Janes Gunston and F.C. King, both believers in no till veg growing and the use of surface mulching with compost. Cloches, cold frames, greenhouses and hotbed growing would spring to mind as an alternative to fleece and mesh, as well as focusing on soil, and therefore plant, health to help protect against pests as much as possible (Charles is championing this philosophy regularly, for very sound reasons). Additionally, French growers used to use straw mats (1800’s) to help insulate against low night time temperatures; see Eliot Coleman “The Winter Harvest Handbook” for some fascinating info.
I would Al, they aren’t going to gain much in the way of growth now. Ours have dried off nicely, sat between stove and radiator for the last week or so. We just give the tray a shake each time we pass to release trapped moisture etc.
Dynamite worked for Bill Murray in Caddyshack, but that might count as digging?
This is frustrating for you Jacqui. I can’t add much, but I grew borlotti and czar on the same wigwam and had no issue with cross pollination. Something I noticed was how much earlier the borlottis finished their life cycle than the czar. All of their pods were crisp and dry when we harvested the lot last weekend, the czar much less so with quite a few still green.
Following several years of black plastic mulching a plot of horsetail, and smiling off more than the odd friendly jibe about it, I now have a clean plot. Additionally, a fair degree of respect too, as some that wondered what on earth I was doing can now see the result and understand the motivations. One of my neighbours presently has my plastic sheeting mulching his horsetail plot, after a season of trying, in vain, to continually hoe it off.
So leading by example can have an influence on others decision making, even though this can take time. But if your plot looks “the biz”, you may have an odd newcomer asking for some advise…best of luck with it.
You’re along the right lines Eliza, but I don’t spend too much time removing the papery skins; doesn’t happen in nature. Bear in mind that they will be taking up residence for most of the main growing season next year, but following them with autumn brassicas or winter salads could be good. Enjoy growing and eating your own garlic 🙂
Sounds like you’ll create a slug haven, presuming you’re based in a maritime climate.