Roofgardening 2016 - Out on the Tiles

Hmmm... not much PROPER gardening done.... no new seeds planted etcetera. However, a MAJOR development in the Polytunnel department.

This is a bit complex, so get a cuppa tea, and make yourselves comfortable.

So, I've put my bubblewrap insulation back up. I can't bind it directly onto the skin of the polytunnel; I just wrap it over the metal support bars. It works.. but... it's a bit "saggy".

THEN.... water starts to gather ABOVE the insulation, from a mixture of a leaking roof and condensation.
The water starts to pool in the saggy bits. Eventually, the saggy bits form one huge "sag" - one for each insulation strip.
Left alone, these water-filled 'sags' would get bigger and bigger, until they entire insulation strip collapses, dumping several litres of water all over the floor.

So... I just push them upward with my hand, forcing the water up and sideways, until it all pours down the inner sides of the polytunnel, and ultimately floods the floor.

Unless.....

****Brainwave*****

I cut a hole in the bottom of each water-filled 'sag'.
Water then POURS downwards onto the floor.
Unless... you put a container on the floor to catch it.

To catch all of that lovely pure rainwater.

What name could we give to these special water-gathering containers ?

How about.... "Watering Cans" ?

I've just turned my Polytunnel into a rainwater capture butt !

Lemonade, anyone ?

Thank you grindle. I must admit that I am insufferably smug about it.

Apart from that... I got a small amount of potting compost on Saturday and - at daitheplant's suggestion - added some general-purpose compost to it to bulk it out, and filled out some more seed trays.

I've also run a second heater-wire through these trays (and under two others) to try and .. well.. not germinate the seedlings exacly (I'm going to create another thread about that... ).. but to give them perhaps a bit of a boost once they DO germinate ?

The Polytunnel door split down the middle after the storm damage last year, and I've finally got around to bodging a repair: a section of thin plastic tarpaulin cut out and sellotaped across the seam with Duck Tape. Total amateur-hour stuff, but it MIGHT hold it closed untill we move into Summer, and THAT will help keep the rain out as well.

I've consulted the diary, and discovered that THIS week I need to plant Geraniums (plus some onions), so the seed packets are all out and ready; I shall be attending to that over the course of the next 2-3 evenings.

But TONIGHT... I'm having a bath !

daitheplant often suggests that I am too obsessed with "gadgets" and infrastructure, and I don't spend time actually GARDENING.

My position is that - the better the infrastructure - the easier it is for me to overcome lazyness and actually DO stuff.

For the first time in recorded history, I have a set of seed packets ready for sowing, at the 'correct' time, and with the seed beds ready for them.

anyway, the bath is important. Would you really wan't a SMELLY roofgardener ?

As for the seeds... ask me again by Friday ?

As for "Am I ready for snow and ice... ". Well, in my personal life (e.g. getting to and from work etcetera), then NO.
In regards the polytunnel... for the first time in history... YES.

I just have to crank up the soil-warming thrusters !



Fasten your seat-belts, dianthus.. It's gonna be a roller-coaster ride

Not even CLOSE, SueA

I had it in boiler-heated water, copiously mixed with Wilko's Lemon and Black Pepper bubblebath lotion.

I shall now retire to bed, with my (water) butt scented of Thai Salad !

Hmm... possibly file under "FAR too much information" ?

A quick piccie of the new set of seed trays.

The owls are double-checking the instructions on the packet of T+M Ailsa Craig seeds on the rear 'bridge' seed tray.

(you can click for a larger version of the picture).

Dianthus, do you know why his Owls don`t get romantic alone at night in his polytunnel?