Page 31 - Simply Vegetables Spring 2023

Coldframes
clean and reduce weed growth, fresh straw was added as required and the rotted straw composted. The only other materials used were as mentioned soot, and also granulated seaweed (he would have used composted seaweed if nearer to the coast), granite dust and silver sand; the latter two as he was on a clay soil. Lime was not used on the soil only on the compost heaps and the soil pH was managed by the use of the compost. Over the years (in fact 3 years)
it was claimed that the soil was friable and in a fertile condition and the soil level
gradually got higher owing to the compost added.
Mr O’Brien claims his methods of growing save labour and time and he did
a lot of motion study (which was in fashion back in 1956) to ensure that labour was efficiently used. All work was done by hand with no machinery (low CO2 so ideal for today then!). What he describes these days would be called smart working as he very carefully planned the work to reduce unnecessary movement and walking about.
Baby leeks in coldframe
Compost Making
This system of growing relies in a good supply of well-rotted compost and he claims that in the summer to produce compost in 6 to 8 weeks and in the winter in 8 to 10 weeks that can be spread straight onto the beds. The system is based on Maye Bruce’s composting method where alternate layers of green waste with a small sprinkling of lime and herbal activator and no turning is carried out. The heaps are
in groups of three, one being built, one decomposing and one ready for use or maturing. Vegetable waste was collected from the wholesale markets, greengrocers, neighbours, and any other sources available. They also had a fourth heap for coarse waste like cabbage stalks and other rough material which was build on similar lines but once partly rotted is broken up and they added to the main compost heaps and composted a second time.
When they building new heaps, they added charcoaled wood to the base as
this absorbs impurities from the heap, this wood would last for several heaps before fresh charcoal was required. The heaps were started with a 75mm deep layer
of old straw then 25cm of green waste (weeds, crop trimmings, crop remains, grass cuttings, thinning’s etc.) over this was sprinkled some lime and topped off with 25mm of soil or compost from the rough heap. This is repeated until the heap was 1.5 metre high when a crowbar is used to make six holes from the top to 15cm of
the base into which was poured the QR solution and then the holes sealed off and a 50mm cover of topsoil or old compost. The heap is capped off with 15cm of straw and then a tarpaulin to keep heavy rain out and the heat in.
Green manure was used mainly vetch or other legumes and was sown thickly and allowed to grow to 25cm high then pulled up and composted or cut down with a scythe raked up and composted.
Simply Vegetables 31