We
have established two hot beds using a technique popular with the Victorians.
We
created a brick border and filled this up with a mixture of fresh horse manure,
hay and comfrey. This was allowed to rot down which generates heat. After about
a fortnight we put a layer of soil on top so that the beds contained a ratio of
3 parts compost to 1 part soil. We then plant seedlings into this. It is great for squashes, courgettes and salad
veg.
For
a period of 6 – 8 weeks they have generated a constant bed temperature of around 20
degrees compared to a ground temperature in the poly tunnel of 11 degrees
c.
The
advantages are that it:
- extends the growing season
- generates extra heat in the poly tunnels
- makes compost and improves soil fertility.
