Ynyslas Gardens: October 2007

Sunday, October 28

Plot plan

Here is a layout for our gardens. At the moment we have begun laying out the beds in the top half of the outside plot. We are also working on the design for the interior of our greenhouse - the Marquee - which is in fact a polytunnel.

Suffer from Mice

Junka:
Mice never got caught and kept attacking crops.
Yukina was devastated.

Sunday, October 21

Design meeting

We had a meeting inviting some friends who are keen on gardening and other sustainable issues.

The aim of the meeting is to:

a) receive advice and information in order to plan our garden.
b) make a network to share each experience.
c) make friends and have a fun through growing and eating food.
Eight people joined the meeting and we had a Japanese dinner afterwards.

Saturday, October 20

Spinatch didn't germinate

Junka
Spinach(Japanese) didn't germinate. It was probably too cold?
I planted garlic(cristo) instead in the bed.

Friday, October 19

Chocolate Mice

We tried to catch the mice in the mini-tunnel using chocolate on mousetraps. They ate the chocolate without setting the traps off. Then they ate the plants.

Am gonna get some sticky pads.

we hate meeces to pieces...

Thursday, October 18

Mice problem

We dug out couch grass in the Marquee and put it into a water barrel to drown.

In the outside bed, Yukina has been nibbled badly since we built a mini-tunnel.
Looks like it is mice who took the crops, enjoying the warm and cozy restaurant.

Wednesday, October 10

Surfers at Borth in October

Mini Tunnels

Building MiniTunnels from old sheep fence and scrap plastic.

Tuesday, October 9

Mizuna sprouting!

Monday, October 8

Marquee renovation

Fixing the ends of the new Marquee skin.
The skin is not tight enough and may need to be re-dug in at a later stage.

Sunday, October 7

Skinning the Marquee

Digging the old plastic out of the ditches ready for the new skin.
Joel can be seen digging out the other side. Not that it's a race or anything...

The skinning of the Marquee: An all-day job, 50 metre ditch dig 'n' fill. Hard work. Joel, Lynne, Peter, Janet, Junka & Chris. Job done.

Saturday, October 6

Composting

Junka:
I put mushroom compost in bed B-1
I also made a compost trench in bed-A1 and buried kitchen waste from our house.

Friday, October 5

Sowing Seeds!

Spinach, Mizuna, Yukina, Garlic, Onions

Monday, October 1

Lime

Limed beds F1, C1 - 300g/sqm

Liquid feeds

Comfrey
Historically grown for its medicinal properties - from healing broken bones to a tea for colds. It is grown in Africa in modern times as a major source of animal feed - the 'Bocking 4' variety has a 35% protein content.
For the organic gardener Comfrey is one of the best sources of plant nutrients - the 'Bocking 14' variety has a 7% potash content - ideal for use as a mulch or liquid organic fertiliser.
Cultivation
Sow in modules or trays under cover in late spring and early summer.
The 'Bocking' varieties can only propagated by root cutting.
Cut leaves 3-4 times a year and use as mulch and liquid organic fertiliser.

Liquid Organic Fertiliser - High in Potassium
Put 5Kg (10lb) of freshly cut 'Bocking 14' leaves into a 100 litre (20 gallon) tapped non-metal container.
Ideally fill with rain water - but tap water will do - add a few drops of vinegar to drop the alkalinity levels of the tap water.
Leave to simmer for a month and then draw off the liquid - beware it reeks!
Use
Can be used as a foliar feed - if so strain and mix 1 part gunk to 40 parts water.
Can be stored in a cool dark place in a screw-top plastic bottle.

Recommended Cultivars
Common / Wild Comfrey: 'Hidcote Blue', 'Bocking 14'.

Nettle
Nettle has been used for making fabric for thousands of years - although it's close relative Hemp is more widely used today.
Nettle is ideal for the 'wildlife' part of garden - attracting moths and butterflies and providing food for bugs.
It works as a fungicide, an insecticide against aphids and mites, and also as a powerful growth stimulant.

Active Ingredients
Rich in minerals - including nitrogen and iron and many micronutrients, formic acid.
Harvesting & Storing
Pick young leaves from late spring to late summer.
Dry or use fresh for liquid organic fertilizer.
Liquid Organic Fertiliser
Put 1Kg (2lb) of freshly cut leaves in 12.5 litre (2.5 gallon) of water into a non-metal container - mixing in chunks of root adds a fungicidal action.
Ideally fill with rain water - but tap water will do if you add a few drops of vinegar.
Leave to simmer for less than a week and then draw off the liquid.
Can be stored in a cool dark place in a screw-top plastic bottle.
Use
Can be used as a foliar feed or soil drench - dilute to 20%.
Can be used as a growth stimulant - dilute to 20% and soak roots for 12 hours before planting.
Can be used as a herbicide or insecticide - use full strength.

Horsetail
Horsetail is one of the few plants originating in the days of the dinosaurs and does not flower as such but has spores more like ferns.
It works as a fungicide, and organic root and general growth stimulator.
Active Ingredients
Various alkaloids and minerals, nicotinic acid, silica.
Harvesting & Storing
Pick the tips from late spring to late summer.
Dry or use fresh for liquid organic fertiliser.
Liquid Organic Fertiliser
Boil 0.5Kg (1lb) of fresh plant in 10 litre (5 qts) of water for 1 hour.
Ideally use rain water - but tap water will do if you add a few drops of vinegar.
Allow to infuse 12 hours then filter.
Can be stored in a cool dark place in a screw-top plastic bottle.
Use
Can be used as a foliar feed or fungicide - dilute to 20%.
Can be used as a root and growth stimulator - dilute to 20% and soak roots for 12 hours before planting.

Ynyslas Gardens