Hi Sally, lots of interesting information here, thank you. I’ve been looking at ways to crest a boundary around my veg patch and would so love an edible hedge. Dreams! An unrelated question...Do you have ideas of what to use as markers for crops? I’ve got some small ash tree branches which I could use but wondering if there’s anything else
Ah now I understand! OK well I will tell you how I do it and see what you think... as you know I'm plastic-free so I have tried most alternatives. Normal length wooden whether bamboo or lollipop sticks wick too much and ruin your writing, so if I'm using wooden labels I use disposable cutlery - the handles are long enough to deal with the wicking and you write (in pen) on the 'spoon'. They don't last long out in the garden though so when I plant outside in the garden I re-label using slate labels - I don't use those chalk sticks for writing though, I have a Tippex (correction fluid) pen which lasts for the whole season. I have tried most things now, each has their disadvantages, and that's what I've found works best for me!
Hello! Well the short answer is... you don't :D I have grown beans in loo rolls for many years and the bottom half of the container always breaks down before you come to plant out, but this doesn't affect the plants. Once sown, don't move your loo rolls but just leave them stood in the tray while the seedlings germinate; then when you want to plant out you just scoop each one out in a big messy lump of roots, plant and half-rotted cardboard - it looks awful but just remember it's 50 years of growing in plastic which has conditioned us to expect neat tidy rootballs, nature doesn't do it like that. Re mould - mine have never gone mouldy though they have occasionally grown mushrooms from the cardboard (these don't do any harm so I just pick them off if they're getting in the way). It is possible you are watering a little too much - plants in winter should be kept on the dry side as there is relatively little active growth going on. I water no more than once every week (and that only if the weather has been sunny) - sticking my finger in the compost first to check it's dry beneath the surface too. Hope that improves results a little!
You might just about get away with now but I would think they might flower late. . Worth trying! The flowers will be great for pollinators but I wouldn't rely on them to keep deer away - only fencing a Jack Russell on the loose does that well I've found 🙄
Hi Sally, lots of interesting information here, thank you. I’ve been looking at ways to crest a boundary around my veg patch and would so love an edible hedge. Dreams! An unrelated question...Do you have ideas of what to use as markers for crops? I’ve got some small ash tree branches which I could use but wondering if there’s anything else
Markers? Do you mean labels, or things to mark where the crops are sown?
Yes, labels
Ah now I understand! OK well I will tell you how I do it and see what you think... as you know I'm plastic-free so I have tried most alternatives. Normal length wooden whether bamboo or lollipop sticks wick too much and ruin your writing, so if I'm using wooden labels I use disposable cutlery - the handles are long enough to deal with the wicking and you write (in pen) on the 'spoon'. They don't last long out in the garden though so when I plant outside in the garden I re-label using slate labels - I don't use those chalk sticks for writing though, I have a Tippex (correction fluid) pen which lasts for the whole season. I have tried most things now, each has their disadvantages, and that's what I've found works best for me!
Brilliant! I was given slate plant labels for Xmas and will use typex rather than the chalk pen they came with.
Hi Sally, if I use loo rolls to sow seeds that have long root systems like sweet peas, how do you stop the rolls from going mouldy or soggy?
Hello! Well the short answer is... you don't :D I have grown beans in loo rolls for many years and the bottom half of the container always breaks down before you come to plant out, but this doesn't affect the plants. Once sown, don't move your loo rolls but just leave them stood in the tray while the seedlings germinate; then when you want to plant out you just scoop each one out in a big messy lump of roots, plant and half-rotted cardboard - it looks awful but just remember it's 50 years of growing in plastic which has conditioned us to expect neat tidy rootballs, nature doesn't do it like that. Re mould - mine have never gone mouldy though they have occasionally grown mushrooms from the cardboard (these don't do any harm so I just pick them off if they're getting in the way). It is possible you are watering a little too much - plants in winter should be kept on the dry side as there is relatively little active growth going on. I water no more than once every week (and that only if the weather has been sunny) - sticking my finger in the compost first to check it's dry beneath the surface too. Hope that improves results a little!
Also... I’ve got some ornamental alliums that I’ve not yet planted. Would the vegetable patch benefit from them? Maybe to deter deer...?
You might just about get away with now but I would think they might flower late. . Worth trying! The flowers will be great for pollinators but I wouldn't rely on them to keep deer away - only fencing a Jack Russell on the loose does that well I've found 🙄
*create a boundary