Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Growing => Grow Your Own => Topic started by: noshed on January 24, 2006, 19:56

Title: frost protection
Post by: noshed on January 24, 2006, 19:56

My predecessor has planted a bed of garlic and two rows of what I think may be broad beans. Do I need to protect them against frost these days?

Title: frost protection
Post by: John on January 25, 2006, 08:42

No is the simple answer, although some varieties are more hardy than others you should be ok.

If you have some horticultural fleece hanging around doing nothing then it might help the broad beans get ahead a bit - depends just how cold we get.

Title: frost protection
Post by: kooringa on January 26, 2006, 19:34

Broad beans are really tough, and survive everything that the weather throws at them - especially if yours are winter grown.

Title: frost
Post by: noshed on February 02, 2006, 18:03

yes they seem to be OK. More than could be said for my feet, digging out an old compost heap today - do people really believe plastic-coated chipboard is a good subject for composting?

Title: frost protection
Post by: John on February 04, 2006, 10:42

Pretty nasty stuff, chipboard. I wouldn't even burn it and use the ashes. Years back there was a fuss about it giving off small amounts of formadelhyde. It's not the wood in the board, its the adhesive that binds it together.

I'm afraid there are a few people around who think an allotment is a waste dump. One person took on a plot with a shed which he filled with old tiles. Must have been a tiler by the amount. I expect the plot cost was less than the tip charge.

Title: frost protection
Post by: noshed on February 04, 2006, 20:56

I've shifted all the chipboard into the skip now and I am knackered. The old compost heap also included some tins and a baby's nappy, so It's much better broken up. One bed covered in lovely compost mulch.
Not sure what to do with the others with no more compost made - maybe just weed them and see what happens thus year - bit of blood fish and bone maybe.

Title: frost protection
Post by: John on February 04, 2006, 22:33

I did some working out on how much compost you'd need to run a no-dig plot, goes to show that you realistically can't have enough!
No Dig Method of Gardening (http://www.allotment-garden.org/articles/No_Dig_Method_of_Growing.php)

Nowt wrong with blood, fish and bone - I use the scientific method of a good handful per square yard  :)

Title: frost protection
Post by: Novice on February 06, 2006, 07:39

Quote : "do people really believe plastic-coated chipboard is a good subject for composting?"
Ha ha ha....I found a Datsun mudflap in the undergrowth this weekend !!