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Onoff
In the land of the unfinished project I am King!
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All the sifted soil back in the L shaped with a couple of barrows of horse manure. Instead of mounds I was thinking to plant the squash at the very top of these tubes rather than making mounds. Mad idea? As I understand it the traditional mounds keep the plant warm?
I don't know about keeping them warm? As far as I'm aware squashes are hungry plants, which is why I've always planted them in a pile of manure (or more recently just planted them directly into last year's compost heap where they seem to do really well).
The only problem I can see with the tubes is going to be watering them. I'm guessing they might be prone to drying out quite quickly?
Theres only one way to find out though, and what's the worst that'll happen. If they don't like it they just won't grow.
Your beans are looking good.
The only problem I can see with the tubes is going to be watering them. I'm guessing they might be prone to drying out quite quickly?
Theres only one way to find out though, and what's the worst that'll happen. If they don't like it they just won't grow.
Your beans are looking good.
Onoff
In the land of the unfinished project I am King!
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We're cheating really growing in the polytunnel. Also I think she started some of the seeds under heat while there was still a frost risk in the tunnel.
By the way, from left to right .. French Beans, Peas, more French Beans, Sugarsnap Peas, Runner Beans, Mangue Tout Peas and yet more French Beans. They've all overflowed onto each other with beans climbing up peas and vice versa. Sweetcorn in the middle just showing on the right of the frame, and yet more beans out of sight.
By the way, from left to right .. French Beans, Peas, more French Beans, Sugarsnap Peas, Runner Beans, Mangue Tout Peas and yet more French Beans. They've all overflowed onto each other with beans climbing up peas and vice versa. Sweetcorn in the middle just showing on the right of the frame, and yet more beans out of sight.
I'm guessing your polytunnel about evens up the weather difference between sunny Hampshire down here on the balmy South Coast and your more Northerly location. My outside beans look to be at about the same stage as your indoor ones.
Runners flowering here last week, with the first beans ready to pick now.
And I've been picking climbing French beans for a couple of weeks now.
Onoff
In the land of the unfinished project I am King!
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- Sevenoaks, UK
I was late planting my beans in pots and similarly late getting them in the ground. The ones on the A frame are the Czar, green outer with a white / cream bean. Even later are the ones along the side, in the slit trench. These are the red tongue of fire beans that I'm really looking forward to seeing. Had a couple of casualties. Bird damage I think. They're also perching on the steel frame and crapping over the side beans! 
OJCar
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Scaffold Debris netting
We use it to keep the birds off too!
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/114700191370?hash=item1ab4aa068a:g:SFMAAOSwquxgNMqV&var=414856302328
Scaffold netting on the top. I think it came from e bay, but it's the same as this.
BIGBEN® Superclad® Debris Netting - 3m x 50m
BIGBEN® Superclad® Debris Netting (3m) is the ideal solution to protect personnel, buildings and traffic from debris on scaffolding and construction sites. Shop today.
leachs.com
and normal bird netting on the sides.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/36185556...ar=632801108834&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY
The bird netting isn't very strong, but the mesh on the scaffold net is very fine, so no pollinating insects can get through it and I'd read that can be a problem with fruit bush pollination, which is why I used different stuff on the top and sides. Not sure it makes much difference though.
It's been up about 4 years now with no problems, although I do roll the roof back in winter in case it snows.
Onoff
In the land of the unfinished project I am King!
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Gave up on the idea of planting the 12 butternut squash in raised pots or mounds. I was sick of the sight of them tbh, getting them in every night. Yesterday afternoon I just whacked them straight in the prepared, well sifted, manured ground. They can just take their chances.
As a hoped pest deterrent I painted wood preserver on the top edge of the sleeper, outside the membrane that lines the sleepers so smelly right? I'd also had a home hair/beard trim so combined the cuttings with some hair from brushing the big tom cat here. Deterrent? I think not! Something shat(?) right next to the first plant! This is just nasty.
As a hoped pest deterrent I painted wood preserver on the top edge of the sleeper, outside the membrane that lines the sleepers so smelly right? I'd also had a home hair/beard trim so combined the cuttings with some hair from brushing the big tom cat here. Deterrent? I think not! Something shat(?) right next to the first plant! This is just nasty.
Onoff
In the land of the unfinished project I am King!
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- 12,554
- Location
- Sevenoaks, UK
Give them away to family, friends, neighbours, take them up the pub etc.
I'd like to do some runner bean chutney this year and maybe some wine.
As @Onoff says runner bean chutney works well for using up a glut of beans (goes well with curry as an accompaniment), and I've pickled them too on occasion, which work alright with a plowmans or cheese and biscuits etc, although you want a slightly sweeter vinegar in my opinion..
Runner bean chutney recipe | BBC Good Food
Preserve allotment staple runner beans to enjoy later in the year in this zingy chutney. It will keep sealed in a cool, dry place for up to three months
www.bbcgoodfood.com
slim_boy_fat
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Meat surprise as my old mum used to say. The surprise being there isn't any.Wot...no meat?
Honey and mustard sausages as an accompaniment. Very tasty.
