In all honesty, my Edible Garden, like a few other aspects of my life (my Diploma write up being a major one!), haven't had their usual attention, due to several reasons (which will return to at in a future post). So the area where we grown out edible plants has had to rely on its resilience to mainly just 'get on and grow' this year...and all in all its done pretty well...diversity in crops and varieties of species, as well as lots of successional planting have really paid off, as has a fairly early 'last frost' to lengthen the growing season too.
A couple of months ago, for the first time I very nearly gave up on trying to grow any peas and beans. Even though i was using my regular practice of planting out healthy, strong young plants, started off in the polytunnel....about 95 % of the seedlings were being killed by rodent munching. Winter 2013/14 had been unusually mild and I strongly suspect that many more then usual small mammals had survived and thrived the cold months. The evidence proved there were far more little critters than my 4 moggies could cope with.
In a last attempt I took some unknown risks and decided to plant a 3rd batch of runner beans directly into this springs polytunnel hotbed (6-8 week old chicken manure and straw mix), and batch number 3 of broad beans in and amongst my well established garlic bed out side.
In a last attempt I took some unknown risks and decided to plant a 3rd batch of runner beans directly into this springs polytunnel hotbed (6-8 week old chicken manure and straw mix), and batch number 3 of broad beans in and amongst my well established garlic bed out side.
As you can see from the photo both legumes are doing really well and, although developing a little later than usual, both are on course to providing a good crop. In addition i've learnt some new and very useful knowledge about how to grow these plants in different environments
I guess i've also been able to see that the last few years work in using permaculture design to create and further my Edible Garden, has proved to me that increased resilience, through utilising good Design tools and concepts, really pays off when adverse events occur (ie me not being able to spend very much time working in the garden this year)
yeah x
I guess i've also been able to see that the last few years work in using permaculture design to create and further my Edible Garden, has proved to me that increased resilience, through utilising good Design tools and concepts, really pays off when adverse events occur (ie me not being able to spend very much time working in the garden this year)
yeah x