Kitchen Garden Forum

The last couple of years I've had a lot of crops still going in late October as the frosts are so delayed, then the constant rains of winter set in.

This leaves a rather small interval in which to get my plot manured, limed and de-weeded.

If I didn't have to go to work on the few clear, dry days it would be easier. So I propose we start the campaign for workers rights to digging days, (like some people have duvet days!).

(Alternatively any ideas on how to fit round the changing seasons.)

Hi Di,
Would you care to name the crops that are lingering on. I feel with a bit of planning most hitches like this one can be quite easily resolved.
I suppose it really depends on how much space you start off with.
JB.

Funny thing, I am sat here in my lunch time at work doing a bit of legal surfing and thinking what will the weather be like this weekend, hoping for one of the dry days to dig!! I can be flexible at work but find myself working at such a pace that on the days when the weather is good I am then too booked up to take a day off. It does beg me to think why we don't work from 1 to 9 or something in the winter so we can make use of the day light for ourselves, food for thought but probably not in my lunch time.

Dave

Don't spit Di, but I already have these sorted.

A couple of years ago I negotiated "allotment flexi-time" so if the weather is good for digging, I start early and finish early or stash a few extra hours when I can for when I need them. Those extra few hours in the sunshine every so often make such a huge difference.

I'm very lucky with my job as this year I'm also taking every Wednesday morning for Italian lessons and shuffling my hours around to accommodate this.

It's also lucky that I can also work from home

JB, the ones that come to mind in particular are french beans, squashes and courgettes. However grouping late things together has been complicated by attempts to grow successional crops/and manage rotations.

Still you're probably right, i'll have to spend one of my wet weekends pushing coloured bits of paper round to come up with THE PLAN.

Oh, and Chantal, I'm just not speaking to you no more

I was thinking about you Di, as I was working until 6pm today to make up an hour to cover some Italian

Interestingly I often receive emails from some group or other who are encouraging bosses to allow flexible working. This means people starting and finishing at different times to ease traffic congestion, but it would also fit in well with digging

Hi Di,
I make very good use of heavy duty black polythene.
I spread manure on the surface and allow this to become saturated and then cover with the h/d B P and leave it until late Feb/Early March by which time the worms have generally dealt with the manure and all that is needed is a light digging. As I have said before I have no clay and I am not sure if my method would be the right treatment for clay soils.
I generally dig in late Feb/E March and then cover up again with the polythene and only uncover about a fortnight before I need to use it. If you do this you must make sure that the soil is not getting too dry. If it is dry uncover when it rains and then cover up again. You can always leave a tuck in the polythene to allow for a crop that has not finished and when it finally does peg out then simple compost the organic matter and pull the polythene over to cover the area. How does that grab you?
JB.

Hi JB,
that sounds very similar to what I do, though I've used fabric more than polythene - I may swap over on your advice. I also feel a certain ammount of couch grass control is necessary in my ongoing battle with it. I'd ideally like to de-weed before adding the manure or compost, as feeding the ******* stuff goes against the grain. But the HD poly may be better at killing it too.

How do you fit liming in, is it a case of different years in your rotation, or is it okay to add it a coulple of months after the manure, books say not at the same time, but I haaven't seen a time interval mentioned.

Thanks your your advice,

Di

Hello Di
I can thoroughly recommend early retirement!
Every day then becomes a 'digging' day. You can dig whatever needs doing and whenever you like - its what I call real flexitime.

John

Oooooh John, you know how to hurt a girl.

There is I'm afraid no chance of my retiring any time before 70, barring a lottery win, or sudden marriage with a millionaire.

Dear Di, you could always get yourself a hunky gardener.

So it's Old Hunky now is it

In his dreams

Dear Alan, it does have it's own sort of persona but i think i will stick to what i do best.

Thankyou for your vote of confidence Chantal.

but i think i will stick to what i do best.

And what's that Hunky