God I love growing our own

[pargyle]

I've thought about doing something similar, but making a rotating sieve in the style of a cement mixer, so the raw material gets shovelled into the front of the "barrel" and the sieved stuff drops out underneath. Obviously a tipping feature would be useful too so the big stuff could be dumped out as well.

Last year I collected twelve dumpy bags of fallen leaves, but I've been using them as a "brown" to mix into the compost bins. Carbon-rich material always seems in short supply compared with green nitrogen-rich stuff.

What's your potting compost recipe? I'm still looking for a viable alternative to commercial composts that usually contain either peat or coir (or both). I tried green waste compost this season and whilst it did work I can't really say that I was happy with it. I don't think the plants did as well as they do in commercial compost.

James

Potting compost is 60% well sieved garden compost,30% well sieved leafmould and 10% vermiculite or grit with a sprinking of fish, blood and bone added when I can be bothered - but I must admit that most of the time I tend to buy decent branded compost - you get what you pay for. I keep getting problems with the likes of B & Q's own label and cheaper ones. I've just used a bag of Verve that developed a white mould on the top of the pots. Not good.

The only problem I get with my own made potting compost is weeds ... I don't think my heaps get hot enough to kill som of the seeds that get in there, I keep looking at redneck methods of heat sterilisation but it seems they are all either decidedly dangerous or are going to cost a fortune in bottled gas.

I have a spare Belle Cement mixer (don't ask !) and I considered converting that to a rotary sieve for compost by replacing some of the drum with mesh welded in but ... for the amount I get the barrow sieve does the job.

 

[JamezF]

My overwinter peas ... Douce Provence - in the greenhouse today, these were only planted 10 days ago. They are already pushing roots through the bottom of the plugs

As I posted earlier regarding my tomatoes, it seems as though everything is way more advanced than would normally be expected at this time of year. With all my salad plants for this winter I decided I'd just have to bite the bullet and make successional sowings and then plant out those that were the right size at the right time. It's horribly wasteful though and with peas it would probably be even worse as they prefer so much room for root development

James

 

[pargyle]

As I posted earlier regarding my tomatoes, it seems as though everything is way more advanced than would normally be expected at this time of year. With all my salad plants for this winter I decided I'd just have to bite the bullet and make successional sowings and then plant out those that were the right size at the right time. It's horribly wasteful though and with peas it would probably be even worse as they prefer so much room for root development

James

I make mini cloches out of PET bottles ... because of the root development that peas produce I'm thinking about planting them out in one of my raised beds with mini cloches over the seedlings and some fleece over the bed. It's been warm down here until this last day or so and I think that has contributed to the extraordinary growth. Douce Provence is winter hardy if protected and we don't get massive frosts down here - I figure if it's a little colder for them they may not grow as fast as they are at present but will continue root development which is key to a good crop... I don't want to lose them but at least I can start more off in the early spring if needs be.

 

[roche]

I've thought about doing something similar, but making a rotating sieve in the style of a cement mixer, so the raw material gets shovelled into the front of the "barrel" and the sieved stuff drops out underneath. Obviously a tipping feature would be useful too so the big stuff could be dumped out as well.

Last year I collected twelve dumpy bags of fallen leaves, but I've been using them as a "brown" to mix into the compost bins. Carbon-rich material always seems in short supply compared with green nitrogen-rich stuff.

What's your potting compost recipe? I'm still looking for a viable alternative to commercial composts that usually contain either peat or coir (or both). I tried green waste compost this season and whilst it did work I can't really say that I was happy with it. I don't think the plants did as well as they do in commercial compost.

James

I thought about it, but by the time I took time, materials and my extremely rusty welding into account, this seemed like an easier option...

It's done some hard yards since then...

There are some changes I keep meaning to make to it, but tempis fugit and all that.

 

[pargyle]

Neat solution .... this was what I was thinking of making from my spare concrete mixer;

 

[Amari]

On our allotment:
1. Just planted out my Aquadulce Claudia and De Monica broad beans which were germinated in a cold frame - voles decimate seeds sown directly into the ground. Just realised the DeM is advised for spring sowing! Netted against pigeons, pheasants et al.
2. Disastrous brussel sprouts (all three varieties sown) this year (normally my speciality): slow growth in the drought then severe invasion by white fly and then black sooty mould on the leaves.
3. Autumn sown Phacelia ready to flower in the spring for pollinators. Can be damaged/killed by severe frost.

 

[JamezF]

My sprouts have been a bit of a mixed bunch this year. Some are looking good whilst others also clearly struggled during the summer and are looking a bit weak and weedy now.

James

 

[JamezF]

Once it was dark this afternoon I planned to melt down a load of Bramley apples for apple sauce and fruit leather. Everything has gone pear-shaped though

Not sure I can fix that.

James

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

I find it easier to use a hand held French peeler

 

[JamezF]

I find it easier to use a hand held French peeler

That's certainly what I'd do for a small number of apples. I was planning to use forty though. When it works that little device can probably peel, core and slice an apple in fifteen to twenty seconds including putting the apple on it and removing it. From my point of view it's quite efficient

James

 

[pargyle]

That's certainly what I'd do for a small number of apples. I was planning to use forty though. When it works that little device can probably peel, core and slice an apple in fifteen to twenty seconds including putting the apple on it and removing it. From my point of view it's quite efficient

James

I have one ... design is at least 100 years old ... once you have it set up right it's very efficient when you have a lot to do. Works best when tbe apples are well shaped.

 

[Erichalfbee]

Once it was dark this afternoon I planned to melt down a load of Bramley apples for apple sauce and fruit leather. Everything has gone pear-shaped though

Not sure I can fix that.

James

Wow
Ignorant me
What is it?

 

[JamezF]

Wow
Ignorant me
What is it?

It's a small device designed to peel and optionally core and slice apples into rings, though I've had some success with pears as well.

The threaded rod withdraws and the apple is stuck on the three prongs, then you just wind it in and the machine does the rest. The arm on the left peels off the skin and the arrangement at the top is a combination of knives that cut the apple in a spiral as it passes and at the same time cuts the core out.

It's a beautiful piece of engineering.

James

 

[Erichalfbee]

It's a small device designed to peel and optionally core and slice apples into rings, though I've had some success with pears as well.

The threaded rod withdraws and the apple is stuck on the three prongs, then you just wind it in and the machine does the rest. The arm on the left peels off the skin and the arrangement at the top is a combination of knives that cut the apple in a spiral as it passes and at the same time cuts the core out.

It's a beautiful piece of engineering.

James

Heavens
Remarkable
Does it have a name?

 

[JamezF]

Heavens
Remarkable
Does it have a name?

Not that I'm aware of, other than an apple peeler/corer/slicer. This seems like a fair example of one being used:



For a small number of apples, or if they're really misshapen, it's probably not worth the bother, but if you want to get through a huge pile it's a wonderful thing.

James

 

[Erichalfbee]

I found one on Amazon.

 

[Erichalfbee]

Thank you James. This forum is a mine of info

 

[JamezF]

That's exactly the sort of thing Just don't buy one with a crank that breaks after ten years

James

 

[Erichalfbee]

How many apples do you think it’s done in ten years?
James, I’ve had a really bad day. You’ve made me laugh
Thank you xx

 

[enrico]

How many apples do you think it’s done in ten years?
James, I’ve had a really bad day. You’ve made me laugh
Thank you xx

sorry you had a bad day Dani. Hope you are feeling better. Must have been bad to be up at 1.30am!