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Allotment Stuff => The Basics => Topic started by: jonny211 on March 12, 2008, 12:52:26

Title: Windbreaks
Post by: jonny211 on March 12, 2008, 12:52:26
Hi all,

In light of the recent weather (and the chickens roof coming off in the wind) I'm looking for a cheap and easy method of creating a windbreak for my overwintering veg. I didn't realise how exposed my new site is!

What I had in mind was planting sweetcorn on the windward side of the brasssica bed and then leave the sweetcorn plants where they were over the winter to provide a little shelter for the brussel sprouts that would be behind them . Thinking about this again and how thin the sweetcorn plant is is there a another plant that I could use for a windbreak (and that I could also eat  ;))

Or does anyone know of another way of protecting tall plants on exposed sites?

Cheerio.

Jon
Title: Re: Windbreaks
Post by: Barnowl on March 12, 2008, 13:06:25
Some people on our site use a row or two of Jerusalem artichokes......but be warned they need containing.
Title: Re: Windbreaks
Post by: dtw on March 12, 2008, 14:16:13
How about some raspberries (or any cane fruit) attached to a bamboo framework,
or on wire between posts.
Title: Re: Windbreaks
Post by: prink13 on March 12, 2008, 14:16:54
Hi Jon, although you can't eat them, straw or hay bales make a fantastic windbreak, and you can use them to mulch the beds, or put in a chicken run if yoou want

Kathi
Title: Re: Windbreaks
Post by: Kea on March 13, 2008, 17:51:20
Trouble is Jerusalem artichokes aren't much use at this time of the year. How about a hedge of something you can eat like black currants but just leave them to grow a bit more than the ones you're growing for fruit i.e. Don't prune them quite as much. If you have a solid wind break the wind blows over the top and hits the ground over the other side causing a lot of damage just where it hits. You need a windbreak that allows the wind to filter through.
Title: Re: Windbreaks
Post by: kt. on March 13, 2008, 20:52:45
Quote from: dtw on March 12, 2008, 14:16:13
How about some raspberries (or any cane fruit) attached to a bamboo framework,
or on wire between posts.
I was gonna say that ;D    darn, need to be quicker ;D