Hi,
May I tap the assembled knowledge of the group for the answer to 2 questions, please?
1. I have never cut the leaves of my leeks prior to lifting them however a number of local veggie growers here in Dorset favour this activity indicating that it benefits the plant and makes it thicker and tastier. Any opinions very welcome.
2. Compost heaps - covered or uncovered? I suspect a cover retains temperature and allows the breakdown of matter to take place more quickly ... and it also gives shelter to friends like slow worms. But I have never really noticed much difference in the conversion process between my heaps be they covered or uncovered.
Any members thoughts would be most welcome.
Many thanks,
Tom W.
Deepest Dorset
As far as the leeks story goes, I think they are pulling your leg. :D
I've only composted stuff in dalek bins in my garden so far and it comes out really good.
If it's uncovered some may blow away in strong winds and make a right mess.
never bothered cutting leek leaves and our compost bin is covered, encourages the worms ;D
Dorset - Isn't that where there are a lot of old dinosaurs?
Knee deep in them :-))
Not a leg pull. I've seen both cut and uncut. In fact I have cut 25% of mine just to see what happens.
As for Dalek bins lids blowing off .... the mind boggles. Powerful stuff you have there :)
Tom W.
1) No. No point.
2) Covered.
Not sure about the leeks. As for the compost, I prefer to cover mine partly because it helps speed everything up and also when it rains it doesn't become a soggy mess. I have heard some say i you have an old duvet, it should be put in plastic then put on top of the heap! I wonder if you have to read it a bed time story as well? ;D
Are you sure they don't mean cut the tops (and possibly roots) before planting, rather than lifting? This is a common practice, though a lot of people don't bother.
I would cover compost and manure; more so to deny light to prevent any weed seed germinating. Weeds have previously grown through when I have left it uncovered.
A. Carolines probably right on this one.
B. Always cover, for heat and to keep the rain off.
;D ;D ;D
If covered, make sure the fill is kept moist.
1 - I think it's just to make them look neat. (Some people are like that - I'm deeply suspicious of even a hint of it, myself!) But trim the roots before planting, so that they pop into the hole more neatly.
2 - Cover. (But, as Tim says, make sure it's moist.)
1) I don't cut the leaves of my leeks, I've saved some seed this year of some stubby pot leeks that fan their leaves very neatly and thicken up very well on their own.
2) I leave my compost heap uncovered over the summer until it is fairly full and has had a really good soak, then cover it with a folded tarpauline and three large plastic bags stuffed with other plastic bags (if that makes sense). It keeps the heap really well insulated, and makes some use of the bags I end up with each year from my mushroom compost delivery.
If you trim the roots of your leeks when you transplant, do the leaves as well. that cuts down water loss and helps the reduced root system keep up. Either do both or neither.