It's not really an allotment, but I'm getting to the idea of vegging on the
bank. Trouble is, it's on a wicked slope, about 1 in 2. Is this likely to
make it drain too much for most veggies? I know most stuff need water to
produce the bits you eat, apart from root veg.

Anyone had experience of growing veg (particularly legumes) on a slope like
that?

I could quite easily rig up a pump to water it straight from the river
though, as long as the veg was washed properly before eating that shouldn't
be a problem.

I think I might also get competition from Mr Ratty and his friends the
rabbits, but maybe I can fence that off in a Mr McGregor stylee.

Uncle Marvo writes
It's not really an allotment, but I'm getting to the idea of vegging on the
bank. Trouble is, it's on a wicked slope, about 1 in 2. Is this likely to
make it drain too much for most veggies? I know most stuff need water to
produce the bits you eat, apart from root veg.

Apart from root veg? Ever tried growing radishes without much water? ;-)

French beans can cope better than runners. What's the soil like
otherwise?
--
Kay

In reply to K ) who wrote this in
, I, Marvo, say :

Uncle Marvo writes
It's not really an allotment, but I'm getting to the idea of vegging
on the bank. Trouble is, it's on a wicked slope, about 1 in 2. Is
this likely to make it drain too much for most veggies? I know most
stuff need water to produce the bits you eat, apart from root veg.

Apart from root veg? Ever tried growing radishes without much water?
;-)

French beans can cope better than runners. What's the soil like
otherwise?

It is brilliant for growing stinging nettles and dock. That's all I know.
But it's right by a river so should be good. Water is there, just a question
of getting it up to the top. I could pump it uphill and let it run down, but
that might be too much. Or set up a sprinkler, shouldn't be a problem.

Uncle Marvo wrote:
It is brilliant for growing stinging nettles and dock. That's all I know.

Therefore let me tell you that you have an acid soil and prior to
growing vegetables, especially legumes like you wish, you will need to
lime it first.

But it's right by a river so should be good.

Blueberries would like that.

Water is there, just a question
of getting it up to the top. I could pump it uphill and let it run down, but
that might be too much. Or set up a sprinkler, shouldn't be a problem.

Phew ... far too complicated for me already ;o)

In reply to La Puce ) who wrote this in
, I, Marvo, say :

Uncle Marvo wrote:
It is brilliant for growing stinging nettles and dock. That's all I
know.

Therefore let me tell you that you have an acid soil and prior to
growing vegetables, especially legumes like you wish, you will need to
lime it first.

Lime 'R' us. Any recommendations as to what sort and how much I should use?
I have a pH thingy here somewhere ...

But it's right by a river so should be good.

Blueberries would like that.

Blueberries are the new wonder veg, apparently. They contain all the good
things that we lack in a modern diet, so I'm reliably informed. And most of
the ones we get most of the year are from noo Zealand and thus roger about 3
tonnes of carbon per berry. I adore blueberries.

Water is there, just a question
of getting it up to the top. I could pump it uphill and let it run
down, but that might be too much. Or set up a sprinkler, shouldn't
be a problem.

Phew ... far too complicated for me already ;o)

That's the bit I like best, the engineering :-)

Uncle Marvo wrote:
Lime 'R' us. Any recommendations as to what sort and how much I should use?
I have a pH thingy here somewhere ...

Ground chalk is nicer to use and now would be ideal time before digging
for next year. But you're on a slop and the hydroxide one is more
soluble. I leave it to you to decide, I'm not sure how sloppy your slop
slops.

Blueberries are the new wonder veg, apparently. They contain all the good
things that we lack in a modern diet, so I'm reliably informed. And most of
the ones we get most of the year are from noo Zealand and thus roger about 3
tonnes of carbon per berry. I adore blueberries.

Huh?! I've had lots of berries this year from only 4 bushes, 2 at home
and 2 on the lotty. So much I was tempted to put some in salads,
bolognese, mash spuds ....

That's the bit I like best, the engineering :-)

I'd guess that. I don't have the head for it unless I get instruction
in several languages and can laugh at the spelling mistookes.

Uncle Marvo writes
In reply to La Puce ) who wrote this in
om, I, Marvo, say :

Uncle Marvo wrote:
It is brilliant for growing stinging nettles and dock. That's all I
know.

Therefore let me tell you that you have an acid soil

That may not be infallible. Nettles can grow on limestone pavements.


--
Kay

Uncle Marvo writes
In reply to K ) who wrote this in
, I, Marvo, say :

Uncle Marvo writes
It's not really an allotment, but I'm getting to the idea of vegging
on the bank. Trouble is, it's on a wicked slope, about 1 in 2. Is
this likely to make it drain too much for most veggies? I know most
stuff need water to produce the bits you eat, apart from root veg.

Apart from root veg? Ever tried growing radishes without much water?
;-)

French beans can cope better than runners. What's the soil like
otherwise?

It is brilliant for growing stinging nettles and dock.

Rich soil, then.

That's all I know.
But it's right by a river so should be good. Water is there, just a question
of getting it up to the top. I could pump it uphill and let it run down, but
that might be too much. Or set up a sprinkler, shouldn't be a problem.

Is it sandy or clay-ey? If you roll between your fingers do you get a
ball or a sausage or a heap of crumbs?

How much humus?

Should be OK for leaf veg for a start. Do you use the nettles? ;-)



--
Kay

"Uncle Marvo" wrote in message
...
In reply to K ) who wrote this in
, I, Marvo, say :

Uncle Marvo writes
It's not really an allotment, but I'm getting to the idea of vegging
on the bank. Trouble is, it's on a wicked slope, about 1 in 2. Is
this likely to make it drain too much for most veggies? I know most
stuff need water to produce the bits you eat, apart from root veg.

Apart from root veg? Ever tried growing radishes without much water?
;-)

French beans can cope better than runners. What's the soil like
otherwise?

It is brilliant for growing stinging nettles and dock. That's all I know.
But it's right by a river so should be good. Water is there, just a
question
of getting it up to the top. I could pump it uphill and let it run down,
but
that might be too much. Or set up a sprinkler, shouldn't be a problem.

are you able to contour the bank so that water gradually runs down the bank
along a series of ridges, depressions and shallow ponds? This will allow you
to water in moderation and the run off will be subtly controlled.

rob

On 14/9/06 08:31, in article , "George.com"
wrote:


"Uncle Marvo" wrote in message
...
snip I could pump it uphill and let it run down,
but
that might be too much. Or set up a sprinkler, shouldn't be a problem.

are you able to contour the bank so that water gradually runs down the bank
along a series of ridges, depressions and shallow ponds? This will allow you
to water in moderation and the run off will be subtly controlled.

Or plant in growbags on the bank. ;-)
--
Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.co.uk
South Devon
http://www.discoverdartmoor.co.uk/

In reply to Sacha ) who wrote this in
, I, Marvo, say :

On 14/9/06 08:31, in article ,
"George.com" wrote:


"Uncle Marvo" wrote in message
...
snip I could pump it uphill and let it run down,
but
that might be too much. Or set up a sprinkler, shouldn't be a
problem.

are you able to contour the bank so that water gradually runs down
the bank along a series of ridges, depressions and shallow ponds?
This will allow you to water in moderation and the run off will be
subtly controlled.

Or plant in growbags on the bank. ;-)

Both good points. Yes, I could step it. I don't know if my not-so-young back
will stand it, I bvgg3red it a couple of years ago trying to move a fork
lift shovel, before I realised that it had a two-tonne weight on it. I
suppose I could hire a micro digger, that should do the trick. And I like
driving boy's toys!

Yes, I think I will. I reckon this is probably the ideal sort of weather now
for doing it, ready for autumn planting.

"Uncle Marvo" wrote in message
...
It's not really an allotment, but I'm getting to the idea of vegging on
the
bank. Trouble is, it's on a wicked slope, about 1 in 2. Is this likely to
make it drain too much for most veggies? I know most stuff need water to
produce the bits you eat, apart from root veg.

Anyone had experience of growing veg (particularly legumes) on a slope
like
that?

I could quite easily rig up a pump to water it straight from the river
though, as long as the veg was washed properly before eating that
shouldn't
be a problem.

I think I might also get competition from Mr Ratty and his friends the
rabbits, but maybe I can fence that off in a Mr McGregor stylee.



At the moment, what's preventing this bank of yours from gradually
sliding into the river, whenever there's heavy rain ?

That might no longer be there, if you dig it all up ?



michael adams

....

In reply to michael adams ) who wrote this in
, I, Marvo, say :

"Uncle Marvo" wrote in message
...
It's not really an allotment, but I'm getting to the idea of vegging
on the bank. Trouble is, it's on a wicked slope, about 1 in 2. Is
this likely to make it drain too much for most veggies? I know most
stuff need water to produce the bits you eat, apart from root veg.

Anyone had experience of growing veg (particularly legumes) on a
slope like that?

I could quite easily rig up a pump to water it straight from the
river though, as long as the veg was washed properly before eating
that shouldn't be a problem.

I think I might also get competition from Mr Ratty and his friends
the rabbits, but maybe I can fence that off in a Mr McGregor stylee.



At the moment, what's preventing this bank of yours from gradually
sliding into the river, whenever there's heavy rain ?

That might no longer be there, if you dig it all up ?

A good thought. Nothing, apart from the nettles and dock. I would hope that
the veggies would replace the non-slide function.

"Uncle Marvo" wrote in message
...
In reply to michael adams ) who wrote this in
, I, Marvo, say :

"Uncle Marvo" wrote in message
...
It's not really an allotment, but I'm getting to the idea of vegging
on the bank. Trouble is, it's on a wicked slope, about 1 in 2. Is
this likely to make it drain too much for most veggies? I know most
stuff need water to produce the bits you eat, apart from root veg.

Anyone had experience of growing veg (particularly legumes) on a
slope like that?

I could quite easily rig up a pump to water it straight from the
river though, as long as the veg was washed properly before eating
that shouldn't be a problem.

I think I might also get competition from Mr Ratty and his friends
the rabbits, but maybe I can fence that off in a Mr McGregor stylee.



At the moment, what's preventing this bank of yours from gradually
sliding into the river, whenever there's heavy rain ?

That might no longer be there, if you dig it all up ?

A good thought. Nothing, apart from the nettles and dock. I would hope
that
the veggies would replace the non-slide function.


If the nettles have been long established then quite possibly they
will have formed an interconnecting mat of roots in the soil. Both
living and dead roots may form a stabilising layer near the surface
of the soil. The same may be true of dock.

michael adams

....

In reply to michael adams ) who wrote this in
, I, Marvo, say :

"Uncle Marvo" wrote in message
...
In reply to michael adams ) who wrote this in
, I, Marvo, say :

"Uncle Marvo" wrote in
message ...
It's not really an allotment, but I'm getting to the idea of
vegging on the bank. Trouble is, it's on a wicked slope, about 1
in 2. Is this likely to make it drain too much for most veggies? I
know most stuff need water to produce the bits you eat, apart from
root veg.

Anyone had experience of growing veg (particularly legumes) on a
slope like that?

I could quite easily rig up a pump to water it straight from the
river though, as long as the veg was washed properly before eating
that shouldn't be a problem.

I think I might also get competition from Mr Ratty and his friends
the rabbits, but maybe I can fence that off in a Mr McGregor
stylee.



At the moment, what's preventing this bank of yours from gradually
sliding into the river, whenever there's heavy rain ?

That might no longer be there, if you dig it all up ?

A good thought. Nothing, apart from the nettles and dock. I would
hope that the veggies would replace the non-slide function.


If the nettles have been long established then quite possibly they
will have formed an interconnecting mat of roots in the soil. Both
living and dead roots may form a stabilising layer near the surface
of the soil. The same may be true of dock.

A good point. If I scythe down the nettles, presumably the roots will stay
(and the nettles will grow again!)

But then, if I plant some other stuff, that will also have roots. Or shall I
give up now?

Marvo NEVER gives up :-)