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#1
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Walk around my plot
Just took a few photos this morning while the ground was too wet for
any gardening - I want to dig the last of the new deep beds I've been preparing. Photos at http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/rodsgarden/Rod's%20plot01/page1.htm No captions, they are mostly self explanatory. The big cage is a legacy from when shoots were held on the Estate and pheasants were reared just over the wall. I cultivated this plot for 31 years as part of my work, running this 25 acre private garden but now I've retired the new head gardener is scaling down the veg for the Hall so I've 'inherited' one of the three veg plots. There were already 2 old deep beds and I'm converting the rest of the plot so there will be 8 deep beds in all about 47 feet long and 4 feet wide. As you can see my wife and I are fond of veg ;-) and I'm enjoying playing at seeing what the results can be with all the constraints off. To make things more interesting to yer average amateur I'm doing without using any of the available greenhouse facilities.Anything started indoors has been done on the window sill in my workshop and as I said in an earlier post I've been experimenting with hardening off the 'nearly hardy' or early season veg when the seedlings are barely showing in the plugs. Peas are started in short lengths of plastic guttering to avoid mouse damage and to give earlier cropping of the early variety - rows across the bed. Some of the photos show the succession given by making sowings at 2-3 week intervals. Onions are heat treated 'Red Baron'. I've made room for some flowers for cutting, especially border carnations and pinks which I haven't grown much before and sweet peas that I've never had time to grow properly before. |
#2
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Walk around my plot
"Rod" wrote in message oups.com... Just took a few photos this morning while the ground was too wet for any gardening - I want to dig the last of the new deep beds I've been preparing. Photos at http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/rodsgarden/Rod's%20plot01/page1.htm No captions, they are mostly self explanatory. The big cage is a legacy from when shoots were held on the Estate and pheasants were reared just over the wall. That's impressive Rod. Thanks for sharing it with us. I for one would like to see more pics as the season progresses. Mike |
#3
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Walk around my plot
On 17/5/07 20:41, in article ,
"Muddymike" wrote: "Rod" wrote in message oups.com... Just took a few photos this morning while the ground was too wet for any gardening - I want to dig the last of the new deep beds I've been preparing. Photos at http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/rodsgarden/Rod's%20plot01/page1.htm No captions, they are mostly self explanatory. The big cage is a legacy from when shoots were held on the Estate and pheasants were reared just over the wall. That's impressive Rod. Thanks for sharing it with us. I for one would like to see more pics as the season progresses. Mike I agree. That's a thing of beauty all in itself. The ground is so clean and the plants so healthy - more later, please! -- Sacha http://www.hillhousenursery.co.uk (remove weeds from address) Devon County Show 17-19 May http://www.devoncountyshow.co.uk/ |
#4
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Walk around my plot
On 17 May, 22:57, Sacha wrote:
On 17/5/07 20:41, in article , That's a thing of beauty all in itself. The ground is so clean and the plants so healthy - more later, please! -- I should have put the macro lens on to show you the weed seedlings since the rain started - won't need the macro lens in a day or two ;~) I wanted to take some photos before anything got picked because that always spoils the looks of the thing. |
#5
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Walk around my plot
In article , Muddymike
writes That's impressive Rod. Thanks for sharing it with us. I for one would like to see more pics as the season progresses. Mike Oh yes definitely. A closer look at the type of vegetables and how you are growing them as well! What are the frames for, do you actually have the luxury of a vegetable cage! -- Janet Tweedy Dalmatian Telegraph http://www.lancedal.demon.co.uk |
#6
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Walk around my plot
My real address is rodthegardeneratmyisp
"Janet Tweedy" wrote in message ... In article , Muddymike writes That's impressive Rod. Thanks for sharing it with us. I for one would like to see more pics as the season progresses. Mike Oh yes definitely. A closer look at the type of vegetables and how you are growing them as well! What are the frames for, do you actually have the luxury of a vegetable cage! Yes, but it's a legacy from when this was a shooting estate and pheasants were reared just over the wall. The moment the young birds could fly they were over into the kitchen garden and they were devastating, I could go in there some mornings and find a couple of hundred young pheasants in the crops. This was in my early years of working here and struggling with various forms of temporary netting covers - after some years and a particularly bad attack I finally got the estate to let me make these cages. Shooting finally stopped here a few years ago when my old boss died but the cages remain and they're still a useful protection against pigeons in this well wooded area. As for growing methods, it's all fairly conventional deep bed practice plus careful watering (properly - more later) and just watching the crops and their response to me and the conditions. Watering is something that drives all head gardenersand nursery managers mad. It seems to be almost impossible to teach and persuade anyone to put enough on, in the right place and without blasting the plants out. So not wanting to teach you to suck eggs ;~) this if for anybody else wondering why things aren't doing well. Dribbling a bit of water down a row of peas won't do, you need to visualise the extent of the root run of the mature crop and at least get the whole volume of that soil thoroughly wetted. Don't rely on nature to provide all the water container crops need but be mindful of overwatering. Thoroughly water seed drills before sowing in dry conditions. If planting container grown plants (especially large expensive ones) out in the garden, watch them like a hawk for the next couple of growing seasons. If you're planting a £20 plant, dig a £50 hole (with apologies to Geoff Smith for the misquote and updated figures) and incorporate plenty of well rotted organic stuff and making sure the bottom of the hole is draining OK. You're probably losing the will to live so I'll leave it at that for now. -- Rod |
#7
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Walk around my plot
"Janet Tweedy" wrote in message
... In article , Muddymike writes That's impressive Rod. Thanks for sharing it with us. I for one would like to see more pics as the season progresses. Mike Oh yes definitely. A closer look at the type of vegetables and how you are growing them as well! What are the frames for, do you actually have the luxury of a vegetable cage! Yes, but it's a legacy from when this was a shooting estate and pheasants were reared just over the wall. The moment the young birds could fly they were over into the kitchen garden and they were devastating, I could go in there some mornings and find a couple of hundred young pheasants in the crops. This was in my early years of working here and struggling with various forms of temporary netting covers - after some years and a particularly bad attack I finally got the estate to let me make these cages. Shooting finally stopped here a few years ago when my old boss died but the cages remain and they're still a useful protection against pigeons in this well wooded area. As for growing methods, it's all fairly conventional deep bed practice plus careful watering (properly - more later) and just watching the crops and their response to me and the conditions. Watering is something that drives all head gardenersand nursery managers mad. It seems to be almost impossible to teach and persuade anyone to put enough on, in the right place and without blasting the plants out. So not wanting to teach you to suck eggs ;~) this if for anybody else wondering why things aren't doing well. Dribbling a bit of water down a row of peas won't do, you need to visualise the extent of the root run of the mature crop and at least get the whole volume of that soil thoroughly wetted. Don't rely on nature to provide all the water container crops need but be mindful of overwatering. Thoroughly water seed drills before sowing in dry conditions. If planting container grown plants (especially large expensive ones) out in the garden, watch them like a hawk for the next couple of growing seasons. If you're planting a £20 plant, dig a £50 hole (with apologies to Geoff Smith for the misquote and updated figures) and incorporate plenty of well rotted organic stuff and making sure the bottom of the hole is draining OK. You're probably losing the will to live so I'll leave it at that for now. -- Rod My real address is rodthegardeneratmyisp |
#8
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Walk around my plot
"Rod" wrote in message oups.com... Just took a few photos this morning while the ground was too wet for any gardening - I want to dig the last of the new deep beds I've been preparing. Photos at http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/rodsgarden/Rod's%20plot01/page1.htm No captions, they are mostly self explanatory. The big cage is a legacy from when shoots were held on the Estate and pheasants were reared just over the wall. Man, that's bordering on industry, not gardening. Q. Do you really need all that iron-work and plasic? |
#9
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Walk around my plot
"Russel Sprout" wrote in message
... "Rod" wrote in message oups.com... Just took a few photos this morning while the ground was too wet for any gardening - I want to dig the last of the new deep beds I've been preparing. Photos at http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/rodsgarden/Rod's%20plot01/page1.htm No captions, they are mostly self explanatory. The big cage is a legacy from when shoots were held on the Estate and pheasants were reared just over the wall. Man, that's bordering on industry, not gardening. Like I said, we like our veg ;-) Q. Do you really need all that iron-work and plasic? The big cage is a legacy from when gardening here was like gardening in a b****y big fowl pen - however it does protect from pigeons. Eventually though I aim to have all of the brassicas under enviromesh to protect against cabbage root fly, aphids and caterpillars. It's also impossible to grow decent carrots here without protection from carrot fly. -- Rod My real address is rodthegardeneratmyisp |
#10
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Walk around my plot
"Rod" wrote after... "Russel Sprout" wrote in reply to "Rod" ... Just took a few photos this morning while the ground was too wet for any gardening - I want to dig the last of the new deep beds I've been preparing. Photos at http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/rodsgarden/Rod's%20plot01/page1.htm No captions, they are mostly self explanatory. The big cage is a legacy from when shoots were held on the Estate and pheasants were reared just over the wall. Man, that's bordering on industry, not gardening. Like I said, we like our veg ;-) Q. Do you really need all that iron-work and plasic? The big cage is a legacy from when gardening here was like gardening in a b****y big fowl pen - however it does protect from pigeons. Eventually though I aim to have all of the brassicas under enviromesh to protect against cabbage root fly, aphids and caterpillars. It's also impossible to grow decent carrots here without protection from carrot fly. When we tried to grow under environmesh the plants didn't seem to like the reduced light but if it's high on your frame then it will be more like a giant polytunnel.....there's a thought. I think the Carrot Root Fly is everywhere these days but an 18inch high solid barrier seems to help as does planting lots and discarding the damaged ones, a bit like White Rot in onions. With environmesh over them we had a significant germination problem. I've started trying to breed root fly resistance into our Long Red Surrey carrots by choosing perfect untouched ones to replant to flower/seed etc. but it will be a long process which I doubt I will ever achieve 100%. -- Regards Bob H 17mls W. of London.UK |
#11
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Walk around my plot
On 18 May, 18:02, "Bob Hobden" wrote:
When we tried to grow under environmesh the plants didn't seem to like the reduced light but if it's high on your frame then it will be more like a giant polytunnel.....there's a thought. I think the Carrot Root Fly is everywhere these days but an 18inch high solid barrier seems to help as does planting lots and discarding the damaged ones, a bit like White Rot in onions. With environmesh over them we had a significant germination problem. I've started trying to breed root fly resistance into our Long Red Surrey carrots by choosing perfect untouched ones to replant to flower/seed etc. but it will be a long process which I doubt I will ever achieve 100%. We've had good results the last couple of years with quite low enviromesh protection, but yes light admission is probably a bit better with a higher roof. As for germination, we have had some patchy germination of earlies, though in some cases I'm sure they've germinated and been eaten by slugs before we even noticed they were up. The later sowings are fine - in fact a bit too good, I'll need to thin the maincrop. Long Red Surrey - that brings back memories, buying seeds by weight out of a sack in an old seed shop. Good luck with selection of that strain. Why aren't I using the greenhouse? Occardosity I suppose and also wanted to refresh some of the techniques I used when I had my lottie when I was first working in a bank after I left school. Also, some plant health considerations - I wanted to be sure of clean plants to put under the enviromesh. There's no point in using it if you are going to put in plants already infested with aphids and cabbage root fly - I'm sure that when indifferent results are reported, this is a frequent cause. The Border carnations and Pinks are collections from Allwoods - all alleged to be scented so I'll be interested to see what they're like. Won't get much from the Borders this year of course - just one flower per plant if I'm lucky - That's why 'Puce' couldn't see much of the flowers. If I get any spare cuttings later on I'll let you know. I don't think any of the Pinks will be much more than 12" high and some of them are already making nice little clumps. |
#12
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Walk around my plot
On 17 May, 18:44, Rod wrote:
Just took a few photos this morning while the ground was too wet for any gardening - I want to dig the last of the new deep beds I've been preparing. Photos at http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/rodsgarden/Rod's%20plot01/page1.htm Blimey! You're feeding the hundreds and thousands! Fantastic. Please do send more pictures. But ... where's the flowers?! |
#13
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Walk around my plot
On May 17, 6:44 pm, Rod wrote:
Just took a few photos this morning while the ground was too wet for any gardening - I want to dig the last of the new deep beds I've been preparing. Photos at http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/rodsgarden/Rod's%20plot01/page1.htm Rod what a great veggie garden, where did you buy the white protective covering from? |
#14
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Walk around my plot
On 17 May, 23:03, "
wrote: On May 17, 6:44 pm, Rod wrote: Just took a few photos this morning while the ground was too wet for any gardening - I want to dig the last of the new deep beds I've been preparing. Photos at http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/rodsgarden/Rod's%20plot01/page1.htm Rod what a great veggie garden, where did you buy the white protective covering from? It's 'Enviromesh', available in small pieces from most GCs or in big rolls from some growers' sundries firms. IIRC Agralan are the main suppliers of commercial size rolls. Some firms also advertise a making up service for tunnel covers etc. BTW what I didn't say in my original post was about the 'Fort Knox' strawberry cage - we're practically in a wood and squirrels are a nightmare with plastic covered fruit cages - if there's cherries or strawberries the other side they'll get through anything short of strong wire. We've hadloads of enviromesh and plastic netting shredded overnight. |
#15
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Walk around my plot
On May 18, 6:39 pm, Rod wrote:
On 17 May, 23:03, " wrote: On May 17, 6:44 pm, Rod wrote: Just took a few photos this morning while the ground was too wet for any gardening - I want to dig the last of the new deep beds I've been preparing. Photos at http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/rodsgarden/Rod's%20plot01/page1.htm Rod what a great veggie garden, where did you buy the white protective covering from? It's 'Enviromesh', available in small pieces from most GCs or in big rolls from some growers' sundries firms. IIRC Agralan are the main suppliers of commercial size rolls. Some firms also advertise a making up service for tunnel covers etc. BTW what I didn't say in my original post was about the 'Fort Knox' strawberry cage - we're practically in a wood and squirrels are a nightmare with plastic covered fruit cages - if there's cherries or strawberries the other side they'll get through anything short of strong wire. We've hadloads of enviromesh and plastic netting shredded overnight. Rod I want to use something to keep off the cabbage whites, will Environmesh do it? |
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