Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Growing => Grow Your Own => Topic started by: Madame Cholet on October 19, 2014, 22:34

Title: Drowning weeds how long?
Post by: Madame Cholet on October 19, 2014, 22:34
All my perennial weed roots are now going in a water bin, what do I do now or later?
Title: Re: Drowning weeds how long?
Post by: kirpi on October 19, 2014, 22:39
Just leave them in the bin - eventually they will just liquidize.
Title: Re: Drowning weeds how long?
Post by: Madame Cholet on October 20, 2014, 07:31
days, weeks or months?
Title: Re: Drowning weeds how long?
Post by: Baldy on October 20, 2014, 08:04
Months most likely - depends on thickness etc.

Pip pip,
Balders
Title: Re: Drowning weeds how long?
Post by: Madame Cholet on October 20, 2014, 08:13
Thanks Baldy, I'll leave them till the spring.
Title: Re: Drowning weeds how long?
Post by: Kristen on October 20, 2014, 08:44
I take the water off and dilute as a feed ... and then add fresh water.  I do that until the container is full of weeds, and then I start a second container (now taking the "water" off both for feed and replacing).  When the second container is full I tip the first one onto the compost heap.

If both containers were to fill in one massive weeding session I'd need a different strategy!
Title: Re: Drowning weeds how long?
Post by: Madame Cholet on October 20, 2014, 20:34
I've filled the dustbin now onto a tall bucket.
Title: Re: Drowning weeds how long?
Post by: cadalot on October 21, 2014, 08:13
My problem is I don't know which ones are perennial weeds  :nowink: In my book they have all just been a pain in the bum. But I suppose there is some logic in making feed out of them I was going to do that with nettles and I can easily identify them.

I was going to get a plastic container with lid and using the trusty soldering iron melt holes in to make a giant tea bag that I can fill then lower into my dustbin water butt.
Title: Re: Drowning weeds how long?
Post by: Baldy on October 21, 2014, 11:58
Engineers... always over-engineering.  ;)

During the spring/summer I tend to just use nettles - plenty enough of those around. This time of year most weeds go into the same water container - use the water as a feed and dump the contents on the compost as spring approaches.  Do it as much to save on the hassle of bagging up the weeds and carting them home.
Creeping buttercup seems to enjoy the experience - so that's one weed off the top of my head that does get bagged (or now and again burnt).

Pip pip,
Balders
Title: Re: Drowning weeds how long?
Post by: cadalot on October 21, 2014, 14:33
Engineers... always over-engineering.  ;)

Balders

Nope not over engineering. The dustbin on the left is going to be the nettle Butt and the one on the right is the Comfrey Butt and I have the tea on tap. The Comfrey from my pipe in the wall goes in there plus there is a hessian sack full of comfrey in the water butt. That's low tech and I will have to handle and dispose of the hessian sack if it does not fall to pieces or rot away, so I'm looking for a cleaner option, that's all.
Title: Re: Drowning weeds how long?
Post by: Baldy on October 21, 2014, 15:40
Its getting hold of the right sized plastic containers that I find hard. Might have to trek to a couple of different recycing yards this weekend if the weather isn't up to much.

Pip pip,
Balders
Title: Re: Drowning weeds how long?
Post by: cadalot on October 21, 2014, 16:05
Mine were £11 plastic dustbin with lockable lids and I bought two taps and then drilled 25mm holes and fixed the taps
Title: Re: Drowning weeds how long?
Post by: surbie100 on October 21, 2014, 16:35
Mine were £11 plastic dustbin with lockable lids and I bought two taps and then drilled 25mm holes and fixed the taps

I feel a copycat weekend coming on....lockable bins you say...? Might let Small Child customise them with paints in Spring. See, in my mind I already have them....
Title: Re: Drowning weeds how long?
Post by: Madame Cholet on October 21, 2014, 19:21
I need to dispose of every thing on site as I normally cycle or walk to the lotty and we have no free green waste disposal at home. Nice not to loose all the goodness too. Perennial weeds often have long tap roots like dock thistles ect or a re creeping like twitch or buttercup.
Title: Re: Drowning weeds how long?
Post by: cadalot on October 21, 2014, 19:50
Mine were £11 plastic dustbin with lockable lids and I bought two taps and then drilled 25mm holes and fixed the taps

I feel a copycat weekend coming on....lockable bins you say...? Might let Small Child customise them with paints in Spring. See, in my mind I already have them....

Make sure the OH has a 25mm timber drill bit to form the hole for the taps before you buy the bins
Title: Re: Drowning weeds how long?
Post by: surbie100 on October 22, 2014, 11:35
Mine were £11 plastic dustbin with lockable lids and I bought two taps and then drilled 25mm holes and fixed the taps

I feel a copycat weekend coming on....lockable bins you say...? Might let Small Child customise them with paints in Spring. See, in my mind I already have them....

Make sure the OH has a 25mm timber drill bit to form the hole for the taps before you buy the bins

OI! Waddya mean 'Make sure the OH has a 25mm timber drill bit'? ? ?  :ohmy:

I am fully kitted up and capable DIY-wise mister!  :tongue2:
Title: Re: Drowning weeds how long?
Post by: cadalot on October 22, 2014, 14:16
Doh! Sorry forgot that you are a Tomboy  :lol: :lol: :lol:
Title: Re: Drowning weeds how long?
Post by: Madame Cholet on October 22, 2014, 19:07
Excuse us women for being able to use drills and saws :lol:
Title: Re: Drowning weeds how long?
Post by: cadalot on October 23, 2014, 06:14
Excuse us women for being able to use drills and saws :lol:

MC there is a difference there, I didn't question Surbies ability, only the ownership of the tools that she would need. There are many abled ladies out there but when with a partner how many actually own the tools?
Title: Re: Drowning weeds how long?
Post by: snowdrops on October 23, 2014, 09:54
He's just grasping at straws now :lol:  I thought he was on a sticky wicket with the first comment :lol: :lol:
Title: Re: Drowning weeds how long?
Post by: Baldy on October 23, 2014, 10:23
Heh. :)
Title: Re: Drowning weeds how long?
Post by: surbie100 on October 23, 2014, 10:42
He's just grasping at straws now :lol:  I thought he was on a sticky wicket with the first comment :lol: :lol:

Too right Snowy!  :lol:  :lol:  :lol:

Title: Re: Drowning weeds how long?
Post by: cadalot on October 23, 2014, 12:06
There you try and do a kindness and point out the tools that will be required and if not owned and it blows up in your face  :nowink: :nowink:
Title: Re: Drowning weeds how long?
Post by: Annen on October 23, 2014, 15:13
There you try and do a kindness and point out the tools that will be required and if not owned and it blows up in your face  :nowink: :nowink:
I would just keep quiet if I were you  :D :D
Title: Re: Drowning weeds how long?
Post by: cadalot on October 23, 2014, 15:16
There you try and do a kindness and point out the tools that will be required and if not owned and it blows up in your face  :nowink: :nowink:
I would just keep quiet if I were you  :D :D

"                "  :nowink:
Title: Re: Drowning weeds how long?
Post by: snowdrops on October 23, 2014, 20:19
 :lol:
Title: Re: Drowning weeds how long?
Post by: Madame Cholet on October 23, 2014, 20:36
But why is she a tomboy just because she can use tools :D
Title: Re: Drowning weeds how long?
Post by: cadalot on October 24, 2014, 08:34
Naughty MC - You are trying to draw me in like a lamb to the slaughter  :D :D :nowink: Do I , Don't I  :unsure: :unsure:

OK May as well be hung for a Sheep as a Lamb, I will only say, traditional Pink Jobs and Blue Jobs, and Stereotypical Profiling means one could get labelled and a Tomboy or a Niceboy  ::) ::)

Now that's not to say there isn't something sexy about Tomboys, one of those that I still fancy Felicity Kendal, something about her in those dungarees  :blush:
Title: Re: Drowning weeds how long?
Post by: surbie100 on October 24, 2014, 11:28
My parents raised me to ignore old-fashioned stereotypes, to be independent and to believe I can do what I set my mind to. And that's how my stepdaughter will be raised. None of that needs to be labelled by outdated gender slants or considered somehow unusual. I do find the casual sexism pretty boring.

And that's my piece said. Will stick to gardening.  :)
Title: Re: Drowning weeds how long?
Post by: kirpi on October 25, 2014, 20:08
So - how long do we drown weeds for?  :tongue2:
Title: Re: Drowning weeds how long?
Post by: Baldy on October 25, 2014, 20:10
Whether man or woman...

... months  :D

Pip pip,
Balders
Title: Re: Drowning weeds how long?
Post by: kirpi on October 25, 2014, 20:21
Good one!   ;)

on a serious note - please do either leave a length of wood stuck in the bin so critters can climb back out or put a lid on the bin and put a stone on the lid to stop it blowing off. Nothing worse than seeing a drowned hedgehog when you haven't been on the plot for a while.

I put the lid on up-side down with a hole drilled into the lid at its lowest point so any rainwater goes through the lid into the bin, with a stone in the lid to keep it secure.
Title: Re: Drowning weeds how long?
Post by: Madame Cholet on October 25, 2014, 21:29
Yes they have lids on.
Title: Re: Drowning weeds how long?
Post by: gypsy on October 25, 2014, 21:31

I put the lid on up-side down with a hole drilled into the lid at its lowest point so any rainwater goes through the lid into the bin, with a stone in the lid to keep it secure.
Thats a good idea.
Title: Re: Drowning weeds how long?
Post by: kirpi on October 25, 2014, 21:32
Yes they have lids on.

that was a general note - not just getting at you Madame Cholet :)
Title: Re: Drowning weeds how long?
Post by: Madame Cholet on October 25, 2014, 21:34
Yes I guessed that didn't want people worrying about my wildlife. :)
Title: Re: Drowning weeds how long?
Post by: Kristen on October 26, 2014, 08:33
Nothing worse than seeing a drowned hedgehog when you haven't been on the plot for a while.

Can a hedgehog climb a vertical (or more likely overhanging) sided pail? (Serious question)
Title: Re: Drowning weeds how long?
Post by: shedmeister on October 26, 2014, 10:08
There you try and do a kindness and point out the tools that will be required and if not owned and it blows up in your face  :nowink: :nowink:
I would just keep quiet if I were you  :D :D
It seems some of us men folk have a nack of ruffling the feathers of those who believe they are obeyed.
On another note. I stuff all my drownees into a couple of onion sacks after putting a lump of brick or stone into them.
This stops the tap bunging up with stinky goo and makes removal of the remains much easier. Basicaly a plastic tea bag.