This is the place to discuss not just allotments but all general gardening problems and queries which don't fit into the specific categories below.
(formerly allotments and tips, hints and problems)
The more you turn your compost the quicker it is ready so the alternative is hard graft
You can make pretty decent stuff if 5 months if you shredd your waste, make sure you get a fair proportion of manure in there with some nettles or comfrey to accelerate it (apparently urine works well too ) then turn it weekly with a fork and keep it warm and damp.
I read a wonderful book called Lady Muck which was all about composting- very entertaining and very informative.....surprisingly!
I got a load of horse manure from lady up da road and thought I could put it straight on my patch...has any1 got any idea's how I could use it this year?
butternut squash (you can use the seeds out of a squash from the shops) any other type of pumpkin/ squash - though I have found butternut to be more readily available.
Ann Pan
"Some days you're the dog,
some days you're the lamp-post"
I was warned you need LOOTTTSSS of room for butternut as they spread along a huge area- is this true? I was planning to do a few myself but was worried how much room they would really take up...but also how many butternuts do you get per plant (if I get loads I won't mind the space they take up!)
Butternuts and pumpkins do take up a huge amount of space. How many you get per plant is probably dependant on climate (i.e. warmth but also water/rain) and how much nice rich mucked soil you have!
Lemme see, last year I got about 12 mini butternuts from 2 self seeded plants. They were about half the size of a 'regular' butternut! I do stop them out when I think I have enough fruit anyway - it stops them from spreading any more and having any more fruit, thus allowing those that have already set to grow and ripen.
I would say average about 3-6 per plant. I would try to stop more than about 6 on any plant, but as they get rather entangled it is quite hard to tell which plant they are coming from!
Entangled...thats my type of gardening for sure, the OH will go mad if they don't grow in straight lines
I was hoping to plant a mixture of pumpkin, courgette & butternut in and around the fruit bushes, I now have visions of me tip toeing between the multitude of leaves and fruit
I'll get some more fresh muck on there, endless supply from the neddy, and despite having covered ti in muck in Dec/Jan all the earthworms have munched it up so I'm sure they'd like some more
all the book states (regarding size) is to go for a bush rather than trailing variety if space is limited- Obviously you can't tell if you are taking seeds from a bought squash
It also says that they belong to the same family as cucumbers... so there is another suggestion for you mountain of poo.
Also the book suggests to so late May, early June - I have planted some too early it seems... oh well
Ann Pan
"Some days you're the dog,
some days you're the lamp-post"
) then turn it weekly with a fork and keep it warm and damp.
Thanks for the advice! x
