SUMMER
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which would leave the surface dry too soon. If you have sandy soil it will also help to line your beds with semi-pervious material such as cardboard below your plants, which traps nutrients and slows drainage. This means less watering and less fertilising. Organic amendments can freely be introduced into your soil at various depths in the bed to create a deep and thorough profile of great soil. Another way to trap the rainfall in your soil is by mulching. Mulching is the covering of soil with organic material, such as leaves, chipped twigs or grass cuttings. It is much the same as what naturally occurs in a forest when leaves fall to the ground. Mulch prevents evaporation and allows the topsoil to remain moist so that earthworms and other beneficial creatures can live
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there. It also suppresses weeds and becomes fertiliser as the material breaks down. Check your beds for even drainage. After heavy rainfall, look for areas that may be draining poorly. You do not want areas of long standing water in the vegetable garden. This can be bad for plants as it could lead to root rot. If you find areas that drain poorly, create ways to get the water to drain away from the vegetable garden.
Be sure that there is a constant level of nutrients in your soil, as rains may wash them away. A liquid fertiliser, worm tea or compost tea are good options. This will ensure that your plants are strong. Taller plants need support so that they are not battered by heavy rain. Obviously climbing plants such as tomatoes, peas and beans need some form of trellis to grow up. Creeping vegetables such as squashes, pumpkins or cucumbers might need to protected from muddy soil to prevent them from rotting. Dry hay under each gourd works well. After rain has fallen, check for any exposed roots due to soil erosion. If you find exposed roots, cover them with soil or compost as soon as possible. Do not let the roots dry out, this could be bad for the plant.
QUIRKY
There ' s a simple explanation as to why Chinese goods are often considered rubbish in the countries in which they are sold. It ' s because the instruction manuals and safety pamphlets often appear to have been written by a ten-year-old child. A ten-year-old Chinese child, that is, fluent in Chinglish rather than English. Here are two examples of Chinglish( Chinese English): ❑ On a safety pamphlet for a fluorescent light fitting:“ Pleasure notice user: This product barely use in coordination with conventional ballast.” Huh? ❑“ Vegetables cover usage elucidation. 1. Press down a head leftly, the right hand pulls to rise the cordage. 2. Accept to match press by hand and downwards.” And by such means will your flyscreen food cover appear magically before you.