permaculture

[Robyn Williamson <robinet@aapt.net.au>]

Hi Kathy

I don't like putting my plants to bed with wet feet or leaves because 
photosynthesis can't happen at night and the water evaporates more 
slowly, creating an environment that favours fungal growth.  I think 
it's best to wake them up with an early morning drink to sustain them 
through the day.  In general, I try to keep leaves dry especially for 
cucurbits and beans which are prone to fungal attack.  I know one 
expert who grows beans and tomatoes in pots under the house eaves so 
the leaves never even get rained on.  He told me "no rain, no fungus".

This year I am trialling a micro-flood irrigation method for corn, 
beans and cucurbits, the famous "Three Sisters" companion planting 
method, in order to keep leaves as dry as possible while still 
providing enough water to the root zone.  Instead of preparing a raised 
bed, prepared earth is formed into a shallow, saucer-shaped depression 
with walls, similar to a turkey's nest dam.  A tin can or similar with 
no top and a few small holes in the bottom is half-buried in the 
centre.  Put the hose in the tin can, let it overflow and flood the 
"dam".  Watch it drain away, if it takes longer than a couple of 
minutes you need to fix the drainage problem.  If it drains well, plant 
seeds or seedlings in and around the wet patch and mulch.  To water 
just put the hose in the tin can and flood the area.  So far so good, I 
figure this method will  also use less water than spray irrigation for 
example where 50% or more of the water applied can be lost to 
evaporation depending on the time of day you water.

Cheers, Robyn

On Friday, November 3, 2006, at 04:00 am, 
permaculture-request@lists.ibiblio.org wrote:

> Can anyone give me pointers regarding putting the garden to bed in a 
> permacultury way that might be different from what I usually do? Thank 
> you, Kathy

CONTACT DETAILS:

Robyn Williamson
Permaculture Design Consultant
Urban Horticulturist
Local Seed Network Coordinator
NORTH WESTERN SYDNEY COMMUNITY SEED SAVERS
mobile:  0409 151 435
ph/fx:  (612) 9629 3560
http://www.seedsavers.net
http://www.communityfoods.org.au
http://www.communitygarden.org.au
http://www.baulkhamhills.nsw.gov.au/Bidjiwong

I think we risk becoming the best informed society that has ever died of
ignorance. *-Reuben Blades*