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[dickgloucester]

I'm glad I caught the weather forecast yesterday - there was a heavy frost last night. I brought in the newest plants and made sure the ones I could move were against the walls of the house. The rest will have to shift for themselves

Comments

[rhiannon_s]

I bought a tray of French marigolds to use as protection in the vegetable patch. The trouble is, I can't remember what they are supposed to protect from what.

Quite a lot of things, wikipedia has an article: wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_companion_plants

[dickgloucester]

Brilliant! Thank you!

[waywalker]

I am not sure of your climate, unfortunately. However a poly tunnel is made to protect against mild extremes in temperature. If it's getting warm enough during the day for the tunnel to store up enough heat to last through a frost than you can use it. It can get too hot, and burn your plants, so be aware of that. On a very warm day I usually open the ends of the tunnel, which allows the heat to escape. Lowering it again about an hour before sunset usually gives it enough time to build the heat back up for the night.

I use marigold for color and to keep rabbits away. Something is keeping them out of my garden, and it may be the marigolds. LOL

[dickgloucester]

Thanks for the tip!

I don't actually like the colour of marigolds - I prefer the acid yellow you get from daffodils, for example - but if they discourage pests I think I can take the aesthetic distress.

[mallt]

I'm not a fan of marigolds either but given the benefits I think I'll be planting them too!
The only plant I've planted with pest control in mind in the past was nasturtiums around my squash plants. I think I’ll make more of an effort to add companion plants in the future.

[dickgloucester]

*nods* I'd rather use companion plants than poisons.

[singeaddams]

Hard work with a broken finger, but not impossible.

Ouch! Don't work too hard or the damn thing will never heal. (Says bitter experience.)

[dickgloucester]

I'm trying to be careful, but there's stuff that has to be done ... Took Sunday off, though.

[virginiadear]

Please tell us you have that finger splinted to protect it?

[dickgloucester]

It's not really worth splinting as it's a clean, non-displaced break of the top bone of my middle finger on the non-dominant hand, and by now semi-healed. I just do everything making a rude gesture at the world ...

[heinleinfan]

I'm not sure about temps and climate in the east midlands of England...but here in Colorado in the US, I've used poly tunnels on my tomatoes in most years. I'm building an actual tomato house for them this year, but in the past

[dickgloucester]

Thank you for this - it's really helpful!