Baz wrote:
Janet wrote in
:
In article , says...
I have been advised only to dress the soil with bonemeal at planting
time to encourage rooting.
In spring, I will feed it on chix poo
pellets .. then stand well back :~)
Ideally one should dig a BIG, BIG planting hole ..several feet deep
and wide.. and load it up with as much organic material as possible,
including some that will break down slowly, like bones, old wool
jumpers, hair, leather boots, roadkill, seafood shells, dead fish, plus
manure (you can safely use fresh, down the bottom of the hole). Rhubarb
is a very greedy feeder and will be in situ for many years, so a big
start ensures prolific stems for years to come.
Sounds like a home landfill site.:-)
So it is - leather and woollens usually can be collected after jumble
sales for little or no cost. The butcher will usually supply bones f.o.c.
Spider has already planted his rhubard, but for future referance how deep
to put things like roadkill?
My guru recommended a four-foot deep pit, at least two feet by two. ones
and roadkill start the process, and smaller bones and stuff can be added
as the pit id filled.
The area should have a distinct alp over it, and the crown planted at
the summit. The compost, manure and other organic matter will decay over
time, and he alp will disappear.
Thinking of hygene and the thought of eating produce that has fed on
possibly a diseased carcass.
Makes sense on our soil as it is light and dries out quickly so anything
which will help to retain moisture such as wool and leather is something to
consider.
The wool and leather releases phosphates an nitrogen over a long period.
Any humus you put into the soil will be appreciated, and nicely mixed by
the worm population, but on light sandy soil the crown really needs
frequent mulching with stuff which will augment the humus level.
And don't forget the water..
--
Rusty