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Drought survival

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  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Not a problem we have to think about here Obelixx, but I'd agree with the others - getting them out of direct sun/wind should help them lose any water available to them until you get a more suitable spell of weather. 
    Posy's 'paddling pool' idea sounds great. If you have a large sheet of plastic/pond liner, I'm sure you could fashion something up.
    How about arranging a great big outdoor party & barbecue? That should bring on a monsoon   ;)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    I used to use Possum's old paddling pools for plants when she were a nipper and we were off on hols.   Would need a lot for this many pots.

    I've been looking up the decree and it's in place till October 31st!!   Big BBQ planned on Sunday for the local British/French association.   No rain forecast tho.  Fingers crossed.  And toes?
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • GrannybeeGrannybee Posts: 332
    I know this comment will not offer a huge solution but it has helped us here in the dry south. We bath and scoop grey water into watering cans using plastic milk bottles. Also we no longer use the dishwasher but wash by hand and use Ecover washing up liquid. The saved water gets put onto flower beds in strict rotation. I have also redirected the washing machine water into the scullery sink and scoop that into watering cans. It is quite alkali but it has stopped a bed of helenium and echinacea from dying. Weird I know, but it does help! I have a huge garden so using a hose is out of the question for all of it.  Good luck!
  • HelixHelix Posts: 631
    I have a square bucket that sits by my feet in the shower.  I usually end up with half a bucket after the shower which is very useful.   Plus veg cleaning and cooking water and so on. We have a butt outside the kitchen door and it’s remarkable how much we get each day from the little bits and pieces we put in. 

    We don’t yet have water restrictions, but at 4€ a m3 of water we never use a hose.  And it is abnormally hot and dry here too.  Our pot plants are shaded with an attractive (🤷🏼‍♀️) framework of old net curtains and so on, plus the pots are surrounded by straw to keep them cool.   I also have a 50l water carrier that we fill from the village fountain, and that does the veg garden. 
  • Lizzie27Lizzie27 Posts: 12,494
    When it's really dry, I put a washing up bowl in the sink to catch the water when washing hands, mugs and veggies. We also save any water used when cooking veg.  It's not a lot but pots do get some water in rotation which has saved most so far. It is very tedious though so I feel your pain.
    North East Somerset - Clay soil over limestone
  • NollieNollie Posts: 7,529
    Where does the water from the septic tank go, do you have a drain field? I was wondering if there was any way you could tap into and syphon off the grey water? Sounds revolting, but if it is the type where waste water filters through a series of chambers, the end result is actually pretty clean. 
    Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    No idea Nollie.   I do need to see about gettng it emptied anyway and can then ask about the purification part of the system and where it goes.  Good idea to have a bucket in the shower Helix and I'll suggest a bowl to OH for veg washing Lizzie.

    Dishwashers use far les water than doing them by hand so I'm sticking with the technology for now.

    Spent a few hours today clearing the barn floor, laying down a huge plastic sheet we got from the farmer next door to kill weeds in the future potager and then stacking pots.  Exhausting stuff.   Reflective screen at the back for light and all watered thoroughly.

    Fingers crossed it works.


    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • PosyPosy Posts: 3,601
    Well, good luck, Obelixx,  I know how tough it is.
  • PosyPosy Posts: 3,601
    Well, good luck, Obelixx,  I know how tough it is.
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    Thanks Posy.  Just hoping the bloody weeds die of drought where we removed the plastic sheet...........
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
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