collecting leaves
We are beginning to prepare for cultivation at Cordwood!
After months of heavy work, we have some clear ground and a number of the poorer trees will be removed by the end of the month.
So, here's some evidence of us planning ahead.
Leafmould is a valuable soil conditioner and our sandy soil needs as much improvement as we can throw at it. I've barrowed many loads of leaves and packed them into these damaged builders' bags. When full, each contains a cubic metre - so I have almost three cubic metres of leaves stashed away.
After the spring frosts I hope to plant each with its own squash plant because squashes seem to love a moist, leafy growing medium. I can look forward to tasty autumn squashes from September onwards.
The leaves will break down and reduce in volume by at least half over the coming months.
I hope to empty out the black, crumbly leafmould onto the ravenous soil next year.
After months of heavy work, we have some clear ground and a number of the poorer trees will be removed by the end of the month.So, here's some evidence of us planning ahead.
Leafmould is a valuable soil conditioner and our sandy soil needs as much improvement as we can throw at it. I've barrowed many loads of leaves and packed them into these damaged builders' bags. When full, each contains a cubic metre - so I have almost three cubic metres of leaves stashed away.
After the spring frosts I hope to plant each with its own squash plant because squashes seem to love a moist, leafy growing medium. I can look forward to tasty autumn squashes from September onwards.
The leaves will break down and reduce in volume by at least half over the coming months.
I hope to empty out the black, crumbly leafmould onto the ravenous soil next year.
2 comments:
I've heard of planting squashes on compost heaps but always wondered how anyone has a mature compost heap which they can manage not to use over the summer while the squashes are growing. Never thought of putting them on leaf mould heaps which I wouldn't be using over the summer. Thanks for that wonderful idea.
Squashes seem to love the warm and moist conditions they find in leaf piles. Good luck next year!!
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