Crafty Threads 'n' Yarns

Cathie

He has decided that he needs a project so he wants to turn his concrete yard into something, he wants to dig out the centre concreate to have a veggie bed and around the sides to plan flowers one side and veggies the other.

What he wants to know is how does he stop catipillers from munching on everything, last year he had pot gardens and the catepillars ate everything, he had a huge investation of them.

As well as any other hints and tips people might have, he's plodding on slowly with getting things ready and has put trellis on the wall.

We have to keep reminding him that he is ill and he should rest, but he needs to do something I suppose even if it is just a small amount each day

Cathie

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janice · Joined: 29 Dec 2006 Posts: 3071 Location: scottish borders

I would say it would be a lot easier if your dad grew vegetables in pots Very Happy

If you lift the concrete up you'll find very compacted earth underneath which will need digging, and is there hardcore or similar as that would need lifting Confused

In fact a few year ago I got fed up digging and even grew potatoes in growbags Very Happy

When we got this house it was really overgrown and it took a few years to get it in some kind of order. When I came out of hospital I was told no bending and definately no digging Sad

but I managed by sitting on the ground (blanket) and using a fork and a trowl to do some planting and weeding, took me ages but it felt great cos I had managed to do it Very Happy

So I can fully inderstand why your dad wants to do this Very Happy

Anyhoo back to the caterpillars, I have tried using fine mesh netting and the little horrors still manage to get into my brassica, this year I thought why bother and my cabbages look untouched Shocked

I don't like using chemiucals so can't say though I have been watching 'Grow your own veg' and she said to boil up some nettles and then spray your brassica with a 50/50 solution, frequently, haven't tried this so can't say whether it works or not.
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Cathie · Posted: Sun Sep 09, 2007 9:54 am Post subject:

Thanks, I will suggest that to him with regards to taking the concrete off.

I know when we where younger he did a simular thing, he dug it out, and built a wall around a foot and a half tall and filled the whole thing with good quality top soil, don't know if he is planing a simular thing in his new house.

He has also said that he doesn't want to use chemicals to keep of the pests, might get him a book for christmas, it's going to be next year I think before the bulk of stuff gets done I would have thought.

Cathie
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gilraen · Posted: Sun Sep 09, 2007 9:57 am Post subject:

Cathie I agree with Janice, use pots for this and if you pick off the caterpillars twice a day off the plants and dispose of them it is safer than using chemicals or pesticides for him especially. Smile

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