Taking the opportunity to get out into the garden between showers, the work on the vegetable patch continues. The appearance of blue sky through the clouds gave hope that this day we would manage to make progress.
The blue polythene had proved not to be appropriate for the job of depriving the vegetation of light and the grass and weeds had thrived under cover. We left two bricks on the grass at the same time as we had put down the blue polythene and when we moved them they had been highly effective - this is what I had expected to see happening on the patch. We bought some weed suppressant fabric but to use it, first the weeds had to be cleared "preferably by use of systemic weed killer" then once in place the matting needed to be covered by a thick layer of bark mulch "to protect the fabric from the sunlight". We returned the matting to the shop. 
We went to a builders merchants to buy some black polythene. Back home the under-gardener placed a double layer over the top of the blue polythene.
He had to beat the polythene into submission.
This is how the vegetable plot looks now complete with resplendent castlellations. In a few more weeks we shall peep under one of the corners and hope to see dying vegetation.
PS - Once upon a time, several years ago, I bought some bargain pansies from a greengrocers. Some were pale yellow and some were delicate purple. I put them in pots on the patio and left them alone. They continue to seed themselves in any available space and this year some have mixed colour petals! They did this all by themselves.
2 comments:
Wow, I didn't know that pansies would do that. How neat.
The poor under-gardener: he still has to go to work, and there's more work at home for him :)
Posting on this project step by step will be interesting. Can't wait to see what the plans are for next year.
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