GYO would like your Labour Saving Tips

[JennieAtkinson]

GYO magazine is doing an article in the December magazine on Top Labour Saving Tips on the Plot and Craig is seeking your top tips.

As previously those chosen would see their advice printed in the magazine.

I think this is one that many Grapes will be able to shine at, so please do post your tips

Jennie

[Snadger]

The no-dig bed system will hopefully save me a lot of labour!

I divided my plot up into 4' beds with 2' paths in between so that you never need walk on the beds. Try to keep the beds no bigger than 12' X 4' as it can be a bit of a pain to keep walking around long beds!
Because I had to do a bit of levelling on my allotment and I had a lot of perennial weeds, I chose to dig the beds initially but have since only applied a heavy mulch of FYM over the bed and around the plants once per year. Because of the heavy mulch, no earthing up is required for spuds, the surface is lovely and moist, fluffy and full of worms busying themselves slowly incorporating mulch into the topsoil! I have edged some of my beds with whatever I can scrounge, but the edging is not really necessary as the compacted paths will be below the bed level anyway. My paths are covered with a weed suppressant membrane which saves having to weed them!
If you can't get FYM, cardboard, newspaper or straw could also be used as a mulch on the beds!

[carlseawolf]

planting leeks through cardboard to save on weeding - sorry can't take the credit though as i didn't think of it!

[Flummery]

Plant spuds with a bulb planter. It gets your potato down 6" without having to dig a 6" trench.

[yoanbob]

get your relitives to make you labour vouchers for chrismas instead of giving unwanted presents, a days labour on lottie is certainly much more appriciated than yet another kneeler or trowel.

[The Doctor]

Errrm, what Snadger said.

Was going to say virtually the same thing!

[Two_Sheds]

As far as poss, I try to prepare my veg on the plot, rather than taking it home muddy to peel/shell then have to drag the peelings back up to the compost (5 mile round trip)
Now I harvest, peel, wash at the plot, put peelings on compost right away, then take kitchen-ready veg home.

However, I really love shelling dried beans, so I take them home to sit in a comfy chair for a few hours popping, shelling and sorting in front of the wireless

[Two_Sheds]

Compost is heavy, and digging hurts my back, so I don't dig out my compost heap - I plant straight into it. Squashes and beans do well this way. (its a big heap, 5 foot square)

If I do need some well-rotted compost as a mulch, I only use as much as I need for that plant, I don't bother lugging it all over the entire bed.

Likewise, I don't dig out my Dalek ... I put it on a bed, fill it up as normal, then when its rotted down take the entire thing off the compost and just spread it around the winter bed, ready for next year's hungry brassicas/beans.

[lainey lou]

get your husband to do it... (only joking)

[Two_Sheds]

Chutneys

I really love green tomato chutney, but it's a lot of work, so I let my mum make it for me

[Two_Sheds]

Earthing up Spuds

I find earthing up spuds a faff, so I don't. Instead, I mulch them with 6 inches or so of grass clippings (also weeds), which also helps to prevent scab and preserves moisture in the soil. I had a superb crop this year, no green ones.

[Two_Sheds]

Weeding

I find dragging weeds to the compost heap a bit of a drag, so I often just leave them where they fall, the worms pull them down quick enough. If I have a lot of weeds, I tend to dig a hole in the bed I'm working on, tip the weeds in, cover with soil and there you go.


As for couch grass and other perennials, I don't bother to burn or bin them, they go in a wheelie bin which I fill up with water. It rots down to a lovely rich plant feed/compost activator (keep the lid on to prevent mosquitoes and flies and smell)

[Two_Sheds]

Watering

Oh, could do a whole page on watering (or rather, not). Here's a quick short selection...

I water as little as possible - water is heavy to carry! (and hosepipes waste too much).

Put those cut-off milk cartons at the base of plants to water direct to the roots, rather than splashing gallons all over the ground.

Water butts, of course. If you have several you should link them together. No gadgets necessary, just some old hosepipe. As one empties, it will refill automatically from its neighbours (they must all be at the same height, so sink some down in the soil or raise on bricks as nec.) PS. (my downpipe broke, so I've made one out of old pop bottles and string. Not ideal, but its lasted a season)

[lainey lou]

Thats brilliant two sheds, gonna give that a go. (or get OH to!)

[Snadger]

Unfortunately tomatoes in pots need a lot of water during a normal summer. If you forget to water for even one day the plants could be ruined.
I change my bedsoil each year and plant in new soil. This gives me a little bit leeway with the watering as there is no pot surface to absorb the suns rays and dry the plant out.
The little used ring culture method gives a similar result without having to change the bedsoil each year. I can usually get away with watering every couple of days but this year sometimes once a week has been enough!