I think it was Samuel (Dr) Johnson who once said that every project bears within itself the possibility of failure. If you wait until all possible objections have been met then you'll never do whatever it is that's in your mind. So piling a load of seaweed on to the asparagus bed could be construed as a bit risky were it not for the fact that we've seen it done at the Lost Gardens of Heligan without any obvious ill effects. Their bed, mind you, are about fifty times bigger than ours.
Today, having cut back this season's growth and carefully hand weeded, I opened the very large sack of seaweed we brought back from North Wales and cautiously spread the first forkful on the bed. The smell was pretty awesome (to steal a phrase from WordPress) and there was a lively crew of sandhoppers and flies wondering how they'd managed to travel 220 miles from the beach they regarded as home; but it's on now and I'm experiencing a strange feeling of satisfaction. Whether the promised benefits of trace elements and soil conditioning along with a little salt and sand actually make a difference we shall see in six months time. On the allotment the balance has now tilted in favour of next season. Over half has been cleared, manured and covered, and the depressing signs of wilting and decayed leaves have been consigned to the compost where a quite wonderful number of brandling have been busy breeding all summer.
Madame meanwhile was planting up the spring window boxes for the flat, and clearing out the greenhouse of pots and growbags. The spent remains of the bags and pots have all gone back on to the beds, more as soil conditioner than food. Two mysteries were also resolved during the morning. The reason that one of the water butts was never refilling from the greenhouse roof turned out to be no more complicated than the fact that I'd turned off the wrong tap; and the second mystery – why was there a section of the tomatoes that always needed watering in spite of the soaker hose , turned out to be no more complicated than a kink in the pipe. I solved both problems with one poorly aimed jab of the fork, when the water sprayed into my face.
Author Dave PolePosted on November 3, 2018 Categories Allotment, North WalesTags asparagus, irrigation, seaweed, soaker hose2 Comments on At last, the seaweed.