GardenBanter.co.uk - View Single Post

10-07-2003, 12:52 AM

In article , colin-
says...
On 9 Jul 2003 14:05:55 GMT, Jake wrote:

I'm going to be away from my veggies during the first week in August
and I'm wondering what I should do for best results?

Good question. I am going to be away for *two* weeks in August and I
have both an allotment and a greenhouse.

The only garden sitter available is my mother in law and the bribery
involved might be unbearable.

Will mulch make up for no watering of beans, tomatoes, courgettes,
aubergines, peppers okra etc during that time or do I need another
approach?

I'd go for a mixed preparation on that one. Drought harden the plants if
they're currently luxuriating in a daily dousing. Let them thirst a bit
to develop the root systems. Pick anything that would go over during the
two weeks before it has a chance to get there, sadly you'd be picking
*very* unripened stuff. Anything in a growbag will need to have holes
punched through to the real soil to let it extend roots. Assume the loss
of anything in a basket or a planter. The day before you go (or the
closest day available) chuck as may hundreds of gallons of water into
there as possible... and then mulch as thickly as you dare.

Having done all of this work adopt a cynical assesment of the chances of
anything surviving.

Having done lots of being cynical, and all that work to try to get
things through your time away, we'll have the wettest August since 1883.

Warwick