Well, the weather has been pretty wet and miserable again for the past few days. It seems to have done nothing but rain, or snow, since we moved to Blackgates and the weather continues to dampen my enthusiasm, along with the long dark nights!
Sunday marked the beginning of the compost revolution. I built a compost tumbler! I have always managed to make a large quantity of compost using the traditional method. Pallets nailed together in a square and just fill as the waste is produced, but this tumbler method claims to do in two weeks what a traditional heap does in six months…….we’ll see what happens. The tumbler (basically a fancy metal barrel on a stand) is rotated every day so as to mix the mixture. I have still followed my composting method of good ratio’s of nitrogen and carbon. For those looking confused now I’ll explain.
Plant material still green is the nitrogen part; the brown material is generally the carbon part (wood). If you find you have a shortage of carbon rich material, newspaper is a good substitute, especially in summer when you have an amount of grass clippings to compost. This paper prevents the sticky mess produced by too much grass in a compost heap. Once you have mastered the ratios just add the material as you garden, mix it in to the existing heap material a little, water it so it’s not too dry and cover it to keep the heat in (old carpet is good). It’s the heat that does the work. If nothing else, I’m great at composting.
The apple tree’s had a prune on Sunday. I really need to prune the plums but it’s too early yet, as the risk of silver leaf is still an issue due to cold and damp weather. The soft fruit is also due a good prune, as is the peach I have in the greenhouse. The peach needs a prune when spring arrives as I want to train it into a fan. However it’s a feathered whip at present so it will look pretty sad after I begin the process of training the fan. This will involve cutting it back to two opposing lateral stems about a foot from the base of the tree. Six foot to one foot in one cut with the loppers, bless it!
The miserable weather has given me time to think about the garden design and layout though. It’s going to be amazing I can tell you!
I do have an unhealthy love affair with this 'minds eye' of mine!
Take care, and make the most of that room outside.
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