At last, the Youtube video for The Polytunnel Handbook, featuring yours truly and some mad beardy bloke who wandered into the garden, is up. The book's available to pre-order too (there's a link in the sidebar) - but now that's out of the way, what the hell am I going to do until 1.30 every morning? And why does the Receding Hairline Fairy insist on sneaking into my bedroom every night with a big tin of forehead-coloured paint?
Monday, December 08, 2008
Polytunnel Handbook
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25 comments:
Thats my yule present from Compostman sorted , then... ;-)
looks very good.......
but doesn't mention how to deter 3 kittens from playing "tag" on the sides and top of my PT..shredding the poly in the process... :-(
2nd ed. perhaps? ;-)
God. I tell you how to keep them OUT... but how the hell did they get started going UP? I suggest holly clippings all around the perimeter (very effective), a swivel chair and a supersoaker. Good luck!
I tried the barrier all around...but they can jump a good 6 feet up/over.....and it makes the landing ( on the poly) worse..as they then have claws fully extended...
I kid you not, it is risking wrecking my pt cover.......
:-(
They think is is a fun game. all 3 of them......
grrr
Oh dear. Well, by this time next year they'll be fat and lazy - but it might be a good idea to get going with the repellents for a while to stop them getting used to sleeping in the warmth inside. There's a battery-operated ultrasonic scarer with a motion-sensor which apparently works - it's called something really trite like Cat & Dog Repeller, could be a good idea if they concentrate the clawage on one particular area. I still think a wheelbarrow load of holly clippings spread around the action area - use a lawnmower to run over a few branches - will put a stop to it, because the little buggers have to come down at some point.
Ah...this stuff they do is on the OUTSIDE of the PT by the way..they run up the sides of the outside and play on the top!
which is why it is a bit difficult to stop them doing it..
They show NO interest in playing inside....thats not fun at all as I don't ( presumably) jump around and shout enough at them if they just do stuff inside.........
3 cats, 16 claws each...YOU work out how much damage they are doing to my beloved PT...
it's a good job I love my feline familiars.......
Hmm. Air horn time, thinks I...
Huh..published author ? ...is that the best you can come up with? ;-)
sigh...only joking...*I* am baffled as to how to stop it, quite honestly..we have tried a sharp squirt with the hose which did bugger all......... :-(
I guess I will have to wait till they are too big and fat to do it any more...a bit like kittens running up your trousers when small..they DO stop, evenetually...gravity sees to it!
Seriously, I can't wait for "the book" to be published...and will get Cm to buy me one for Yule...!
are you going to be signing bookplates for sale?
Well, I now have a severe case of poly-tunnel envy. Hopefully our plan to move out to the mountains will allow for manifestation of poly-tunnel-ness.
Great vid. Is the book relevant for Southern Hemisphere folk? I imagine it would be a good un' for temperate climates in general?
If you want to occupy yourself every night until 1.30am, get a career as a miserable academic. Really works for me.
Congratulations on the 'birth' of your book. Are you not selling any direct? and signed copies???
Seriously though it's just what I'm after - I hope to set up a tunnel here - so santa is going to be good to me this year.
Deborah
Looks great. Am seriously considering getting one with my neighbours for the start of next year. So - is your book coming out on the 15th January, like it says on Amazon? The sooner the better!
That's a wonderful youtube!! Bravo! Will the book be available in the US? I would love to have a copy.
Congrats! I'm also happy to see that it'll be available over in the US, as well, at Amazon at least. Looks like an after-Xmas purchase coming up.... :-)
the vid reminds me of the old open university programmes ;) Ordering a copy after xmas :)
"... the cover slides over the top, and the job's done."
Hmm. That's not quite how I remember it...
All the best with the scribblings.
alf
Compostwoman: You must be joking. If it were me I'd surround the tunnel with six barrowloads of chopped holly and stand point with a taser if that's what it took!
Docwitch: It's not a gardening book per se so it should be fine for down under (only the chapter on pests, and the supplier list, might be less useful). I'm not sure where you are but I know in Southern Au the tunnels get very hot in summer - so MAX ventilation is even more important. I've seen folk down there throw shade fabric over their tunnels in the dry season too.
Yes, the book's out on 15th Jan (or something like that anyway), and will be available in the US through Chelsea Green publishing; I've also had a Norwegian friend mail me to say a book importer over there is keeping it!
FBis: I'll grow a beard if you like, but NO SANDALS. I don't do 'em, they're evil. (Tainted soles, you know)
Anon: I've put up a few more since then - and I do tell people to keep a good grip '...or else you may end up briefly flying the most expensive kite you have ever owned' :-)
A star is born! Congratulations.
Re the cat thing, two of mine started doing that as kittens and are still using the top of the polytunnel as a play area, with associated claw damage. They're now 4 years old, and I've given up trying to dissuade them. I just try not to look.
THANK you ,Moonroot!
That has really made my day....( not)
Ah well...off to do waht HW suggested and electrify the perimeter, build watchtowers etc etc ....
sigh...cats, don't you just love them!
Ordered book btw HW!!
Excellent, excellent, hope not to disappoint. I think this 'climbing cats' thing goes beyond casual attention and wanders into the realm of 'wanton vandalism' - I'm lucky that mine receives no attention from the Bleedin' Cats apart from wilful consumption of the catnep plants I've been bringing on!
Have JUST come in from finding 2 bigger than my fist sized holes in the top.....
Cats no where to found at the moment, oddly enough.....
Don't say I never do anything for you...
http://www.defenseandprotection.com/
Hmm
I like the look of the "Cheetah million volt Taser"
seems appropriate, somehow...
;-)
Well done on the book, and curiously you've already disappointed MOH. She told me about 3 weeks ago that she had been looking for a polytunnel book for a Crimbo prezzie for me, but the only half decent looking one wasn't out until the New Year ("Which idiot author does that!"). I suspected twas yer self, but said nowt.
I shall be purchasing it as soon as it's out since it's the next big project down lottie. Mind it had better have a good section on DIY tunnels.
It's quite common in Oz to come across shade tunnels—they're covered with shade fabric instead of plastic.
I'm still waiting for someone to come up with a polytunnel that will remain standing with a couple of feet of snow on it. Oh, and withstand wind gusts in excess of 80mph. I've seen too many polytunnels and greenhouses flattened up this way, and they were in less exposed spots than ours.
Mind you, our unheated sunporch isn't bad. I'll be picking the last of the tomatoes tomorrow.
Cheezy - that's up to the publisher, though, being as they - er, publish the thing. Apparently gardening books sell best in the spring, so that's when we need maximum attention. So there.
Stoney - Extreme gardening! You'd need to use all the tricks in the book; use any sheltered spot in the local topography, provide a good living windbreak, align the axis to the prevailing flow, buy a STRONG kit with crop bars and storm braces, reduce the spacing between the hoops (perhaps even down to 4') and concrete in (or anchor plate) all the uprights. That kind of kit isn't cheap - but it should stand up to pretty much anything - and they seem to do fine in the Orkneys, which is even more exposed than you are! Gothic arch profile tunnels do shed snow better but there isn't anyone selling them in the UK. For what it's worth, Highland Polytunnels have lots of experience in exposed installations.
I've been in touch with Highland Polytunnels, but their full-spec versions are way beyond our means.
We manage fairly well without a polytunnel in any case, although it would be nice to grow more cucumbers plus peppers and chillies. I usually have three cucumber plants in the sunporch, plus nine tomatoes.
One day...
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