First Early Spuds & Runner Beans

I found a tray of Caledonian Pearl - First Early from Suttons behind some fleece in the greenhouse on plot 1A yesterday and this afternoon I dashed to the allotment to get them in flower buckets.

Four potatoes in each bucket, this is a photo of the second layer, I used a mixture of coir, soil and Gro-Sure Multi Purpose compost, plus some D.T.Browns potato fertiliser.

Coir Mulch when I had to come home, two square flower buckets worth in the greenhouse. If it rains it will only help the hydration of this block.

Close view of the Coir chips

Coco Coir Mulch - D.T.Brown

Natural and 100% PEAT FREE - made from 100% Natural Coconut husks, after harvesting, it is stored, ground, washed, dried, and compressed. Coco Coir is a natural by-product of the coconut farming industry and causes minimal impact on the environment and it is the most environmentally friendly alternative to peat moss.

Natural, 100% coir husk chips. This mulch product increases the porosity and enriches soil and retains moisture around plants. Breaks down slowly in the soil to improve structure. Reduces weed growth up to 90% and helps to deter slugs and snails.

How To Use It:
Simpy put your compressed Coco Coir Mulch brick in a container, add 22.5 litres of water and let it sit until the water is absorbed (approx. 20min). Fluff it up and you are ready to use it.

Key Benefits:
- 100% peat-free
- pH and nutrient balanced
- Sustainable and environmentally friendly, from natural renewable sources, biodegradable
- Easy to handle, uniform in composition, odourless
- Better water retention, long lasting
- Provides good drainage / good aeration
- Free of bacteria and weed seeds
- Increases the porosity and retains moisture
- Improves the soil structure
- Reduces the weed growth and deters slug and snails

Size: 30 x 13 x 30cm when compressed. Add 22.5 litres of water and it will expand to 60ltr of Peat Free Coco Chip Mulch - pH value 5.5 -6.8

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First Early Potatoes

Caledonian Pearl - First Early - Potatoes from Suttons in the six flower buckets.

D.T.Brown Rhubarb Livingstone

D.T.Brown Rhubarb Livingstone going to seed already. 

I think I need to water this a little more often than I have been.

 

D.T.Brown Rhubarb Livingstone with bindweed growing in the corner, but not for long. 

Runner bean trench weeded and runner beans "Best of All" from Suttons sown directly in front of the bamboo poles and watered in.

Heavy crop of medium length pods in large clusters. Can be picked over a long season.

Sow in April under glass or cloches, or outdoors in May and June. Prolific, decorative plants thriving in well cultivated soils containing plenty of humus.  Regular watering in dry periods will be amply rewarded by a heavy crop of delicious, tender young beans for table and freezing. (12-16 weeks maturity.) Packet sufficient for a double row of approximately 4.5m (15')