[StringfellowParticipant]

Would it be useful if Charles could create some way of calculating rough quantities of compost/ manure for the first year and then subsequent years? Perhaps weight by square metre?

Not an exact science I realise, but it would give us an idea – a sort of ‘dung formulae’ if you like…..

Tris

[StringfellowParticipant]

Okay, the ground surface is nearly cleared and the debris spread about. I’ve managed to source some rotted manure from a nearby farmer. What thickness/ gauge of black sheeting is necessary to really cut the light totally out? The price varies and, whilst I don’t mind spending some cash, I don’t want to waste money unnecessarily.

Would it help at all if I covered the manure with cardboard, before then covering that with the sheeting, or am I going OTT!?

Thanks again and keep up the great work – this is all very helpful,

Tris

[StringfellowParticipant]

Thanks for your opinion and advice. I’m now considering growing asparagus on a horsetail free patch of my garden at home!!

However, the black plastic idea is probably worth pursuing as a way of reducing horsetail as I continue to work my way across the plot. No-dig is my intended ethos once some of this damn stuff is got out – I would like to get some other vegetables in before 2016!

One last thought – should I remove all vegetation above ground on the ‘black plastic intended area’ before adding the compost layer and then the sheeting? Or will the rotting/ dieing horsetail add to the fertility of the soil over the course of a year under cover of darkness?

Thanks again,

Tris

[StringfellowParticipant]

Thanks alround for the advice – much appreciated.

I’m very new to growing my own food and it’s something I’m greatly enjoying. However, sometimes I try and run before I can walk. I think this coming spring I shall have a go at propagating somewhere warm inside and then consider one of the kindly recommended electric propagators for next year.

Maybe Father Christmas will bring me something anyway? If so, is it advisable to move freshly germinated seedlings to a cooler area inside the house before moving them outside into the unheated greenhouse? Just wondering if it would be too much of a shock going from warm propagator to underglass outside?! Hardening off process etc.

Thanks again,

Tris

[StringfellowParticipant]

Many thanks Charles, that is really helpful and I shall indeed ‘go for it’ and see how things go.

Read your books and really enjoyed them and love the philosophy.

Hope to see you on one of your courses some time in the new year,

Many thanks again,

Tris

[Author]

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