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Post by nazimundo on Jun 5, 2009 13:52:57 GMT
We are trying an experiment withour carrots this year by growing them in 45 gallon drums which are about three feet tall. According to some articles we have read Carrot root fly never fly higher than 30 inches so hopefully we should stay clear of them this year. ( You'll have to use Dags conversion charts Kedi ) ;D ;D We first cut the top off the barrel the drilled holes in the bottom for drainage. We then placed some large stones in the bottom, we dug these out of the garden last year. We then filled the barrels up to just over half full with smaller stones which we have dug out of the garden this year ( We got one of these boxes full for every two drills of potatoes planted ) We then filled the rest of the barrel first with a mixture of soil and compost, then a top layer of compost and well rotted chicken manure (it's been in storage for fifteen years since we did away with our chickens ) We are using three barrels so we have crops comming on at different times. Will post more photos later and keep you up to speed as to how it goes Alfie
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Post by kedigato on Jun 5, 2009 16:25:32 GMT
That is very interesting, Alfie, and thanks for showing us how you did it step-by-step. Looking forward to seeing how it all progresses, and harvesting will be so much easier with the carrots growing at that height. Just yesterday we put the pumpkins and squash in three of these black builders tubs, I must take some pics of them. However, after seeing how many holes you drilled in the bottom for drainage, I hope ours will be OK as we only have 4 holes per tub! Didn't think to put stones in first but now that I have seen yours, it does make sense. Peter filled the tubs up with the compost he took out of one of the bins last year. Unfortunately, no good well-rotted chicken manure, pity the goats are gone from the field out back (house there now) and the neighbours rabbit died a couple of years ago. Peter did put a good dose of these little blue pellets in, he swears by them. Sorry, I always forget the name. A job very well done, Alfie
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Post by nazimundo on Jun 6, 2009 13:28:58 GMT
Thanks Kedi Will post more pics when the carrots grow, I also forgot to say as added protection we mixed a few onion seeds in and we will use these as spring onions in salads stir fries etc
Alfie
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Post by DAG on Jun 6, 2009 16:36:16 GMT
Sounds good Alfie, and you are lucky to have that matured chicken manure. You reminded me of a tv programme (probably Gardeners' World) in which Medwyn Williams grew prize winning carrots in rainwater pipes. Medwyn Williams - ten times Gold medal winner at the Chelsea Flower Show, current Chairman of the National Vegetable Society. This maybe of interest as I see that there are 426 on line articles about growing vegetables: www.medwynsofanglesey.co.uk/I do remember that he always insisted that despite their huge size they were always tasty and edible.
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Post by tamarine on Jun 6, 2009 19:51:33 GMT
Alfie, I am experimenting growing carrots in a buiders bag . They have all come up. Last year I grew butter-nut-squash in a builders bag. When they are a bit taller I will send a pic. Last year I grew carrots in the onion raised bed 'Autum King' it is on my allotment thread and no carrot fly came near it. I think it is a great idea and when you finished with the carrots put potatoes in them for xmas.
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