Soil conditions
Moisture Retentive, Free Draining, Well Aerated, Adequate OM.
Structure beneficial in heavier soils
pH - Neutral ideal 6 - 6.5pH but certain species prefer different conditions. Blueberries more acidic, Brassicas more alkaline.
Raised with lime, lowered with printed sulphur
Sandy - lower nutrient buffering, but warms up quickly in spring, cools quickly in autumn
Clay - high nutrient buffering, slow to warm up but stays warmer longer
Add mulch W R O M, to improve soil structure etc..
30cm deep ideal for veg, 45cm deep for fruit
Aspect & Slope
Sunny & Sheltered
South or South West Facing
(North facing is unsuitable for most crops)
Slopes:
South Facing slope maximises sunshine, improving yield.
North facing will receive less sunlight. Reducing yield.
Slopes may lead to soil erosion, terracing, retaining walls, mulching can combat this.
Avoid frost pockets at bottom of hills and in depressions in landscape.
Area - Site
Traditional - 10m x 25m
Large area can potentially support a larger crop.
Access is critical for good cropping, as regular maintenance and monitoring are vital for successful crop production.
- Access for people
- wheel barrows/bulky materials (compost, wastes)
- access to water supply
Shelter & Windbreak
Non-living or living.
Semi-permeable barriers, reducing windspeed and providing shelter for plants. allow 50% of wind to pass through.
(10m of protection for 1m of height)
Shelter as windbreak, beneficial to crops as it may.
Reduction of wind speed for improved growth:
- lower transpirational loss & wind scorch
- less physical damage from wind
- maintains higher temperatures
- improved pollinators in area, higher insect activity
- Reduced frost damage
- reduced soil erosion on light soils
- larger range of plants to grow (less hardy)
- reduce heat loss to glass house
Non-living Windbreaks
- Plastics strips - Paraweb
- Coir / Reed / Bamboo screens
- hazel hurdles
- wooden lathe fencing
- mesh netting with posts at intervals
Benfits:
- immediate protection
- last for many years, long term
- less annual mantainence than living
- not competing for light/water/nutrients
- may be easily repaired
- stays the same size
Limitation:
- may not look attractive
- initial outlay of costs may be higher than erecting hedge
- some materials have limited lifespan
- does not encourage wildlife
Living Windbreaks
- Carpinus betulus
- Ligustrum vulgare
- Fagus sylvatica
- Crataegus monogyna
- Griselinia littoralis
Benefits:
- Attractive/deorative
- Can be formal/informal to suit garden style
- Wide range of species
- Provide habitat for wildlife
Limitations:
- Regular maintenance
- More space than non-living
- Competing for light/nutrients/water
- May labour P&D (fireblight)
- Takes time to establish/increase in size
