Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Growing => Grow Your Own => Topic started by: yummy on March 17, 2007, 00:09

Title: Broad beans, onion sets and snow
Post by: yummy on March 17, 2007, 00:09
I planted broad beans and onion sets last weekend (first things planted on my plot by me ever). Now I hear snow is on the way.

Do I need to cover them up?

They are in a raised bed 5m x 3m and I tried to cover them with fleece earlier but it was really windy and no number of bricks kept it in place.
Title: Broad beans, onion sets and snow
Post by: WG. on March 17, 2007, 00:10
They'll be snug and warm under the surface
Title: Broad beans, onion sets and snow
Post by: muntjac on March 17, 2007, 00:57
Quote from: "whisky_golf"
They'll be snug and warm under the surface


but if your worried tuck em under some fleece  :wink:
Title: Broad beans, onion sets and snow
Post by: milkman on March 17, 2007, 07:57
I wouldn't bother - it's unlikely to settle... (famous last words of Michael Fish  :) )
Title: Broad beans, onion sets and snow
Post by: yummy on March 17, 2007, 08:43
Quote from: "muntjac"
Quote from: "whisky_golf"
They'll be snug and warm under the surface


but if your worried tuck em under some fleece  :wink:


The fleece just blows off and if the snow settles on the top won't it weigh it down til the fleece touches the ground?  I thought that would make the fleece kind of pointless? Or perhaps I'm wrong?

Is a layer of fleece useful even if there is snow on top of it and the fleece is in contact with the ground?
Title: Broad beans, onion sets and snow
Post by: DD. on March 17, 2007, 08:51
Quote from: "yummy"
Quote from: "muntjac"
Quote from: "whisky_golf"
They'll be snug and warm under the surface


but if your worried tuck em under some fleece  :wink:


The fleece just blows off and if the snow settles on the top won't it weigh it down til the fleece touches the ground?  I thought that would make the fleece kind of pointless? Or perhaps I'm wrong?

Is a layer of fleece useful even if there is snow on top of it and the fleece is in contact with the ground?


Soft snow is not a problem, it acts as a blanket, if anything. Hard frost on the other hand................
Title: Broad beans, onion sets and snow
Post by: Annie on March 17, 2007, 09:06
I would agree it`s the cold wind and frost that will do the damage.
Title: Re: Broad beans, onion sets and snow
Post by: WG. on March 17, 2007, 10:25
Quote from: "yummy"
I tried to cover them with fleece earlier but it was really windy and no number of bricks kept it in place.

Laying fleece in a Force 10 gale is easy if you start at the windy end.  A brick every 2 feet will stop the wind getting under it.  Then work your way down the sides towards the leeward end.
Title: Broad beans, onion sets and snow
Post by: yummy on March 17, 2007, 13:46
ok thanks. Will go down and pop fleece on then with even more bricks this time.
Title: Broad beans, onion sets and snow
Post by: WG. on March 17, 2007, 13:49
Quote from: "yummy"
ok thanks. Will go down and pop fleece on then with even more bricks this time.

I wouldn't bother unless they have actually surfaced.  I was just explaining how to lay fleece.   :)
Title: Broad beans, onion sets and snow
Post by: yummy on March 17, 2007, 13:51
Quote from: "whisky_golf"
Quote from: "yummy"
ok thanks. Will go down and pop fleece on then with even more bricks this time.

I wouldn't bother unless they have actually surfaced.  I was just explaining how to lay fleece.   :)

Oh ok  :)  will fleece my tiny strawberries cos they only went in last weekend too ( thinnings from plot next door)
Title: Broad beans, onion sets and snow
Post by: WG. on March 17, 2007, 13:57
Quote from: "yummy"
will fleece my tiny strawberries cos they only went in last weekend too ( thinnings from plot next door)

Yup, they'll appreciate it more.  Betya it is calm when you do it!   :)
Title: Broad beans, onion sets and snow
Post by: Jim T on March 17, 2007, 20:25
Quote from: "whisky_golf"
They'll be snug and warm under the surface


But why are broad beans OK now but for pole beans it is  far far far far far far far too early :?:
Title: Broad beans, onion sets and snow
Post by: muntjac on March 17, 2007, 20:32
Quote from: "yummy"
Quote from: "muntjac"
Quote from: "whisky_golf"
They'll be snug and warm under the surface


but if your worried tuck em under some fleece  :wink:


The fleece just blows off and if the snow settles on the top won't it weigh it down til the fleece touches the ground?  I thought that would make the fleece kind of pointless? Or perhaps I'm wrong?

Is a layer of fleece useful even if there is snow on top of it and the fleece is in contact with the ground?

.............................................
ok let me add this bit sory for any misunderstanding. when i said tuck em under some fleece i didnt think to add with a frame to keep the fleece of the ground like a cloche . the snow will fall on the fleece and form a thermal blanket .the temperature under the fleece will stay a fraction above the outside temp if heavy snow falls and prevent the ice forming in the soils surface