How are the veggies coming along?

[daveatdave]

9 hours ago, AHPP said:

 

Making a rather late start on compost. Two bays because that’s how much convenient material and space I had. Hay, some kitchen scraps and sawdust from the bin at the house and woodchip so far. It’s miles from the chickens unfortunately. Not the best planning but there you go. 

take the cover off the top find a piece of carpet to cover it as it needs to be damp also you will need a removable front board to keep it all in as it builds up 

[scbk]

Got given some 60 litre drums that were being chucked (from a candle maker), they must've had the essential oils in them as they're very floral!

 

Thought they would make good pots for the tomatoes, so cut them in half and added handles. Not gone crazy with the drainage holes as they are going in the greenhouse. 30l should be a good size for water retention

 

Next to a B&Q 12l bucket for scale

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[peds]

Nice work! Heavy 30l pots aren't cheap. 

[AHPP]

21 hours ago, daveatdave said:

take the cover off the top find a piece of carpet to cover it as it needs to be damp also you will need a removable front board to keep it all in as it builds up 

 

Why does Charles Dowding (slightly annoying but seemingly competent internet gardener) roof his compost? What are the pros and cons?

[AHPP]

On 20/04/2025 at 20:06, Peasgood said:

Mine is netting to waist height and I often wish it was full plastic

 

23 hours ago, peds said:

Lose a lot of temperature in early season I think. Go full plastic unless it's an absolutely massive tunnel I'd say.

 

Looks like full plastic then. Not least because I won't have to replace all the rotten waist rails etc that will no doubt fall apart when I take the old skin off. Way less work.

 

Next thing to work out is how to overlap/join the plastic somewhere. It's coming in smaller sections.

Edited Monday at 19:09 by AHPP

[peds]

55 minutes ago, AHPP said:

Next thing to work out is how to overlap/join the plastic somewhere. It's coming in smaller sections.

 

Eee. Might be tricky to get a drum tight finish if you are doing it in sections. 

 

You can iron sheets of it together... might be best to test the process on some scraps first though.

[Welshfred]

1 hour ago, AHPP said:

Next thing to work out is how to overlap/join the plastic somewhere. It's coming in smaller sections

 

Maybe this, although not quite what it's designed for but is very good for sticking tunnel plastic.

Clear Joining / Tunnel Repair Tape | LBS Horticulture

WWW.LBSBUYERSGUIDE.CO.UK

Peds is on track though, you'll never get it drum tight with a join. Send the plastic back and buy a whole piece...

 

 

[Welshfred]

1 hour ago, AHPP said:

 

Why does Charles Dowding (slightly annoying but seemingly competent internet gardener) roof his compost? What are the pros and cons?

 

I've wondered the same. When I've covered heaps they dessicate and don't rot. Now I leave them uncovered but with a base layer of stems an thin sticks which I feel allows any excess liquid to drain away. Plus a cover like carpet encourages rats to bed in.

[AHPP]

22 minutes ago, peds said:

 

Eee. Might be tricky to get a drum tight finish if you are doing it in sections. 

 

You can iron sheets of it together... might be best to test the process on some scraps first though.

 

17 minutes ago, Welshfred said:

 

Maybe this, although not quite what it's designed for but is very good for sticking tunnel plastic.

Clear Joining / Tunnel Repair Tape | LBS Horticulture

WWW.LBSBUYERSGUIDE.CO.UK

Peds is on track though, you'll never get it drum tight with a join. Send the plastic back and buy a whole piece...

 

 

 

Plastic out of my hands. That's what's coming. That's what we're using. I've used that tape before and been impressed. 4" stuff wide enough along a butt/lap joint?

[peds]

Regarding compost, in the winter I lid mine with cardboard occasionally, and split plastic sacks if it's biblical rain and I have the opportunity or the inclination. I leave things open to the elephants (and the chickens) in the summer.

 

Polytunnel repair tape: it's for fixes for a season, maybe two. It won't hold up over the (projected) life of your polythene. 

Use it to join two overlapped sheets, sure, but then iron the overlap under a sheet of greaseproof paper or something, like you're ironing a boyscouts patch onto your sash. Or something. 

Careful you don't melt it to f*ck.