Anyone any thoughts on using wind screen protection?
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mange tout Rank attained: Hazel Tree

Joined: 29 Aug 2016 Posts: 44 Location: Off to the allotment
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Posted: Sun Apr 23, 2017 7:25 am Post subject: Anyone any thoughts on using wind screen protection? |
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Thinking of getting some windscreening for my allotment. Originally it was to stop weeds growing in from the outside, particularly nettles, which had the unfortunate habit of stinging my arse when I bent down to pick things, so I was only going to put it to half a meter high.
Then I figured it would also block out wind which would help the plants grow better so I thought I might put it the full height of the fence, i.e., about 1 meter.
My only concern is that it also provides shade. In Summer this won't really be a problem as the sun is high enough in the sky that it'll shine directly in anyway. But I'm wondering if late Autumn and Winter growing would be affected? Or if the plot might be slower to 'warm up' in spring due to reduced strength of sunlight coming in.
As I say south facing fence is 1 meter high, beds would start about 40 cm in from that. Anyone any experience good bad or indifferent with the stuff (I may be overthinking things here I suspect)? Saw a professional organic grower use it recently. My allotment on canal so there would be wind. 1m high will protect most things, albeit not the french beans which probably need it the most.
EDIT - it definitely helps as I've seen professional organic growers use it, albeit out West where it would be very wind exposed |
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tagwex Rank attained: Chlorophyll for blood

Joined: 23 Feb 2010 Posts: 4922 Location: Co. Wexford
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Posted: Sun Apr 23, 2017 9:40 am Post subject: |
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A few points.
1. Wear trousers when gardening so as arse doesn't get stung!
2. Use scaffolders debris netting, it is cheap, tough and will last for years. it is 1.2m wide.
3. Shading shouldn't affect your winter growth, heat will get through anyway, what little of it there is. Additionally, there wont be much weed growth that time of year anyway so drop the fence.
4. Overthinking, a bit yes. _________________ “It’s my field. It’s my child. I nursed it. I nourished it. I saw to its every want. I dug the rocks out of it with my bare hands and I made a living thing of it!”
This boy can really sing http://youtu.be/Dgv78D2duBE |
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mange tout Rank attained: Hazel Tree

Joined: 29 Aug 2016 Posts: 44 Location: Off to the allotment
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Posted: Sun Apr 23, 2017 4:36 pm Post subject: |
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Its that difficult rising t-shirt when you haunch over thing. Very exposed. Maybe I should just wrap myself in the green netting. |
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Blowin Rank attained: Vegetable garden tender
Joined: 20 Aug 2008 Posts: 895 Location: Drimoleague, Co Cork
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Posted: Sun Apr 23, 2017 5:56 pm Post subject: |
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Can't see any reason why it should be a problem. For the last couple of years while the dog was young, I ringed my whole plot with very fine mesh woven 1m plastic netting, strongly staked all round, and it didn't affect cropping. Don't forget though that, if it's good enough to stop the wind, it will take quite a bit of strain, resulting in tearing. I had best results by holding it on the stakes with strong cable ties. _________________ A novice gardener on newly cultivated, stoney ground. |
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mange tout Rank attained: Hazel Tree

Joined: 29 Aug 2016 Posts: 44 Location: Off to the allotment
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Posted: Sun Apr 23, 2017 6:38 pm Post subject: |
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Excellent - i'll lash it on so. |
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Greengage Rank attained: Chlorophyll for blood
Joined: 09 Nov 2011 Posts: 2975 Location: Kildare
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Posted: Mon Apr 24, 2017 6:42 am Post subject: |
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you could also use lathes to hold it onto stakes stops it tearing at ties and run some wire through it to strengthen it and stop it sagging. |
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mange tout Rank attained: Hazel Tree

Joined: 29 Aug 2016 Posts: 44 Location: Off to the allotment
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Posted: Mon Apr 24, 2017 6:59 am Post subject: |
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Thanks. My friend has a staple gun so going to start with that. |
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tagwex Rank attained: Chlorophyll for blood

Joined: 23 Feb 2010 Posts: 4922 Location: Co. Wexford
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Posted: Mon Apr 24, 2017 7:54 am Post subject: |
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That will tear in the wind. Better with a loose fixing. _________________ “It’s my field. It’s my child. I nursed it. I nourished it. I saw to its every want. I dug the rocks out of it with my bare hands and I made a living thing of it!”
This boy can really sing http://youtu.be/Dgv78D2duBE |
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Blowin Rank attained: Vegetable garden tender
Joined: 20 Aug 2008 Posts: 895 Location: Drimoleague, Co Cork
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Posted: Mon Apr 24, 2017 8:17 am Post subject: |
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Amen to that. Small fixings like nails and staples will produce tears in fairly quick time. Don't forget, something we haven't mentioned so far is that the wind changes direction, and each change creates its own area of wear. If you can find any of the half inch wide plastic strapping that often comes off bales and fertiliser sacks, that, wrapped round the netting and tacked on the reverse side, can be useful and durable. The skill of such scavenging is to pick such items up when you see them but don't need them, because they're never there when you want them. _________________ A novice gardener on newly cultivated, stoney ground. |
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mange tout Rank attained: Hazel Tree

Joined: 29 Aug 2016 Posts: 44 Location: Off to the allotment
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Posted: Mon Apr 24, 2017 12:11 pm Post subject: |
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Jaysus - its never easy! thanks for advice |
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Greengage Rank attained: Chlorophyll for blood
Joined: 09 Nov 2011 Posts: 2975 Location: Kildare
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Posted: Tue Apr 25, 2017 6:53 am Post subject: |
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Blowin wrote: | . If you can find any of the half inch wide plastic strapping that often comes off bales and fertiliser sacks, that, wrapped round the netting and tacked on the reverse side, can be useful and durable. The skill of such scavenging is to pick such items up when you see them but don't need them, because they're never there when you want them. |
For the first part in a previous career I used make that strapping, contact either a local quarry wrapping blocks or BNM there will be lots of it thrown around the yards because when you get near the end of the roll it is easier for the operator to scrap it than it to run out half way through the operation of wrapping, Don't ask its just the way it is in production if you want to make your bonus. The second part I totally agree with scavenging is a skill best not shared . |
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Blowin Rank attained: Vegetable garden tender
Joined: 20 Aug 2008 Posts: 895 Location: Drimoleague, Co Cork
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Posted: Tue Apr 25, 2017 7:50 am Post subject: |
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Indeed, Greengage, but Mange Tout doesn't tell us where he is. In my opinion, there aren't enough people prepared to scavenge, so sharing the habit isn't likely to cause me problems. One regular piece of salvage I find is ripped 'ton bags' of the type that sand and ballast comes in. The one part of them that always seems to survive is the lifting straps, so I get my Stanley knife and gently cut the stitching to release them. I then roll them up and tie a bit of string round them in case I ever need some form of strapping to hold something in place. Holding a young fruit tree to a stake is a good example. Any cast off lengths of knackered hosepipe I use to protect the ends of bolts from rust, or to slot on to a clothes line before wrapping it round a tree or post and thus prevent chafing. _________________ A novice gardener on newly cultivated, stoney ground. |
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tagwex Rank attained: Chlorophyll for blood

Joined: 23 Feb 2010 Posts: 4922 Location: Co. Wexford
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Posted: Tue Apr 25, 2017 12:13 pm Post subject: |
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Jaaaaysus Blowin is there anything safe out there from a professional scavenger? Remember how Lady Fermanagh got locked up by the RUC for scavenging pallates!!! _________________ “It’s my field. It’s my child. I nursed it. I nourished it. I saw to its every want. I dug the rocks out of it with my bare hands and I made a living thing of it!”
This boy can really sing http://youtu.be/Dgv78D2duBE |
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Blowin Rank attained: Vegetable garden tender
Joined: 20 Aug 2008 Posts: 895 Location: Drimoleague, Co Cork
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Posted: Tue Apr 25, 2017 6:05 pm Post subject: |
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Answer, No Guv! Don't forget, one man's trash is another man's treasure. As for Her Ladyship, she's a big girl now and can deal with simple things like the RUC, I'm sure?
I've just had four nice barrow loads of prime topsoil out of my front ditch - kindly washed down from the kind farmer's field. Probably another two or three still there. Those dregs of coal dust left in the bottom of the coal bucket/scuttle? Hang on to your bread bags. Tip the dust into them and use to put on the fire late at night to keep it in 'til morning. _________________ A novice gardener on newly cultivated, stoney ground. |
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tagwex Rank attained: Chlorophyll for blood

Joined: 23 Feb 2010 Posts: 4922 Location: Co. Wexford
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Posted: Tue Apr 25, 2017 6:21 pm Post subject: |
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Are you going go offer that man's topsoil back to him me wonders hmmmm? _________________ “It’s my field. It’s my child. I nursed it. I nourished it. I saw to its every want. I dug the rocks out of it with my bare hands and I made a living thing of it!”
This boy can really sing http://youtu.be/Dgv78D2duBE |
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