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  • Too many seeds - I had to do something

    Having spent the weekend playing four dimensional chess I had sort of a plan. One of the big things was to try and get my courgettes, squash and cucumber growing up supports and space for enough roots (carrots, parsnips, root parsley, skirrit, sweet cicely, salsify, scrzonera, rampion) to make growing each worthwhile which includes squeezing in three or four mini raised beds wherever I could (bang goes the deck chairs and barbecue. There also space for the beans (70 8ft canes ordered for the supports), with some left over for the rest of the stuff.

    Then I checked my email and there's a message from T&M saying that my order was being dispatched. Doh - two more climbing courgettes, two more winter squash amd another variety of salsify were part of that order.

    Then I discovered the packet of Atlantic Giant pumpkin which is probably not a variety to try and grow over a rose arch.


    Aaaaaarrrrgh.

    I could have been sensible and decide not to grow some of this year and put them on next year's plan. I could, but I'm not.

    On the other side of the fence from my lottie is an atea of garden unused and covered in weeds. Id been toying with the idea of enquiring about it but so far I hadn't decided.

    To the north of this plot is the fence which serves as the boundary with my current plot. This is about 10 - 12 foot high (although only 6ft on my side). To the East is a church which also pokes out on the south boundary, the rest of which is a high brick wall. To the west is another high fence made from corrugated steel and beyond this is a strip of trees higher than the fence.

    The plot has two ateas. The area up against the church (ie the eastern side is the most open, the other part contains mature apple, pear and plum trees all in need of major surgery.

    The ground must be really fertile as I can almost pick the nettles by leaning over the fence. Prior to the current neglect chickens were kept in it for years which would have helped.

    I had a "5 minute" chat with the church steward and in principle I can take on the plot, he just has to sort out the nitty gritty.

    New all singing all dancing blog - Jasons Jungle

    �I have not failed 1,000 times. I have successfully discovered 1,000 ways to NOT make a light bulb."
    ― Thomas A. Edison

    �Negative results are just what I want. They�re just as valuable to me as positive results. I can never find the thing that does the job best until I find the ones that don�t.�
    ― Thomas A. Edison

    - I must be a Nutter,VC says so -

  • #2
    Fingers crossed Jay. Grasp the nettle, as they say, and sow seed instead

    Comment


    • #3
      Well I've already started sowing alpine strawberries to use as ground cover under the trees.

      A couple of pikkies taken from over the fence in June




      New all singing all dancing blog - Jasons Jungle

      �I have not failed 1,000 times. I have successfully discovered 1,000 ways to NOT make a light bulb."
      ― Thomas A. Edison

      �Negative results are just what I want. They�re just as valuable to me as positive results. I can never find the thing that does the job best until I find the ones that don�t.�
      ― Thomas A. Edison

      - I must be a Nutter,VC says so -

      Comment


      • #4
        Looks like the Secret Garden - just waiting for some TLC. How exciting

        Comment


        • #5
          It won't cure the problem though. Because of the shade I'm now getting together a list of shade loving veg which I'll have to get the seed for

          Ah well, I've got my name on the allotment list as well

          New all singing all dancing blog - Jasons Jungle

          �I have not failed 1,000 times. I have successfully discovered 1,000 ways to NOT make a light bulb."
          ― Thomas A. Edison

          �Negative results are just what I want. They�re just as valuable to me as positive results. I can never find the thing that does the job best until I find the ones that don�t.�
          ― Thomas A. Edison

          - I must be a Nutter,VC says so -

          Comment


          • #6
            Originally posted by Jay-ell View Post
            It won't cure the problem though. Because of the shade I'm now getting together a list of shade loving veg which I'll have to get the seed for
            You can think of enough for a list???
            Wow! I didn't think there were any shade loving veg.....lettuce maybe?
            Do tell, I could really use some inspiration for a shady corner in my garden.
            http://goneplotterin.blogspot.co.uk/

            Comment


            • #7
              Well lettuce and spinach are in there and I've already mentioned sweet cicely and scozonera. Udo is a plant that seems to be able to cope with deep shade, is held in high regard by the Japanese, covers the hungry gap. Sea kale seems to be able to grow in partial sjade as do dauber tons kale and turkish rocker.

              Ok not your standard veg but being perennials I wouldn't have the annual buy seeds and figure out space hassle each year.

              New all singing all dancing blog - Jasons Jungle

              �I have not failed 1,000 times. I have successfully discovered 1,000 ways to NOT make a light bulb."
              ― Thomas A. Edison

              �Negative results are just what I want. They�re just as valuable to me as positive results. I can never find the thing that does the job best until I find the ones that don�t.�
              ― Thomas A. Edison

              - I must be a Nutter,VC says so -

              Comment


              • #8
                To get extra light in our dark corner I have managed to get hold of quite large mirrors off Freecycle and Frreagle - we only have a small corner but a well placed mirror can work wonders.
                I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work. Thomas A. Edison

                Outreach co-ordinator for the Gnome, Pixie and Fairy groups within the Nutters Club.

                Comment


                • #9
                  Originally posted by Lumpy View Post
                  To get extra light in our dark corner I have managed to get hold of quite large mirrors off Freecycle and Frreagle - we only have a small corner but a well placed mirror can work wonders.
                  Great idea - I had thought of painting the corrugated iron fence white to reflect light back. I don't think that I'd be able to get all 750 square foot of the north wall but a few well placed mirrors may work wonders.

                  New all singing all dancing blog - Jasons Jungle

                  �I have not failed 1,000 times. I have successfully discovered 1,000 ways to NOT make a light bulb."
                  ― Thomas A. Edison

                  �Negative results are just what I want. They�re just as valuable to me as positive results. I can never find the thing that does the job best until I find the ones that don�t.�
                  ― Thomas A. Edison

                  - I must be a Nutter,VC says so -

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Put adverts for wants on the free sites - its amazing how many replies you can get - if you can position the mirrors so the light bounces off each other all the better.
                    Think about attaching a mirror to legs that can be shoved into the earth and then aimed at another mirror on a wall. It does work wonders.
                    I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work. Thomas A. Edison

                    Outreach co-ordinator for the Gnome, Pixie and Fairy groups within the Nutters Club.

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      I can picture that working in my mind right up to the point where I accidentally raise Imhotep from the dead. Don't fancy having a plague of locusts on the lottie. They'd play hell with the brassicas.

                      New all singing all dancing blog - Jasons Jungle

                      �I have not failed 1,000 times. I have successfully discovered 1,000 ways to NOT make a light bulb."
                      ― Thomas A. Edison

                      �Negative results are just what I want. They�re just as valuable to me as positive results. I can never find the thing that does the job best until I find the ones that don�t.�
                      ― Thomas A. Edison

                      - I must be a Nutter,VC says so -

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Imhotep sounds like a brilliant name for a voracious caterpiller breed - go on be a dibble!

                        Looks a bit like Dobbie out of the HP films

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                        Last edited by Lumpy; 22-01-2015, 02:05 PM.
                        I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work. Thomas A. Edison

                        Outreach co-ordinator for the Gnome, Pixie and Fairy groups within the Nutters Club.

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          In "The Mummy" they lit the catacombs using a setup similar to the one you described.


                          I don't fancy voracious caterpillars either - whether mummified or not.

                          New all singing all dancing blog - Jasons Jungle

                          �I have not failed 1,000 times. I have successfully discovered 1,000 ways to NOT make a light bulb."
                          ― Thomas A. Edison

                          �Negative results are just what I want. They�re just as valuable to me as positive results. I can never find the thing that does the job best until I find the ones that don�t.�
                          ― Thomas A. Edison

                          - I must be a Nutter,VC says so -

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            I've seen them do that in The Valley of the Kings (not a film but in Egypt) They used mirrors, held at angles so that the light bounced from one to the other right into the burial chamber. Very impressive
                            I'm sure you can knock up something similar Jay

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              I vaguely remember watching a video when sunlight was reflected from several mirrors onto a fresnal lens and used to cook with.


                              Now how to focus that onto slugs?


                              For now I may just go with the white paint as they're a lot of migrating stones around here. The tall trees block most of them out but occasionally they have made nesting holes in the church windows.

                              New all singing all dancing blog - Jasons Jungle

                              �I have not failed 1,000 times. I have successfully discovered 1,000 ways to NOT make a light bulb."
                              ― Thomas A. Edison

                              �Negative results are just what I want. They�re just as valuable to me as positive results. I can never find the thing that does the job best until I find the ones that don�t.�
                              ― Thomas A. Edison

                              - I must be a Nutter,VC says so -

                              Comment

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