Growing Veggies in Dry Areas

[Millymollymandy]

That's interesting that your just charcoal area works better than your just muck area.

It will be interesting to see how it does in sandy soil though. It's all had home made compost added and I've already sprinkled organic fertiliser around, but I'm going to try getting some down under a part of some of my rows of crops so I should then be able to see if there is a significant difference, even if just for water retention. Just need a nice non windy day to start riddling.

BYW if you google 'charcoal water retention' you get a lot of sites about bloated stomachs and ankles. Need to add the word gardening!

[Memphis Slim]

BYW if you google 'charcoal water retention' you get a lot of sites about bloated stomachs and ankles. Need to add the word gardening!

Ha! you may do better to search for "biochar". I visited Ghana last summer where people made charcoal by the "burn and bury" method. They collected and sold the charcoal for fuel, but I would not be surprised if they planted cassava in the hills after collecting the big pieces of charcoal. It would be pretty easy to dig a pit in a bed, burn a fire, cover it over, then till it all together once it cooled off. But, safety first, of course.

It is raining now, so I guess we will see how well my first swales hold up under the torrent.

[corymbia]

If you have any terracotta pots around (not sealed), you can plug up the drainage hole and bury next to individual plants. Works well for things like broccoli.

You fill it with water and then have a drip irrigator. Just put a cover on (terracotta saucers work well) and cover with mulch to reduce evaporation.

I'm definately another charcoal fan too. Just have to liberate some from my chef OH.