Monday, 3 September 2012

Le Manoir aux Quat' Saisons - Cultivation Practices


 The vegetable garden at Le Manoir looks just amazing.  Netting and fleece is used to protect susceptible crops from rabbits or flying criters - whether that be insects or the many pigeons that thrive in the garden!             
 
As soon as the seed is sown it is covered with fleece to protect it from being disturbed or eaten by animals or birds and it also helps to create a warm temperature speeding up germination time.  The fleece is used throughout the growing period, not just in the spring and it works a treat.  We sowed the final rows of colourful beetroot for the year 10th August:- Beetroot 'Golden Beet' (a lovely golden yellow beet), 'Chioggia' (red and white striped) and Beetroot 'Bollivar' (good old fashiond deep red/burgundy colour).


Companion planting Calendula either side of Kale
Companion planting techniques are practiced - seen here Calendula (Pot Marigolds) are planted either side of rows of Kale to help prevent white fly infestation.
 
Another example of companion planting was having nasturtians and sunflowers mixed through the squash bed to help with pollination.
 
They also look really pretty of course!

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