Improvisation

Squash defences in position

Even the keenest veg grower takes time off from eating their own produce occasionally, and if J and I decide to treat ourselves to a no-hassle dinner, we tend to go for a Sainsbury's 'Bistro Meal'.  With a main course and pud for two, plus a bottle of wine for £10, it's not a bad deal. 

And, depending on what you choose, your meal comes with usefully recyclable packaging.  Two of the desserts come in neat little plastic pots that make great saucers for the small pots I sell my scented geraniums in, the creme brulee has even nicer little ceramic containers (also smart plant saucers) and the small foil dishes for fruit tarts are excellent bird-scarers.  We've always expected the big foil dishes for the main courses to come in handy too, but until today I hadn't quite worked out how.  That didn't stop us saving some, just in case, and today I was inspired. 

As usual, necessity was the mother of invention: I am trying to get my squashes and pumpkins planted out before they outgrow their current pots and ahead of a few days away, but couldn't find the defensive rings I have to protect them - there are six green plastic things somewhere, but not where they are readily accessible.  So I had to improvise...

The big foil dishes definitely had potential, and after getting to work with the scissors, something quite scary appeared.  The edges are very sharp and, hopefully, an effective slug/snail deterrent.

Position in the garden, on level ground, and excavate a hole large enough for your squash plant.  Fold down the centre flaps into the hole to secure the ring.

Position the plant in the centre and back-fill with soil.

Unfortunately we haven't tucked into enough Bistro Meals recently to have rings for all the squashes and marrows I have to plant out, so those going on the allotment will have to take their chances - but the garden is more hazardous for plants regarding slugs and snails as there is little bare soil by way of defence around them.  I've managed to protect a couple of each variety and they should grow well outdoors with the sunny days we've been promised. 

Now, I just have to hope it doesn't get too cold overnight...