[Arthur_Bagabeans]

Hi everyone,

Does anyone know where I could lay my hands on either tarpaulin or the fancy ground covering that's cheap?? I have a plot which is 15ftX45ft and would like to get as much covered for the winter as possible without it costing the earth!

I am reluctant to go down the "old carpet" route seeing as me and my girlfriend spent the majority of spring digging old bits up thanks to the last plot owner!!

Thanks,
Ray

[GrannieAnnie]

I know it was a smaller area, but last year I tried the cardboard idea under some of my cabbages.  I put the cardboard down, made X's in it where I wanted by cabbage plants and by the time I'd eaten all the cabbages, the cardboard had started to break down, and over the winter, the worms took it down into the soil.  

I weighed it down with bricks, and yours is a much bigger area to cover cheaply.,  but its just an idea.  Especially if you can find somewhere like a funiture store which sometimes have really large cardbaord that stuff has been delivered in, then put grass mowings, or straw or manure over it to weigh it down and then that will also be dug in next spring.

[richyrich7]

If you don't mind using plastic what about damp proof membrane sheeting from a local builders merchants usually supplied in 13' widths or there abouts.

Forgot to say have you thought about sowing green manure  ? helps suppress the weeds and preserve the nutrients in the soil and adds organic matter when you dig it in.

[GrannieAnnie]

Oooh yes Richy, forgot to mention the green manure!!!!

[richyrich7]

Oooh yes Richy, forgot to mention the green manure!!!!

  think I'm getting "into" green manure seems quite interesting concept, don't tell WG but I think I'm slipping down that "beardy weirdy" organic path  

[WG.]

I'll believe it when I see it RR     You look much too clean-shaven for that.  

[Arthur_Bagabeans]

Thanks for the suggestions! RR - Green manure... I think I'll look into that one! What particular seed would I need to get? Any recommendations??

[WG.]

Is your plot bare ground at the moment then AB?

[Arthur_Bagabeans]

Yep! A whole load of soil! We share half a plot with one of my girlfriends relatives and even then I think they're "borrowing" it this year as the person who rents it normally has gone travelling... It's a parish allotment with no water, elec etc.

Don't get me wrong... I've been growing stuff and we still have got stuff in but I wanted to start getting prepared. We are soon to have a large free space at the top of the plot as soon as I've pulled my finger out and got ridd of the runners, marrow and beetroots.

[richyrich7]

You could try winter filed beans they are hardy suitable for sowing sept -nov likes heavy soil but don't like drying out. Will fix nitrogen in the soil and are supposedly not overly difficult to dig in use before they flower.

Also consider grazing rye but it won't fix any nitrogen onto the soil and can be hard work digging in.

[richyrich7]

I'll believe it when I see it RR     You look much too clean-shaven for that.  

I could grow a pony tail will that do ?  

[muntjac]

had this one from a pal . go to heavy haulage place and see if they have any lorry tarps that are past it .. it costs em to get rid  

[Arthur_Bagabeans]

Thanks for the suggestion Muntjac. Didn't think or that!

Thanks all for the advice. I might do a bit of everything and see what works the best so I can make a firm decision the following year!

[Sally A]

Also try the garages that do the paint jobs and maintain the curtain siders, will last for years.

[mkhenry]

I'll believe it when I see it RR     You look much too clean-shaven for that.  

I could grow a pony tail will that do ?  

This is my day for the crayons,so I added a beard and a pony tale to your activar.Looks good,but when I scroll up and down they stay in the same place.So now Ive got Aunty with a beard and pony tale.Munty looks the same.