GardenBanter.co.uk - View Single Post - Vegatables that help convert grassland into workable veggie patch?

Janet · 28-12-2011, 02:34 AM posted to uk.rec.gardening

In article 742a6955-9310-4309-a876-
, says...

On Dec 21, 10:38*am, Janet wrote:
In article 7b359958-ee09-4751-a1be-
, says...

On Dec 20, 2:10*pm, Janet wrote:
In article 1c190a01-4547-46e7-884a-
, says....

On Dec 19, 11:42*pm, Baz wrote:
NT wrote :

+1. Cardboard is excellent. I'd also plant something light excluding
the first yr, like nettles, pumpkins, courgettes, rhubarb, etc. If
you've got compostable material, that can go down under the cardboard.
Permaculture will wipe out most of the unnecessary physical work that
annual gardens require year on year, but it means getting used to a
whole different set of fruit & veg.

NT

I am very interested in this method of gardening, but why does it mean
getting used to a whole different set of fruit & veg?
Can't we just cut a hole through the cardboard and plant our usual veg.?

Just asking before I lay the cardboard and chuck the muck on top.

I trust you mean muck under the cardboard.

* IME *better to put the muck on top to help hold down the cardboard and
stop it blowing away.. By the time the much has weathered the carboard
will have disintegrated.

that means the cardboard will disintegrate pretty quickly.

* Yes, that's the intention. The cardboard is strictly temporary, only
required for a few months to defeat photosynthesis by the primary growth
(weeds, grass), killing them without *need for digging or weedkiller.

how long its needed depends on the weeds. The longer it lasts, the
less weeding there is to do. I like that!

*Sticks or
stones can keep it down ok.

* *They would; but a true permaculturist would be saving sticks and stones
for *longterm use (making swales, or drains). It also makes the

on some sites. I have more sticks than I can ever use

manure fulfill two functions, (a permaculture principle) while reducing
the required labour inputs from three to two (a permaculture and Janet
pinciple).

how does manure on card reduce labour over manure under card?

1 spread manure
2 spread card
3 fetch and spread stones/sticks on card to hold down card.

or

1 spread card
2 spread manure to hold down card.

* However, UK limitations are no bar to using a Permaculture method of bed
construction in the UK, which you then plant otherwise.

* Janet.

There are such in the wild in Britain, on woodland edge, eg blackthorn
with blackberry growing under it.

* *That natural combination is not a permanent sustainable planting
though; it's transitional.

why do you say that?

Most forest edges are!

Blackthorn plants grow taller and live longer than blackberry plants.
Ultimately the blackthorn with grow tall and dense enough (it suckers) to
shade out the blackberry.

Janet.