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May 2020
6:30pm, 22 May 2020
6,445 posts
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sallykate
I spent three hours at the allotment planting out squash, tomatoes, peas and beans. It was hot (no shade, I now have very strong tan lines) and super windy and I just hope everything will be OK - it was all a bit wilty when I left but I know that's normal post-planting. Using a blowtorch to burn holes in weed suppressing membrane worked very well.
Just the spinach to do there tomorrow, and a few bits at home (tomatoes, chillis & bedding: petunias, fuchsia, phlox, nemesia).
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May 2020
8:29pm, 22 May 2020
19,780 posts
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Dvorak
Bought some bedding plants in Aldi yesterday as, apart some some marigolds (the uneaten ones are doing very well) I only have sunflowers yet.
Today has not really been an outdoors day so far. Some fallen branches from the ash tree. Hope the apple set its fruit already.
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May 2020
10:56am, 23 May 2020
201 posts
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MDrewett
The wind had blown over our newly built pea frame when we checked on things yesterday, couldn't believe it! I hope everything manages to survive this blustery weekend for everyone!
Do we still have time to sow any seeds over the next week or two - veg or flowers? I'm thinking maybe the beans and squashes are ok still, esp for succession sowing, and of course salady bits, not sure on flowers though?
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May 2020
11:30am, 23 May 2020
19,782 posts
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Dvorak
I'd say so. Well, given the seeds still have, I hope so. Marigolds, and I've sown nasturtiums in July and still had them flower. Chard, broccoli, spinach? I would think that southerners have a bit more latitude (due to having a bit less, ho ho).
A bit further south yet, but one year I holidayed in Greece, in July. Basic apartment, above the family who owned them. On the first evening, a girl planted out a small courgette seedling. When I left, a week later, it had grown more than mine would in a month, in the greenhouse.
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May 2020
11:38am, 23 May 2020
9,957 posts
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rf_fozzy
So I could do with 2 bits of advice:
1. Weed control membranes. Do they work? How much water do they block to the ground?
I have a bed at my allotment that is very time consuming to keep clea of weeds and it would be a massive time saver for me (and would therefore allow me to take better care of the rest of the plot) if I could do some thing with that particular bed. It would finally give me time to control the bindweed and sort the raspberries out properly.
If anyone can recommend what to buy, that would be helpful.
2. Greenhouses. I'm getting a greenhouse for home - I already know I need a high eaves 6x8 greenhouse (I'm too tall for a regular one), and I'm going for polycarbonate panels. I've looked at the Elite ones which are v nice, but also v expensive. Any other recommendations?
Also what bits should I buy wityh it - I've already been recommended to get an automatic roof vent (which is a v good idea). Anything else I should be looking to get.
Also staging - free standing or integral?
Sorry, lots of Qs.
Want to try and order it by next week as I want to try and get it up whilst I'm still WFH.
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May 2020
11:40am, 23 May 2020
9,958 posts
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rf_fozzy
Btw: I've made the decision to plant out stuff at the allotment much later this year. Mainly to see if I can stop the birds eating stuff.
I've already got a little lean-to greenhouse which I'm using to bring them on.
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May 2020
12:22pm, 23 May 2020
16,151 posts
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Rosehip
the best you can afford fozzy -:)
I'd have free standing staging if I were to have a nice big greenhouse - for flexibility and also, dad's big greenhouse had a louvre panel opposite the door to get a through draught if that was needed.
Weed membrane is great where you don't want to grow things, cutting holes in it to plat through can be a bit of a pain.
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May 2020
12:22pm, 23 May 2020
16,152 posts
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Rosehip
It's raining 
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May 2020
12:27pm, 23 May 2020
6,447 posts
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sallykate
A woven membrane will allow water to reach the ground while still excluding light. If you can get hold of plenty of cardboard (bike boxes for example) then putting that down first will exclude even more light. I had my allotment covered with the stuff when I took it over but have slowly removed it. It does fray horrendously, so best used in large pieces. Weeds underneath will be a lot weaker and easier to remove, even bindweed. The stuff I have is Mypex. It's what my gardener supplied.
This year I still have just one bed covered with membrane. I planted through it yesterday, using a blow torch to make holes in it rather than cutting with scissors, to prevent fraying.
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May 2020
12:39pm, 23 May 2020
18,203 posts
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Angus Clydesdale
We have woven membrane weed matting all around our fruit bushes and strawberries. It’s very good. Water pools on it a bit, but soaks through quite quickly.
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