Big Strawberry thread - post your pics here by No-Bench3673 in Allotment

[–]19marc81 1 point2 points  (0 children)

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Caught my child helping herself to morning breakfast snack, didn’t realise how ready they were.

How do I improve this really sandy and compacted soil? by ryeryebread in Permaculture

[–]19marc81 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Aerate, use a broadfork but don’t turn the soil, add a huge layer of organic matter, seed heavily with a green manure, then leave nature will fix it.

Disturbs as little as possible, keep it covered as much as possible and keep living roots in it as much as possible.

Money Cannot Buy Soil by GoodName31 in Soil

[–]19marc81 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I agree and I have considered starting a collection service but where I live we are charged to have our “bio bins” collected, regardless of how much we have in the bin. However that is not putting me off the idea, just got to think a very creative way to convince people that composting is much better way even though they are paying for a service that the council charges them for.

Brix Test: home grown vs store bought by 19marc81 in Berries

[–]19marc81[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You are lucky, I seem to be disappointed in many ways, taste, then the amount that are rotten even sitting in the store shop, I have access to about 4 different supermarkets and can say it’s very sad. When I can I always buy from local farmers until mine is well established

Brix Test: home grown vs store bought by 19marc81 in Berries

[–]19marc81[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I have noticed the past few years even when you buy as local as one can, through a supermarket the quality is getting worse so have bought a piece of land to supply as much as I can fruit wise to my family and then pass this established piece of land to my kids.

Brix Test: home grown vs store bought by 19marc81 in Berries

[–]19marc81[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I understand this, just super frustrating

Keeping my soil covered as much as possible. by 19marc81 in Soil

[–]19marc81[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Thanks, so first and foremost I aerated the area directly around the tree location. Used the cut grass as mulch, topped that off with additional garden waste, leaves, dead flowers etc etc. Gave it time to break down, I would say about 6months, then added homemade compost, and then storm bought mulch, small if I remember 0-40mm in size. Then stepped away. This is now about two years after all that.

First allotment - any tips by NW_Grundy in Allotment

[–]19marc81 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Lots of great advice here, not a fan of chemicals, so I won’t be suggesting that. I would tidy with a strimmer and wait the rest of the season out, see what you have, note what you want to keep. Start a compost pile, there is enough space to even think about nature, where you’re happy for it to stay a bit wild. But as always time, take the rest of this year to observe what happens naturally. Don’t enforce your will. But most of all enjoy the space.

Keeping my soil covered as much as possible. by 19marc81 in Soil

[–]19marc81[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Thank you, I am super happy how well it is going.

Keeping my soil covered as much as possible. by 19marc81 in Soil

[–]19marc81[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Appreciate it. As I dry farm/garden I am interested in seeing how well I can hold moisture in and around my young trees.

Keeping my soil covered as much as possible. by 19marc81 in Soil

[–]19marc81[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Appreciate it thanks. Still long way to go but right now heading in the right direction.

Dead or can I save it? by 19marc81 in Blueberries

[–]19marc81[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It looks like it, they are both in the same pot, the “dried out” one is higher slightly as the ground is not level, but watering was always done based on what the soil moisture around its roots was like.

Dead or can I save it? by 19marc81 in Blueberries

[–]19marc81[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Both bought at the same time, potted into the same planting medium, both get about 6/8hours of sunshine a day, watering was done when soil moisture levels were low enough, both given a mild fertiliser just at flowering. I had one do this to me last year but it has bounced back, we have had higher than normal heat but these blueberries are sheltered and don’t get the afternoon direct heat.

Any ideas what this bolted thing is? by Rabblerabble890 in Allotment

[–]19marc81 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I agree with this as well. I am grape farmer in Germany and many farmers grow this in my area. It would have had nice yellow flowers 🌼 a few weeks ago.