17 April 2020

Hugelkultur update

You may remember back in October last year I posted a blog about Paul's latest garden project - hugelkultur.

Hugelkultur is a very old practice originating from Germany that allowed people to grow food in abundance, without the need of irrigation. The buried wood and other bits of compostable material in hugelkultur beds create a fungal-rich base that retains water and provides essential nutrients to the plants growing in the bed.  

 
first layer of apple wood cuttings
Paul has filled the base of his structure with apple wood cuttings and old cardboard, covered with a layer of topsoil.  This will break down over the winter months and he will add the strawberry plants in the spring.  It looks very smart and I shall look forward to a bumper strawberry crop next year.
 
This is how the hugelkultur is looking today...
 
we have added netting to keep the blackbirds from digging

healthy looking strawberry plants

I'm really hoping we get a good crop of strawberries this summer. 




15 comments:

  1. Is Paul looking for a job? I know someone who could use his expertise!

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  2. That looks fantastic. Very healthy looking strawberry plants, too! -Jenn

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    1. All made from old wooden pallets and plastic water pipes!

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  3. What a clever idea. I envy you your future strawberries.

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    1. I adore strawberries so I can't wait.

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  4. The idea is wonderful and the results look good.

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  5. A nice experiment. In which direction does that wall face?

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  6. I feel somehow that the buried bits should be in some 'found' object, for a total experience.

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    1. I'll pass on your suggestion to Paul; I'm not sure how he will interpret it though.

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  7. What a great idea and the plants look really healthy.

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    1. Lots of flowers on the plants so we just need some warmth and sunshine now.

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