Allotments 4 All

I seem to remember reading about soaking the bottoms in something (could have been fenceposts & creosote though) a long while ago before leaving them somewhere dry for the winter. Anyone remember anything.

I've heard that before, never soaked but try to put them somewhere dryish.

I am not convinced creosote would be a good idea, it will upset the roots.

I soak the ends of new ones in cooking oil.  Saw it on a gardening programme years ago, no idea if it helps.

I just bundles 'em up and chucks 'em on top of the shed.  I think the frosts and cold rain should do for any beasties and bugs.

Cheers,    Tony.

Its parafin - never done it myself, just heard others mention.

Dip the ends in melted candlewax if you don't want any bugs - but some are good and need a hideyhole in winter time 

Ninny

Thanks Galina thats it, digeroo i thought i might i may have been misremembering ceosote  & fence posts  thats all.

I always buy long 2m+ canes because sure as death and taxes they will get 150mm shorter every year.

You might not believe this but if you whack them 200mm from the end before you use them, most will neatly shed 50-80% of this length - some, a few (if they are only 1 year old) won't.

If you don't test them this way they will invariably fail you by Sep at the latest.

I used to throw away any bit of pipe that was less than 400mm long but now I keep them and use them to extend any canes that aren't quite long enough to make whatever size tripod I'm after.

Sometimes this just means knocking the pipe half into the ground, making sure it is full of soil to ground level (or higher) and resting the cane on the soil inside so it matches the un-piped canes.

Tottingology...

Cheers.

I've seen them painted pretty colours, 1 to protect them and 2 because they looked cute