Gravel Boards

For those of you who are fans of raised beds, or want to experiment with them, SCATS in Wickham are selling 6' boards (1.83m) for £1.61.

The same board 1.83 by 150mm by 25mm - are being sold by B&Q for £4.98.

Today I constructed my first raised bed on my plot - 36 feet long by 4 feet wide - total cost of the wood was £22.54 (14 boards) - (B&Q price £69.72). The stakes used to secure them came from the hedgerow after application of my billhook.

There is space for roughly six beds of this length on the plot (subject to sheds, greenhouses, seed beds etc).

I have an excellent book that I thoroughly recommend called "Growing Fruit and Vegetables on a Bed System" by Pauline Pears - £7.95 - ISBN 1-84448-012-7.

Happy to lend it out.

pH Values

Today I conducted a series of tests across the plot to determine the pH values so as to inform allotment holders of any potential issues.

I did eight tests in a line from a point roughly 25 meters east of the chicken house to the old manure heap on Ed's plot under the yew trees.

pH values ranged from just over 6 near the chickens, 5.7-5.8 on my plot and then a tad over 6 on Eds plot.

I also tested the clay subsoil that exists (on my plot anyway not much more than a spit below the surface) and that checked out at a pH value of bang on 6.

This means ( if I have read my book correctly) that all is well and the pH values are fully controllable for whatever vegetable you care to grow by the addition of the relevant material.

For information the tests were conducted with a Tenax mini pH tester.

If you have any queries, please contact me.

August work

Looking good people i can see lots has been done.I hope to plant potatoes this weekend and make a path.Daves fruit cage looks good and the sheds are great.Still alot to do but the weathers not great.
Hope you can attend the BBQ it will be a good way to meet everybody.

Not long now....

The field looks great,It has been ploughed and the farmer has broken up the worst lumps.
We will need to use a tiller on each plot and remove any grass clods.
Today me and the family and Sarah started to strim the orchard .Well the children played in the field and Clare(wife) met a friend and talked.But Sarah and me did loads of strimming and the orchard is starting to look good.
I hope you are all looking forwards to the next few weeks of hard work.
I can't wait to start.

Cutting

We will start cutting this week.
Some of us are going to start Sat 11th July from 9.30am. Sarah will be starting on the orchard grass with me mon/tue next week so if you have some free time call ED.

Eggs

Today i have started to put together our laying flock.

I have got the first five hybrid chicks at a week old and they will be point of lay in October.

They should produce 300+ eggs a year each.

Rotovator hire

Hi all
Myself and Dave will have a rotovator for hire when we start our plots.
It will be available for a minimal charge to cover running costs.(cheapest hire from shop is £54. per day + £100 dep)

If you want to use it please email me.

ED