Pete C wrote:
Bobbie wrote:
Pete C wrote:
Bobbie wrote:
Pete C wrote:
Bobbie wrote:
wafflycat wrote:
"Bobbie" wrote in message
...
David in Normandy wrote:
mogga wrote:
snippy
Ah, butt.! We have rain water butts wherever we can put a drainage
pipe. We use them for perforated hose irrigation in places and
always use rain water whenever lime is not recommended. John has
also utilised rain water butts to set up a kind of capillary
watering system for the
green house to water the tomatoes and cucumbers. We do live in a
hard water area. I do drink tap water, will I die?

Bobbie;-)
Nah, just rust
Hello Pete, how's tricks?

Bobbie:-)
Mmm, well, mares tail/slugs/blackfly just about sums it up.
Only thing doing well is me spuds.........unless the slugs have got
them too. Oh, and sweetcorn looking good.
You must be very pleased with your efforts on the allotment. There is
nothing quite like sweetcorn picked and eaten fresh.
Mares tails? that is a nuisance. Blackfly? on your broad beans? Just
wipe them off with your fingers. Slugs? try beer traps.
It isn't easy keeping up when you have to work as well but it will be
worth it when you start eating the fruits of your labour.

Bobbie
Thought about beer traps, as someone else said, what to do with the
deceased? ok, I'm squeemish.....can't touch 'em. I've put gravel round
runners/french beans, lettuce, brocolli and brussels. Oh............and a
few pellets......................ahhh, don't smack me!

It is very difficult to be totally organic and chemical free on an
allotment Pete. John had a problem with spray drift and pellets carried
on shoes. He didn't even try then, but when we moved here and we had
enough space and time for a decent veggie patch we set about eliminating
chemicals. Mainly because we wanted to keep a few free range chickens
and because of the dogs and goats. It has taken a lot of work, providing
alternatives. Growing plants with other plants that help to deter bugs,
things like that. There is an alternative to slug pellets and beer
traps that you water on. Trouble with organic alternatives is they cost
so much more. In fact some are ridiculously priced.Ask AnneJ about
copper wire. I don't like slimy slugs either but I use an old pair of
BBQ tongs, and just drop them in a bucket of very soapy water. The
resulting bucket full goes into a hole in the ground away form any veg
or flowers.
Good luck, sounds like a nice collection of veg there.

Bobbie