Compost, Sweetcorn, Climbing Beans

My son-in-law, Gary, came over to give me a hand. This turned out to be a real blessing as the wind got up and became quite strong. The three bean teepees were about to be blown over. I think the recent rain softening the ground has loosened the poles which makes things worse.

Between us we managed to attach guy ropes to hold the teepees against the prevailing wind and stabilised them. I’d have been really disappointed to lose them as they’re just starting to crop.

Runner and Pole Bean Teepees, now reinforced with guy ropes to resist the wind.

I can’t say I’m overly impressed with the pole beans. Basically just a French bean. They’re OK but nothing special. Still, having got this far I don’t want to lose them.

In the polytunnel the climbing French beans are being very productive. Every day I’m getting at least a good meal’s worth. They go into the salad drawer in the fridge and every couple of days I blanch what’s left in there for the freezer.

Sweetcorn

Sweetcorn cobs nearly ready to harvest as the tassels are turning brown.

The sweetcorn in the tunnel is just days off now. The tassels on the cobs are turning brown and they feel right. Replacing the soil in the centre bed after last year’s dismal performance has really paid dividends.

The corn outside though is embarrassing. Plants barely up to my waist. I’ll just leave them to it – but don’t think we’ll get much if anything back from them. Like the polytunnel centre bed, their soil is heavily manured so it’s down to temperature in large part, although watering might be part of it. The polytunnel corn is getting a lot of consistent watering from the dripline systems but outside just gets a soaking when dry.

The other factor that might be responsible is direct sunshine. The lay of the land and trees mean the walled plot is late to get sun in the morning and the wall to seaward means it misses the late direct sunshine too. Think it’s most likely temperature that’s the major factor though as the polytunnel gets only a little more direct sunshine.

Compost

Pile of compost in front of the bins.

It’s roughly two years since I got a black, insulated 1,000 litre compost bin from Soilfixer. It’s proven a bit tricky and I had problems getting it going as it dried out. With my back problems I didn’t really pay it much attention after it was reloaded. Just added more materials as they appeared.

Armed with fork and shovel, Gary emptied it for me. The partially decomposed material on the surface was put to one side and the rest put onto the plot in a pile. The quality of the finished compost looks great. Nice texture which should add body to the soil.

The bin was then reloaded, starting with clippings from the privet windbreak hedge and then layered with the partially rotted material removed earlier and the material from the top of the plastic bin next to it. There’s a fair amount of chicken manure in the mix which should help move things along.