Gardman walk in polytunnel update

Almost three years ago I waxed lyrical about buying a three metre Gardman walk in polytunnel at a real bargain price. You can read the original posts, Walk in polytunnel describing the initial excitement, and Gardman walk in polytunnel chronicling the installation and reality of its failings.

All I was left with after two winters was the frame and canvas edging, the plastic covering having disintegrated. But with a few metres of scaffold netting and some blanket stitching I've knocked up a very serviceable substitute. Creates a micro climate and hopefully will make a pest free zone. Going to use it to grow cabbages.

Here's what I've ended up with...

Stitched all around the frame ends, wire along inside to support walls, just digging over at present.

Here's detail on the blanket stitching.

Planting a pond

Just how many projects can a man complete before he has to get down to planting? For me, the number seems infinite. Currently it's the new pond.

Got form on ponds. For the previous effort see Making a Clay Lined Pond. That three year old beauty is still going strong. Full of wildlife, including it's second flush of home produced tadpoles. And tantalisingly always in sight, positioned on the plot adjoining ours that we gave up last Autumn.

That pond was a great feature, such a pleasure to sit beside watching the latest visitors while taking a break. And an important asset on the allotment site, with so little surface water available. At times it seemed like there was a bee's nest somewhere close, so great was the number of honey bees dipping in to take a drink. Pond skippers, dragon flies and various beetles added interest. The height of excitement was the realisation we had not just one, but five newts.

With the latest installation I tried using an old rigid pond lining first, but my attempts to repair holes with waterproof tape failed. Unfortunately I'd ploughed on and installed the whole thing, water and plants included, before I realised. So it was back to base. Flexible UPVC used the send time. Much easier once I'd wrestled it into an unfolded state.

On the first visit after completion not only had the water started to clear, but creatures had already moved in. A few raft spiders were skipping across the surface and down cracks. Loads of midge larvae were on the surface, enjoying the predator-free environment. Most exciting of all, a caddis fly larvae kept popping to the surface, not having had time to construct its case of silk, binding bits and pieces from the pond.

Here are some snaps of the build process. Lots more to follow as the pond develops.

Grandsons amazingly energetic, until I realised they were searching for fossils and water springs.

Rigid pond lining installed and all complete.

Plants in, water cleared... but also leaking!

Plan B, and a slightly bigger pond. Wasn't that lining hard to fold out!

Reminder for the future... dig out channels to fold lining edge into BEFORE installing!

Installation 2 almost complete.

Final touches added... a few more plants and pebbles.

Allotment update March 2014

Hopefully aiming to get back to more frequent posts now things are starting to happen on the allotment. This final monthly update is all about the greenhouse. Beds are largely still all potential and little planting, but inside the greenhouse it's all green and growing. Almost all of the following has been initially raised on the magic windowsill... the study windowsill, where nothing ever fails to grow.

Ground beans, purple mange tout & swiss chard.

Courgettes, sweetcorn & giant beans.

Butternut squash, pumpkins & cucumbers.

More ground beans.

Kale, kale and more.... well, broccoli, actually.

Loads of sunflowers erupting.

Various lettuce, these raised from seed in the greenhouse.

Spinach, also raised in the greenhouse.

Finally, my favourite... four varieties of tomatoes.