Episode 388. Ponds, chilies and potatoes.
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Join me in this weeks podcast where I answer a question about ponds, A question about growing chilli's and share how I grow potatoes. I also share the latest from my plots.
The diary
This week we have had some very strong winds. Luckily we didnt suffer any damage but the weather did put a stop to gardening.
We did however manage to build new garden bed at home. This bed is going to be the Christmas dinner bed in which 2021 Christmas veg will be grown in.
Ponds
This week I received a question about what plants to plant around a pond for the benefit of wildlife.
Its been a while since I had a pond but I remember that when we had a pond on our old allotment it was great for wildlife. With lots of different insects coming in and visiting regularly.
The plants I recommend are
- Flowering rush
- Marsh marigold
- Arrowhead
- Pondweed
- Spike water milfoil
- lily
- Brocklime water speelweel
- Common cotton grass
- Greater pond sedge
- Meadowsweet
Some other resources
- https://www.arguk.org/get-involved/news/wildlife-pond-construction-and-habitat-creation-on-an-allotment-in-norfolk
- https://www.saga.co.uk/magazine/home-garden/gardening/wildlife/how-to-make-a-wildlife-pond
Chilli's
Another question I received was how to grow chilli's without grow lights. Something I am guilty of is forgetting that not everyone has grow lights. When it comes to chilli's they certainly benefit from a long growing season which is where grow lights come in.
However its still possible to grow chiili's without grow lights. I would first suggest we go to a garden centre and buy plug plants or if we want to start from seed we need to start them off over the next few weeks somewhere warm and light.
Potatoes
Its the start of the potato planting season now and I have started getting my potatoes in the ground.
In this podcast you will hear how I plant my seed potatoes, how I look after the plants and why we earth up potatoes.
If you have any tips or suggestions on any of these subjects then why not get in touch.
Special thanks for the following.
Photo by Jan Antonin Kolar on Unsplash
Photo by Alexander Schimmeck on Unsplash