Showing posts with label Compost. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Compost. Show all posts
Saturday, 15 October 2011
Feed the soil, not the plant!
09:30 | Posted by
Pembroke Pocket Garden |
Understanding Soil and Soil Life, Plus Mulches and Leaf Mould
Capital Growth course at Regent’s Park Allotment Garden 15th October 2011
Our new mantra:
Feed the soil, not the plant!
Soil is surprisingly rare on the planet; what with the sea taking up so much and mountains being about, there is only about 10% of the earth's surface that is covered in usable soil, and this is the same bit we keep building cities on!
Soil is surprisingly rare on the planet; what with the sea taking up so much and mountains being about, there is only about 10% of the earth's surface that is covered in usable soil, and this is the same bit we keep building cities on!
To grow plants soil must be kept:
- Moist
- Warm
- Aerated
- Fed
Soil should be fed with:
- Humus – this is what we are making in our compost heap
- Vermicompost and Worm Juice– we could make this with a wormery
The pH balance of the soil is very important and for most plants should be kept at a neutral pH of about 7.
Soil should be tested regularly and the balance altered to keep it in the most fertile range. If it is too acid, we can add lime. If it is too alkaline, we can add more compost or manure.
Corrugated cardboard is good to add to compost heaps as it contains lime, used in its manufacture, it also adds carbon and allows for air to circulate the heap more easily so the bacteria can breath and compost our compost for us.
Thursday, 8 September 2011
Wet Wednesday
14:41 | Posted by
Pembroke Pocket Garden |
I was damp and sluggish (full of slugs!) on the monthly volunteer-lunch Wednesday. The rain and being enthusiastically watered by my keen gardeners, has left me feeling soggy.
I was still able to provide a hearty harvest for the monthly garden lunch, including: a myriad of salad leaves, tomatoes, purple tomatillos, beetroot, beans and spring onions.
Some of my less successful courgette plants were added to the compost and winter salads were planted in their place. The soil level in these containers was raised slightly in an effort to allow greater air-flow around the bases of these new plants.
Seeds were gathered for over winter storage from my vigorous nasturtiums.
And I'm feeling fresh after my compost was given a good digging over.
Wednesday, 27 July 2011
A bounty of harvesting
08:07 | Posted by
Pembroke Pocket Garden |
My loyal gardeners came today and helped relieve me of some of my crops
Can you tell a kohl robi from a yellow carrot and some curly Kale?
My neighbours also helped to build me a compost bin and fill it with plants that were past their 'eat by' date....like this shaved Kale:
When plants like this are removed from their pots, it is important to remember to sieve through the soil left behind to remove stones and roots so that new plants can grow better in it.
Shelagh worked hard doing the sieving.
The session was entertaining and even involved a bit of a murder mystery....
Who ate this strawberry and how did they manage to leave this part behind?
Whatever next, eh?
Thursday, 30 June 2011
New potatoes, new gardeners and new sales!
04:15 | Posted by
Pembroke Pocket Garden |
Today was a day of Novelty.
First of all, we had 3 new little gardeners (Timothy, Hannah and Jospeh) working on me. I have rarely seen such keen beans - they were so full of life, I almost felt they were plants themselves!
Here they are getting their hands deliciously dirty making my magic soil mix...
And finally, we made our first sale! Today the rambling restaurant bought 15 bags of salad and served it up to 60 people at the Urban Physic Garden - http://www.physicgarden.org.uk/
What a day eh? Whatever next...
First of all, we had 3 new little gardeners (Timothy, Hannah and Jospeh) working on me. I have rarely seen such keen beans - they were so full of life, I almost felt they were plants themselves!
Here they are getting their hands deliciously dirty making my magic soil mix...
And here they are again planting their beans in bigger pots
Not only did today bring new guests, but also new potatoes!
Here is Genevieve is harvesting them
Don't they look scrumptious? Perfect for a salad...
What a day eh? Whatever next...
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