Planting Membrane For Raised Beds

 

Most packs of seeds deal with rows and then spacing along the rows, however as with the square foot gardening concept, I'm looking at the square area that is recommended for each vegetable and using that information, and then seeing what modular grid in a planting membrane will give me a similar square area.   

It is suggested to sow parsnip seeds thinly in shallow drills about 1cm deep, with rows 25-30cm (10-12 inches) apart, then thin seedlings to their final spacing: 100mm (4") for small roots, 150mm (6") for medium, and 200-250 (8" - 10") for large roots to prevent overcrowding and ensure good growth, keeping soil consistently moist.

So taking the smallest row size of 250mm 

     250mm x 100mm = 25,000 sq. mm = Small roots

     250mm x 150mm = 37,500 sq. mm = Medium roots

     250mm x 200mm = 50,000 sq. mm = Large roots

35 hole Planting Membrane with 150mm x 150mm = 22,500 sq.mm 

30 Hole Planting Membrane with 200mm x 150mm = 30,000 sq.mm 

24 Hole Planting Membrane with 200mm x 200mm = 40,000 sq.mm 

20 Hole Planting Membrane with 250mm x 200mm = 50,000 sq.mm 

Now Lets consider optimum spacing for Japanese Onions 

For Japanese onions in raised beds, aim for 100mm - 150mm (4"- 6") spacing between sets/ seedlings for good bulb size, with rows 250mm - 300mm (10"-12") apart for growth and weeding, though closer spacing (down to 5-10cm) yields smaller, bunching-style onions; plant sets with the tip just peeking above the soil in well-drained, compost-rich soil. 

So 250mm x 100mm = 25,000 sq. mm 

     250mm x 150mm = 37,500 sq. mm 

     300mm x 100mm = 30,000 sq. mm

     300mm x 150mm = 45,000 sq. mm 

Looking at the corner holes they will have a smaller area than the rest so I tweaked

the centres from 250mm to 240mm 

20 Hole Rev A Planting Membrane with 240mm x 200mm = 48,000 sq.mm

Collecting Leaves

 
It's that time of year again for collecting leaves to make leaf mould or add as browns in you compost bin with the last of you green vegetation as you close down your plot.

Most trees have long roots extending deep into the subsoil. They draw in the nutrients and trace minerals which have leached out of the upper soil layers. Fifty to 80% of these nutrients end up in the leaves, they are natures nutrient recyclers.

 
You always have to be careful what else you are collecting with the leaves! 

Last year I collected loads of leaf in late November, so far this year I've not collected any. 

No Allotment Visit Today

 

With the % Chance of rain, it's not looking like I will be going to the allotment anytime today. However Wednesday and Thursday are now looking more hopeful than they were a couple of days ago. Meanwhile snow is going to blitz the top half of the united kingdom this week, I love being in the South East of the UK.  

First Frame Of Raised Bed 16a

According to the weather forecast earlier this week it was supposed to be heavy rain all day. Weather was 11C overcast, no wind chill factor, however there was no rain this morning and the sun popped its head out, and thus until it started to light rain/ drizzle about 12:30 I spent a few hours working on assembling the base level frame for bed 16a. De-banding and drilling pilot holes in the old 0.9m (3ft) scaffold boards. Photo above is before Wally helped me, on his way home from the allotment by lifting the frame so I could level the soil it was bearing on. 

Bed 16 re covered with the new scaffold boards to keep the foxes off

Scaffold boards for the second level of Raised Bed 16a stacked on the first level. I really should have covered the bed to let it dry out so that I can get in there and decant the humus into 30L pots with handles. I didn't think about that until I was just leaving the car park and it was raining, so that's the first job to do next visit. 

Three of the old 0.9m (3ft) scaffold boards that need the banding removed from one end. They are stacked on bed 15 at the moment. 

SFG bed 1 Vailan Winter Gem Lettuce and Carrots

SFG Bed 2 from the potting shed Vailan Winter Gem Lettuce & Senshyu Japanese Onions

Bed 15a Carrots & Beetroots.

PAN Europe (Pesticide Action Network)

A new PAN Europe investigation reveals high levels of the forever chemical trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) in everyday cereal products consumed across Europe. TFA is an ultra-short #PFAS and the breakdown product of PFAS pesticides and F-gases.

The study analysed 66 conventional cereal products from 16 European countries, including breakfast cereals, pasta, croissants, bread, and flour. The results are alarming:

- TFA was found in 81.8% of samples, averaging 78.9 μg/kg with peaks up to 360 μg/kg.

- The average TFA level was 107 times higher than in tap water.

- Wheat-based products were 7.7 times more contaminated, reflecting how efficiently TFA is absorbed by this staple crop.

- 81.8% of samples exceeded the EU’s default Maximum Residue Limit for substances toxic to reproduction or endocrine disruptors, putting children and pregnant people especially at risk.

These findings make it clear that our diet - not just drinking water - is a major pathway of human exposure to this persistent and highly mobile PFAS chemical.

PAN Europe and its member organisations are calling on EU regulators to establish a far more protective safety limit for TFA and to urgently ban PFAS pesticides and other TFA sources. Europeans deserve food free from harmful forever chemicals.

https://www.pan-europe.info/.../high-levels-forever...

Dwarf French Beans - Seed Megastore

 

I should not have done it, but I did. 

I looked at the SEED MEGASTORE 39p Collection range of seeds and noticed they had 8 varieties of dwarf runner beans. Now I need to make up some seed labels because I bought all 8 varieties and my plan is to grow them all in the bed inside the climbing frame greenhouse next year. 

My little grandson loves Dwarf French Beans, well that's my excuse anyway .

Cabbage Bundle - Seeds To Suit

 Link to offer on Seeds To Suit 

UK Climate Friendly Farming

 Did you know 87% of UK beef is produced using predominantly forage-based diets?

British farming with its extensive, grass-based, grazing systems produces some of the most sustainable beef in the world.

#BackBritishFarming #ClimateFriendlyFarming

A Window Of Opportunity

 

I'm probably jinxing this, but it looks like a window of opportunity, to get something done on the allotment Friday morning as long as other stuff does not get in the way. 

UPDATE 

Knew it was too good to be true, I got a text message reminder that I have an appointment with the diabetic nurse mid morning, Doh! 

TESCO Fake UK Farms

 

Please take time to watch this video, it's an eye opener and shows how Supermarkets are shafting our British Farmers good name, and abusing the Red Tractor Scheme.

Having worked for an engineering company that did work for TESCO I got to see just how unfairly they treat their suppliers and staff, and how poorly their buildings are maintained.

TESCO Buyers, tender find the lowest quotes, and then try to screw even more reductions in price from the lowest three, effectively re-tendering. The cheapest price is not always the best choice, and other factors need to be considered when employing anyone to do anything.

They tried this strategy with Construction services from Architects, Structural, Electrical and Mechanical Engineers and other construction professionals and it got to the point that we told them, appoint the company that is willing to reduce their price further and then when they go bust, come back to us and we will give you a new quote to pick up the mess they leave, and complete the work.

It happened, we had to increase our bid to allow for the additional work involved in picking up the pieces, and the TESCO Buyers found out you can't screw down Construction professional in the same way you can suppliers of food stuffs.   

Morning On The Allotment

A morning on the allotment clearing the scaffold boards and miscellaneous rubbish off beds 14 & 14a.

The old (3ft) 0.9m scaffold boards have been stacked on spacers on Bed 15 and will need the banding removed, and pilot holes drilled at a future visit. I started clearing the weeds in the woodchip margin between the paving slabs and the bed frames, and will barrow in and lay new fresh woodchip.

The tomatoes were not doing well in the potting shed, so they have been added to the current Dalek. Foil trays filled with coffee grounds and left in front of the window to dry out in the sun.

The aim is to de-construct the bed frame for the 1.2m x 2.4m bed that was numbered 14 and replace it with raised beds using the new scaffold boards, measuring 1.2m x 0.9m (4ft x 3ft) end to end numbered 14 & 14a in the layout above.

Once the first level of raised bed framing is laid on the ground, the humas will be decanted into 30 litre pots with handles, and the excavation filled with rotting timber, branches and woodchips.

No photos taken today as it rained and I had to exit stage left. Photos will be added once taken.

Thermal Insulated Winter Waterproof Gloves

 

THERMAL INSULATED WINTER WARM WATERPROOF WORK GLOVES FREEZER COLD SAFETY GARDEN.

I've had these before and have bought another couple of pairs as they are very reasonably priced on ebay and keep ones hands nice and toasty & dry on the allotment. 

Following my cancer treatment and auto immune disease happening my hands don't remain warm as they used too, and the pair I have on the plot are in need of replacement. 

Sizes come in Small || 7,  Medium ||8,  Large ||9 most popular X-Large || 10 and XXL || 11

Available to purchase as a single pair, 2 pairs, 5 pairs or 10 pairs 

Winter Waterproof Gloves

A fully latex coated glove made with a 13-Gauge Nylon Shell inside of which is a 7 Gauge Terry lining, creating a soft and comfortable hand-feel. The glove is fully coated again with a Sandy Latex finish on both palm and fingertips for extra grip and durability, and to ensure no water penetration to the inside.

Features

• ★ Thermal Insulated
• ★ Breathable 13 gauge liner
• ★ Fully dual latex Coated
• ★ Extra grip coating on palm
• ★ Seamless Knit for optimum comfort
• ★ High levels of grip and abrasion resistance
• 
  

Conformity

• ★ EN388: 2131X
• ★ EN511: 010

Ideal for: Working in wet conditions • Construction • Outdoor General Handling • Gardening

Sizes Available: Medium/8, Large/9, XL/10, 2XL/11

Other specifications of gloves available are:-

Waterproof Gloves

This is a waterproof glove made with 13-gauge nylon liner, fully coated with latex on the front and back of the hand. Being waterproof and double coated in the palm and fingertips, it provides excellent grip in wet and dry conditions while maintaining great dexterity, flexibility and comfort.

Features

• Breathable 13 gauge liner
• Fully latex Coated
• Extra grip coating on palm
• Seamless Knit for optimum comfort
• High levels of grip and abrasion resistance

Ideal for Automotive, Agriculture, Construction, Highway maintenance, Railways and all other wet work

Sizes Available: Small/7, Medium/8, Large/9, XL/10, XXL/11.

Semi Waterproof Gloves

Features

• Breathable 13 gauge liner
• Palm And Half Back latex Coated
• Extra grip coating on palm
• Seamless Knit for optimum comfort
• High levels of grip and abrasion resistance

Ideal for Automotive, Agriculture, Construction, Highway maintenance, Railways and all other wet work

Sizes Available: Medium/8, Large/9, XL/10 

Planning and Reviewing December in Previous Years

Reviewing the diary over the last Thirteen years for December 

There is not a whole lot of growing that happens in December, its normally blustery, cold, rainy, and overcast. It's the only time of the year with no sowing programme, though some enthusiasts and trophy hunters will ignore convention. I can't shut my plot down completely because there is too much tidying and maintenance to do on plot 1A and I have infrastructure works to undertake on plot 1. I also need to go there for some Allotment Therapy and get out of the house. 

2012 - My First December and third month of owning an allotment was mainly spent cutting down the weeds and exposing what lay underneath and discovering all manor or debris to dispose off. There was a lot of burning of weeds in the two incinerators 

2013 - Mainly clearing up the plot, Growing and cut and drop green manure, installing an infrastructure of paths and beds. Harvesting Sprouts 

2014 - Mainly clearing up the plot, Growing and cut and drop green manure, installing an infrastructure of paths and beds. Harvesting Sprouts 

2015 - Mainly clearing up the 2nd plot on Spencer Road, Growing and cut and drop green manure, installing an infrastructure of paths and beds. Harvesting Sprouts, carrots and parsnips  

2016 - Two plots on two different allotment sites Mill Green and Spencer Road, installing more infrastructure, collecting leafs, Walking Onions in greenhouse, harvesting sprouts, manure and leafs on beds, making planting membrane sheets, High winds blow over Keith's shed. Shed Break-ins and meeting the police on Spencer Road.
            

2017 - Family health matters mean very little achieved on the plot. Leaf collection and sprout harvest.

2018 - Lots of rain and not a great deal of work possible this month. Grow Your Own Tomato Seed Circle package arrives. 30th December and I was clearing the sweetcorn from the beds and putting to sleep for winter.  

2019 - Lots of rain, but I did manage to audit and catalogue What's In My Seed Box 

Jools Holland in Brighton with Kelly and John Barrowman A Fabulous Christmas and weekend away with my good lady wife meant I lost two weekends of working on the plots.

Christmas Eve my good lady wife and I were in the Royal Brompton Hospital as she was undergoing a night study to recalibrate her BiPAP (Bilevel Positive Airways Pressure) machine that she has to go on each night.

2020 - Lots of rain, but I did manage to audit and catalogue What's In My Seed Box 

Raspberry infrastructure created. Weather watching and rain stops play. Plot Tour Video produced. New varieties of seeds from Suttons reviewed, In My Seed Box reviewed and published throughout the month, Seed catalogues reviewed. Before You Buy Seeds article updated. 

2021 - Lots of rain, but I did manage to audit and catalogue What's In My Seed Box for 2022 

After storm Arwen in November, Storm Barra hits the UK at the start of December. Leaf Bin and Carrot barrel set up. Rhubarb Bed 3 created; Rhubarb moved into it. So many bulbs planted by Andy and then stolen by the rats with fluffy tails.  21st December Winter Solstice and we start making our way to longer daylight. Sorted out the plot arrangement for 2022 and published it on the blog. Managed a site visit on the last day of December after so much rain. 

2022 - Not so many visits in December as my wife Jenny was very ill and the weather was not good Snow on the 12th December we had snow, Lots of post on the blog looking at what was in my seed boxes for 2023

2023 - No visits to the allotment at all during December of this year as I had finished my radiotherapy for cancer and my mobility was not very good at all.

2024 - With better mobility and some dry but cold weather there were a number of visits during December this year. Harvesting the last of the Java potatoes in buckets . Researching Polytunnels and level entry Greenhouses and considering purchase. Working on the raspberry beds and then installing raised beds. Modification to plot layout as wheelbarrow which is 620mm wide will not go down 600mm path with raised beds, one gets away with it with framed beds but not raised beds. Potatoes arrived and I set up in modules in the potting shed to chit, idverde cleared the Japanese Knotweed plot.  Updating the notice board with idverdes guidance for new and existing plot holders. Composting Christmas vegetable peelings and drying out coffee grounds in the potting shed. Removing bindweed from raspberry beds and paths and constructing and filling raised beds 15 & 15a 

December bonfires to clear the blighted foliage and if the weather holds infrastructure works and closing down beds for the Winter months.  

To Do List   

Mill Green - Plot 1

• Greenhouse 1 - Currently being used to house all the cardboard to be used in the new raised beds, The Loft Conversion is failing and needs remedial works.   
• Infrastructure - Convert standard 2.4m x 1.2m beds to 2 number 1.2 x 0.9m Raised beds with a path between for bed, Install beds 11 & 11a, 12 & 12a and 13 & 13a and bed 15a
• Raised Beds - Scaffold Boards have been delivered and pilot holes drilled in 0.9m (3ft) boards for next two raised beds. the rest to be processed in December.
• Blueberry Area - Weed and make a base then fence in using spare panel. Pot up the six blueberry plants.

Mill Green - Plot 1A

• Greenhouse 1A - Set up more Coffee to dry out 
• Daleks - Dig in the additional Dalek by the Hotbin
• Bindweed  - Remove bindweed from all the affected beds on plot.
• Apple Trees - Pruned & Stabilise
• Plum Tree - Pruned needs more tidying up & under  
• Grape Vines - Prune.
• Path -  The main path, is now installed, needs a little TLC at the slope between plots 1 & 1A.
• Trees -  Prune back self seeders and save for backfilling Raised beds.