Friday, July 21, 2006

# 0243# 0242Total Allotment Time: 2 & 1/2 hrs
Principle Tasks: Lightly forking over soil newly exposed from under plastic sheeting to remove any remaining weed roots as in recent posts. Watering plants in pots. Grubbing up phacelia green manure from temporary growing area.

4 comments:

Jimmy said...

Hi Tim

I think you have already convinced yourself that the grass paths are more work than they are worth and the alternative looks good. Go for it.

The old adage about an apple a day keeping the doctor away has a lot of truth in it. Try eating an apple (or two) a day and see if your nerves improve. A chap from work had medication from his doctor for a condition diagnosed as stress. But he insisted he was not stressed. He took some sort of supplement and it cured him and he no longer needed the medication. I am not saying it works in every case but the human body has remakable powers of recuperation and with a little help it is amazing what happens. (Doc Jimmy)


I am surprised the soil under the plastic dries out so quickly as I thought it would have had a lot of compost mixed in and would have had the moisture retaining properties that gives it. Get mulching Mulchman! PS I agree all the other allotmenteers ought to have mulched and avoided the worst problems of the drought.

I have been trying to "do" bumblebees for ages and I am still learning - which is all part of the fun - give it a go it will change your life. You can do biological recording anywhere and everywhere so it is an all year round hobby which will last a lifetime, and it is cheap!

Regards
Jimmy

Anonymous said...

Tim, the heat-wave we're currently going through is not so good for the garden , it's beginning to leave it's mark on a lot of plants, with the grass turning yellow and the flowers are blooming aut to soon.My garden is not looking wel to .Tim for the sowing grass seed (late August) can you do that not later in oktober or so ? I did it and oktober 3 years ago.
Oh Tim I leave a message on your care 2 connect (with a question)
Nice work Tim - the plot looks verry nice.

Tim Hopper said...

Cheers Jimmy. I do prefer the look and feel of grass (being something of an aesthetic at heart) but, yes, the advantages of a non-living alternative (chipped-bark, crushed shell, etc.) are legion, and I certainly will appreciate the extra 'pot-standing' space.

The apples on the communal trees nearby me (there are two for plot holders to share) are almost ripe, so I'll use them as a start :o)

The organic matter on the surface of the soil under the plastic (the remains of the grass mainly) has almost entirely disappeared, leaving only soil which I suspect has little or no humus content (I keep meaning to take up a glass jar to test it). I'll indeed mulch (and possibly double-dig - I suspect 'pans' in places) when I come to make the permanent beds (hopefully) this autumn.

Bumblebees, hoverflies, moths - so many interests, so little time! :o) The bumbles are high up on my list though.

Best Regards,
Tim

PS. I did mean also to catch up on Rita's comment, but have regrettably allowed the time to run away with me again, so I'll make it a priority tomorrow night, I promise (later on 26th, that is). T.

Tim Hopper said...

Hi Rita. Yes, I should think it would be possible to sow grass seed here in Kent even into October (especially if we were to have an 'Indian Summer' as we call mild autumns). Late August, early September is considered the ideal time, that's all.

Maybe I might still consider grass (wobbling again on my decision making) :o) if the next few weeks go well. I'll prioritise lifting the last of the plastic before I finally decide.

Regards,
Tim :o)x