Compost and the hosepipe ban

[timmyalex]

Hi,

I have 4 raised vegetable beds that i have been able to fill with the lovely compost i have been lucky enough to produce. I have a question though. Given that from 5th April there will be a hosepipe ban in our area for an indefinate period, are my raised beds going to suffer more because they are filled with a large amount of compost as opposed to top soil.? if they are what sort of things can i do to alleviate the issue. Thanks as always.

[rustylady]

The compost should hold water better than topsoil would. How big are your beds? Any pictures?

[taff]

they will dry out faster than soil because they're as you say, raised. A good thick mulch on top will also slow down water loss. Once pure compost dries out, it's a bugger to re-wet but as rustylady says, it will hold lots.
Have you invested in any water butts?

[VirginVegGrower]

Add leafmold and humus before planting. Maybe add a drip pipe system, which is exempt or water with a can, as I do.

[shona_b]

my neighbours top their beds with a layer of corrogated cardboard after initially watering to help retain moisture and reduce weeding - they just plant through it.

[jps]

mulch will help but you can still use watering cans also.

a water butt is a brilliant idea tho, everyone should have one, even if it only collects the rain off a shed or similar it all helps

[Two_Sheds]

^ what JPS said



Any mulch will trap moisture in the growing medium. On the lotty I use dry soil as a mulch:

- after sowing seed in a wet drill, top with dry crumbled soil (or MPC)
- after puddling in a seedling, cover with dry soil
- for established plants, I water into 5l water bottles (see photo)

I try to never, ever get water on the surface of the soil: it will evaporate, it will encourage weeds to germinate, it will encourage plant roots to grow nearer the surface where they'll dry out quicker. Don't water the leaves either: plants drink through their roots, so get it down there

[solway cropper]

mulch will help but you can still use watering cans also.

a water butt is a brilliant idea tho, everyone should have one, even if it only collects the rain off a shed or similar it all helps

Yes, defi get at least one water butt. I have three and am going to get another to collect the rainwater from our extension. Even in Cumbria it still rains at the wrong time and, as a container grower, I need as much water as I can get.