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Graham Hyde

Joined: 03 Apr 2011
Posts: 365

Posted: Tue Mar 31, 15 12:29 am Post subject:
Hi, beware of any wood in compost, it usually takes about 5 years to be any use as plant food.

Mistress Rose

Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 15710

Posted: Tue Mar 31, 15 7:48 am Post subject:
I put wood in our compost heap but just toss it into the next heap if it hasn't decayed. WW, brassicas do better with less acid as that can encourage something like club root, so if you use woodchip or straw, I would use a bit of lime too.

Nicky cigreen

Joined: 25 Jun 2007
Posts: 9742
Location: Devon, uk

Posted: Tue Mar 31, 15 8:50 am Post subject:

wellington womble wrote:

I was thinking of smaller mounds, Graham. Although if an 8 foot mound is per plant it might be a problem. It's only two acres! I hadn't planned on much digging - just stripping the undergrowth and dumping stuff on top. The edging was just to keep the shape and stop the 'beds' ending up all over the 'paths', and make mowing easier. I was going to have a go at mulching with grass cuttings (except I don't have a mower yet)

Whatever shape the mound is, it still leaves the problem of what to make it out of without bankrupting me. I'll probably get some woodchips delivered, but they won't make good soil this year.

I'll have a go at strawbale if I come across some straw, although I'm not sure what it's best suited to - it's mainly brassicas, spuds and flowers I'm thinking of. The roots, salads and peas will go in the raised beds. Squashes straight into muck. Beans and sweetcorn can go anywhere. Got two greenhouses for tomatoes and chillies (assuming they ever germinate)

I've heard of a method of growing spuds where you just lay them out on the ground/turf etc in rows then cover them in a deep layer of straw - the spuds grow through the straw . then the spent straw becomes the basis for a bed for other crops for next year. Not tried it myself but could be worth looking into?

gregotyn

Joined: 24 Jun 2010
Posts: 2201
Location: Llanfyllin area

Posted: Tue Mar 31, 15 1:36 pm Post subject:

I don't know if it is true but wood buried is said to increase the wire worm population in soil, until properly rotted. If your soil is acid potatoes will grow well. There was advocation for growing on mounds 8 feet apart not 8 feet high as I read it. If you mark a circle about 2feet in diameter and cover that with fresh or well rotted cow manure then dig round the perimeter a spade depth into the soil, or no more than the topsoil, (you will see the colour change), and put that on top of the cow manure, you will have an adequate mound I always plant my potatoes directly on top of the manure. As they grow and you get a lot of top then you can add more soil to the top, leaving about half of the tops showing,-you can do this several times over the growing season-and they will put out more roots and grow even more potatoes for you to eat. The most you will have to do is add water and when you can't then ask someone to do it for you. You can get a lot of potatoes of differing sizes the largest,(jacket spuds), at the bottom and the smallest, (earlies), at the top with this system! the most I have ever heard of is 1cwt-50 kilos from a dustbin. Harvest in late October Plant NOW!! Regular watering is essential to maximise yeild, but nature will help you out on numerous occasions no doubt- have fun!

wellington womble

Joined: 08 Nov 2004
Posts: 15051
Location: East Midlands

Posted: Tue Mar 31, 15 7:59 pm Post subject:

That's sort of what I envisioned with mounds, but it would be difficult to mow round (I'm trying to get a ride on without mortgaging my soul) which is why I thought long rectangular mounds might do better. I think I may have to scale back my plans and just keep the cultivated bit in check with a push mower. If I start now and keep on top of it it should be doable. On the plus side, I'll have loads of rough grass to mulch with! I'll still get a couple of loads of manure and some chippings for mulching the fruit, though. And some sort of compost would be tremendously useful if I could get some.

Will definitely try straw for the spuds. Need to dig some holes first though.

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