Gardening/Vegetable growing tips

tek-monkey

wanna see my snake?
Well, yeah, that too! Called yesterday and it was in bits, they had stripped the engine to clean it all. Should see later today, so hoping is all good.

Then I can start on my veggies :D

Or go the pub.....
 

ToriRat

Is that a Moomin?
@ tek. Spring is not a good time to be cutting back any fruiting tree, unless of course you do not give a rats arse about its furture condition and just want the bloody thing to be smaller...If you prune during the spring sometimes the shock stops them fruiting.
 

tek-monkey

wanna see my snake?
Not that fussd about the fruit, although I suppose it'd be nice. Just want it heavily trimmed, its in the way!

Although, how easy is cider to make?
 

Gramaisc

Forum O. G.
You might get away with the removal of one large branch at this time, the sooner the better if you are going to do it before next winter.

There's a bit of cider-making info here.
 

Rikki

Well-Known Forumite
tek-monkey said:
Saw in Wilkos this morning a plant drip feeder, essentially 23m of small bore hose with joiny bits and drippy bits, to make your own irrigation system. I have a tap about 3m away from the greenhouse, tempted to buy one for the tomatoes regardless and maybe the chillis.
I got one of these last year to try and keep my toms, lettuce alive while i was away. Would not recommend them.

I found it impossible to get them to actually drip even after trying looped systems or ones with all legs of equal length.

control valve you get is no more than a washer with a pin hole in it, I made something a bit better with a pressure reducing valve but it still made no difference.

First drippers always spurted out and furthest did nothing, that or you increase pressure and they all flow far to fast and you end up with sodden soil in about 30 mins.
 

Gramaisc

Forum O. G.
I made a water timer for my Dad using a plug-in electronic seven day timer and a washing machine valve to control the flow from the mains. There are 'proper' water timing devices, but they are all a bit lightweight and unreliable after a period of use. The washing machine valve has plenty of power to control it and still works reliably after ten years in use. The electronic timers will go down to one minute, whereas the mechanical ones will often not be capable of being on for less than 15 minutes, so we can have a minute's dripping six or eight times a day. Things are kept moist but don't get flooded.
 

tek-monkey

wanna see my snake?
Rikki said:
I got one of these last year to try and keep my toms, lettuce alive while i was away. Would not recommend them.

I found it impossible to get them to actually drip even after trying looped systems or ones with all legs of equal length.

control valve you get is no more than a washer with a pin hole in it, I made something a bit better with a pressure reducing valve but it still made no difference.

First drippers always spurted out and furthest did nothing, that or you increase pressure and they all flow far to fast and you end up with sodden soil in about 30 mins.
Hmm, cheers for that. Was thinking of putting it on a mechanical timer, and just running it for 30 mins a day rather than on all the time, but even that is now doubtful. The other solution is a sprinkler in the greenhouse, to just run as needed. Any thoughts?
 

Gramaisc

Forum O. G.
tek-monkey said:
Was thinking of putting it on a mechanical timer, and just running it for 30 mins a day rather than on all the time, but even that is now doubtful. The other solution is a sprinkler in the greenhouse, to just run as needed. Any thoughts?
Little and often is best. A sprinkler could compromise any electrical apparatus that you may wish to use in there. You could try capillary matting under the pots, with the ends in water reservoirs. If you set it up right you might get away with two or three days before they need replenishing.
 

tek-monkey

wanna see my snake?
yeah, good point. Maybe back to the dripper system with a short sharp blast of water once a day then. Will look into the matting idea though, thanks.
 

Gramaisc

Forum O. G.
Wilko's sell the matting. It is worth keeping the distances from the water supply tank as short as possible - place it in the middle, rather than at one end. Also, as the water level drops the rate of delivery will reduce, so use a tray rather than a bucket. If the weather gets really hot a lot of the water will simply evaporate from the matting, so keep the pots as close together as possible to reduce the evaporation area, or cover exposed areas with tinfoil. Frequent short blasts of water is the ideal arrangement, but it is not simple to achieve.
 

Gramaisc

Forum O. G.
basil said:
sunshine and rain always works 4 me
Always? Even inside a greenhouse? Where would we be without technological innovation? Still waiting for the Tigris to flood?
 

basil

don't mention the blinds
sorry but i have to question your use of questions, and furthermore there is to be an EGM of the local Luddites group next week.........we're just finalising the transportation...........
 

Rikki

Well-Known Forumite
tek-monkey said:
yeah, good point. Maybe back to the dripper system with a short sharp blast of water once a day then. Will look into the matting idea though, thanks.
The wilko thing would work with something like that i was going to attempt it myself this year. The timer things arent cheap though.
 

ToriRat

Is that a Moomin?
MacGyver more like
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