Experimentalish

[Green Aura]

Looks interesting. Potential fodder and fibre, you say?

[Weedo]

Fodder and fibre are the usual uses - at the moment I am more interested in its effects on soil fertility and structure as part of multi species fallows - an alternative to green manures. So far seed is difficult to get hence the trial growing, if this small plot works then I will go a little larger for seed

[Odsox]

The new layout in my big greenhouse is beginning to look good, it seems the distances between the pipes are about right.
This is definitely a case of intensive growing. The top pipe is full of strawberries, the middle pipe has the dwarf Borlotto beans just coming up, and the bottom is full of brassicas.
In the front are 16 tomatoes and the back bed has the apricot tree and a white grape vine. Underneath the tree at the moment is my Nine Star Perennial broccoli which is due to be evicted later in the week and be replaced with 2 Pottimaron squash and a cucumber wandering over the bed.

So 96 productive plants and 2 trees in one unheated greenhouse

All good clean fun.
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[ina]

Wow - that's all I can say!

How long did your perennial broccoli last for? I have 2 plants in one of my raised beds for the first time.

[Odsox]

How long did your perennial broccoli last for?

Those are 3 years old, in that I sowed the seed in 2018, so this is the second cropping year.
There is nothing wrong with them, they are just in the way by blocking the back path.
I have sown some more and they will be planted in a tunnel where there's plenty of room, so will continue having a crop next year.

[ina]

Thanks - I'm looking forward to that crop, sounds like just the right thing for me!

[Green Aura]

That looks fabulous. I want one.

[Weedo]

Sunn Hemp was a qualified success - it grew to over 2 metres but quite spindly (lack of direct sun?) It flowered and grew pods but did not produce seed (no bees?, wrong bees?) Nothing in the mixed sowing grew roots deeper than about 3 inches, including the Daikon radish, despite deep digging and watering. Conclusion - the mixed planting worked, Sunn hemp will grow here, the soil and position I used were totally wrong. Try again next year in a much better position. This crop will become compost.

[Flo]

At least no total loss as you have compost even if things didn't work out as you wanted.

[Green Aura]

You say it will become compost, Weedo. Do you put it in a compost bin (or whatever you make compost in) or just chop it up and dig it in, in situ? Will you leave the roots in - I think you said it was a nitrogen fixer?

[Green Aura]

Odsox, I seem to remember you saying something about tomatoes needing warmth more than light, yes?

My tomatoes in the new greenhouse are struggling because, as in the last few years, we've gone from glorious weather in April to cold, wet and near freezing, at times, in May. The tomatoes in the other greenhouse - converted stable - are looking really good, but they're behind solid walls and double glazing.

I've got an old Eltex greenhouse heater and have now got new wicks and some paraffin. Is it worth me trying it out? The weather forecasting people keep promising it's going to perk up in the next few days, but they seem to have been saying that for the last couple of weeks.

[Odsox]

Yes that sounds like something I would have said.
Our climates are probably very similar, in that here we get more cloudy days than sunny ones. I have found that it's ideal for growing tomatoes as they seem to like mild, humid, cloudy days (so do runner beans) and are not keen on bright sunny days.
These tomatoes are Martina and have had overnight heat with the thermostat set on 10c and up until last week have had very little sun. So yes, certainly provide some heat when necessary
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