It's a bit desolate in the Net Tunnel at the moment, the pathway is still waiting to be covered in membrane and a layer of bark chippings, we've used all our supply for now though but we've been promised some more by the guys that cut tree branches down as they grow too near the electricity wires in the area. I should have weeded it but I've damned if I'm going to go out in the rain to weed a path :-/
There are of course some edibles in there, mostly the cabbages. I've been simply picking a couple of outer leaves of each one whenever we need some for the many pots of soup that I've made recently. It keeps each plant growing and hearting up nicely.
The garlic on this side is looking a little bit weedy, but it is growing albeit very slowly.
The garlic on the other side is stronger and more upright, yes we have A LOT of garlic growing!!
Something has eaten it's way through the netting, I don't know what but nothing has been eaten inside the net tunnel, just a bit nibbling by some slugs, so whatever wriggled it's way through the net didn't like what it found inside. I'll have to have a little sewing session here before the hole gets any bigger.
Although the promised snow didn't land on our fields overnight, it is on the hills opposite and now the black clouds have rolled back in and the rain has started to fall again after a day of clear skies and sunshine. The dogs have the right idea and at every opportunity take to their beds and snuggle down in the warmth of the kitchen.
For me it's time for a cup of coffee and a spot of blog hopping :-)
Keep warm.
Sue xx
What do you usually grow in the net tunnel - I would have thought most growing would have been done in the polytunnel? It's exciting though to think about growing again - roll on Spring! The dogs look so comfy - bless them. I love the way Mavis snuggles up with Suky - she is adorable. Kind regards, Louise S Cheshire.
ReplyDeleteAfter the first year of growing when almost everything we planted in the Veggie Patch was eaten by bugs and all the wildlife on the hillside, we decided we needed a more protected growing space. It's still a work in progress but the net is designed to keep out flying bugs etc and once we get a run of chicken wire round the bottom section it should keep out small animals. We have also run chicken wire round the whole perimeter of the Veggie Patch now and taken it out by a foots width as a skirt at the bottom so nothing can dig under the fence.
DeleteWe are under no illusions that something WILL get in but all we can do is to do our best to ensure that as much of the food as possible that I grow gets eaten by us and not the other little residents of the hillside!!
Also we have our Blueberry bushes in there to protect them from the birds and they will soon be joined by the strawberry plants when we get the other beds filled with compost and soil.
I have net tunnel envy I want one. I will grow cabbages and keep the pesky cabbage white at bay this year.
ReplyDeleteWe can only try can't we, it seems everything thinks we are growing things for them :-(
DeleteIt must keep the temperature a degree or so higher, if only by filtering out the wind chill a bit. And maybe cooler in summer?
ReplyDeleteSlightly, but not by much :-)
DeleteYour dogs have the right idea, all snuggled up in the warmth. Freezing hard with us but, as yet, no snow. I've had to keep breaking the ice on the pond for the birds. Last time it froze, Mrs Blackbird stood on the ice and waited until I went down the garden. She hopped on to the low wall beside the pond until I had broken the ice, then hopped back down for her drink. She is very tame.
ReplyDeleteThe tunnels look really strong - you have been busy since you moved there x
At a recent get together, Lovely Hubby got lots of compliments for the polytunnel. Everyone thought it would have been blown away or at the very least damaged by all the recent high winds and storms :-)
DeleteWe had a long tunnel tent for camping and it was dreadful (especially on Scottish coastal campsites which get pretty windy, even in summer). We always ended up with broken poles and even had to take the tent down in the middle of the night once. I always said that what it needed was the horizontal bars across the poles like the ones you have in your polytunnels. That would have made it much more stable. Anyway, we bought a more robust tent in the sale a couple of years ago and the tunnel tent was donated to a family with children for them to play/garden camp in it.
DeleteStill productive in the dark, rainy, snowy, cold days of winter. Roll on spring. It's much better snuggling up inside.
ReplyDeletexx
I would quite like to be where those dogs are Sue (especially that pug of course). Here we have a howling gale and a blizzard although the snow went later when the sun came out. Still bitterly cold. Love the look of those cabbages.
ReplyDeleteThe net tunnel looks great, I'd love one of those!
ReplyDeleteDo you have any problems with pollination in your net tunnel? Or do you hand pollinate? Interested in putting up one of these but pollination is our only concern. We have 50% shade cloth for our scorching Ozzie summer but with lots of space around the edges for the bees to come and go. I see you have plenty of path space, but I guess you could plant that up too when growing space gets too busy. Our glass house is so packed full this year, needing to step lightly through the tiny gaps to pick veges at the back. :) You are saying "come on Spring" while we're saying "come on Autumn & Winter".
ReplyDeleteit all looks wonderful!
ReplyDeletelove your dogs, they look so sweet and precious.
Funny how the 2 beds of garlic are so different. Any idea why?
ReplyDeleteGiven the current weather I think the dogs have the right idea, stay inside and snuggle up and keep warm and cosy! xx
ReplyDeleteLove your tunnel I would like to have one some time as I would like to grow melons and tomatoes and cucumbers inside going to try them inside the greenhouse this year as I now have one :-) The dogs look so snug I did smile seeing 2 in one bed so sweet, dee x
ReplyDeleteThe dogs definately have the right idea. I had hoped there would be a corner eft in my tunnel at the nursery to grow some veg but I seem to have filled it up with propagated plants for selling, ooops :) there is room for another tunnel tho, hmmmmmmm
ReplyDelete