"John Vanini" wrote in message
...
I have used a few membranes on my allotment, this year - for the runner
beans, raspberries, butternut squash and am thinking of using more but I
have one question.



Laying the membrane isn't a problem it's the cutting of the holes to suit
the crop. Once the holes are cut to suit, let's say, the planting
distances of a particular variety of cabbage, doesn't it mean that that
membrane can really only be used for crops with the same planting
distances? I can understand where the crop is static - such as fruit
bushes but not for general planting.



If the membrane has additional holes cut to suit other planting distances
the membrane would tend to look like a sieve and the weeds would grow up
through the holes that aren't being used. Okay, several planting layouts
could be cut in a single membrane but there would be a limit,



Am I right and if so, isn't that expensive in that many membranes have to
be kept to suit every crop? Or is it necessary to buy new membrane
material each year?



What am I missing (apart from a brain, that is!)



Sorry, if this sounds daft to those of you who use membranes successfully
and, probably can't see my problem but while I'd like to use more of them,
I am stuck with this mental picture of either having a few membranes with
holes to suit every eventuality or a whole host of membranes, each one
designed to suit a particular crop - or buying a new membrane each
year!!!!



Reading the posts, it seems everybody understands how to use membranes -
except me!



Regards,



John


If you cut your membrane in the form of a cross with a sharp knife, when the
plant has finished, the flaps will fold back and close up. What I would do
then is to place another piece of cut membrane, at least 3 times the area of
the cross slit and place it UNDER the membrane under the cross and then
start again with your next crop, cutting another slot cross with a sharp
knife and away you go again :-)

Mike


--
The Royal Naval Electrical Branch Association.
'THE' Association if you served in the Electrical Branch of the Royal Navy
Reunion Bournemouth August/September 2007 FULL. WAIT LIST OPERATING
www.rneba.org.uk
"Navy Days" Portsmouth 25th - 27th July 2008. RN Shipmates will have a Stand