Search found 49 matches

by George Gray
Wed Jun 11, 2014 11:51 pm
Forum: Weeds, Pests and Diseases
Topic: Mares Tails
Replies: 7
Views: 4361

Re: Mares Tails

I have lots of mares tales and have had them for several years. Usually indicates wet ground.
I just keep on hoeing them as they come up. At least they are easy to hoe. Give up with the roots.They go down to Australia!!
by George Gray
Wed May 21, 2014 10:42 pm
Forum: Best practices
Topic: A good moan about multi-purpose compost.
Replies: 46
Views: 19356

Re: A good moan about multi-purpose compost.

Further to my report on my Levingtons Multipurpose compost looking at the bag it does say on one area of the bag that it uses recycled materials as an alternative to peat and that batches may vary in nature. I don't think that is good enough. They should have good enough quality control systems to e...
by George Gray
Tue May 20, 2014 7:21 pm
Forum: Best practices
Topic: A good moan about multi-purpose compost.
Replies: 46
Views: 19356

Re: A good moan about multi-purpose compost.

Well as a follow up I recently bought three bags of Levingtons Multipurpose with added John Innes from a garden centre and it is full of twigs and stones of various sizes. I even found a bent nail!! They used to be the gold standard for bags of compost but I am not buying that brand again I suspect ...
by George Gray
Thu May 08, 2014 10:02 pm
Forum: Best practices
Topic: A good moan about multi-purpose compost.
Replies: 46
Views: 19356

Re: A good moan about multi-purpose compost.

Yes I have felt the multipurpose compost has deteriorated a lot over the last few years. I wonder whether it's because they are using compost from the many recycling centres some of which may not process it properly. Our allotment sells Humax Compost which to date has been excellent.
by George Gray
Sat Mar 02, 2013 9:31 pm
Forum: Best practices
Topic: Growing onions from seed?
Replies: 4
Views: 3011

Re: Growing onions from seed?

Well after many years of disappointing crops from onion and shallot sets I have grown them both from seed for the last four years and generally been pleased with the results. It's also cheaper and you get a much wider range of varieties to try. I would sow them indoors about now and wait until they ...
by George Gray
Wed Jun 09, 2010 10:56 pm
Forum: Best practices
Topic: Growing Aubergines & Peppers outdoors
Replies: 7
Views: 3127

Growing Aubergines & Peppers outdoors

Anyone had any luck getting crops from Aubergines and Peppers grown outdoors- ie not in a polytunnel or cloche?!!? I have too many plants for my greenhouse
by George Gray
Fri Aug 28, 2009 5:38 pm
Forum: Cooking tips
Topic: Old Broad Beans
Replies: 2
Views: 2778

Old Broad Beans

I harvested my last broad beans this week and most of them are OK but the skins are very tough even after prolonged boiling.
Anyone any ideas what to do with them?
by George Gray
Wed Mar 18, 2009 9:48 pm
Forum: Seasonal tips
Topic: potatoes 3 different types when to plant them ??
Replies: 10
Views: 3762

Re: potatoes 3 different types when to plant them ??

Another factor is frost. It can wipe out potato tops. They usually recover but it sets them back quite a bit. Find out where the last frost is in your area. This website will tell you if you go into Weather Settings:- m Plant the spuds 2-4 weeks before the last frost to avoid damage. Alternatively p...
by George Gray
Sat Feb 14, 2009 9:48 pm
Forum: Growing places
Topic: Solar Panels on a Greenhouse
Replies: 7
Views: 5576

Re: Solar Panels on a Greenhouse

That's interesting. The way things are at the moment with the weather I can't see me putting anything in the greenhouse until April!
by George Gray
Tue Jan 20, 2009 10:20 pm
Forum: Seasonal tips
Topic: mangold wurzels
Replies: 17
Views: 8738

Re: mangold wurzels

How about a mangelwurzel curry! Now that would be interesting!
If you are a member of the HDRA the seed I bought is now in the catalogue for free seeds that they produce every year.
by George Gray
Mon Jan 19, 2009 10:28 pm
Forum: Seasonal tips
Topic: mangold wurzels
Replies: 17
Views: 8738

Re: mangold wurzels

Last year I got some "Yellow Indeterminant Mangel" seed from the HDRA at Ryton and grew in the on the lotty. It was yellowish and the flavour was less sweet than beetroot but OK. I like the idea of making wine from them - presumably it works well because of the high sugar conetent. Has any...
by George Gray
Mon Nov 24, 2008 7:53 pm
Forum: Growing places
Topic: Solar Panels on a Greenhouse
Replies: 7
Views: 5576

The idea was to get some electricity so I could run some heated propagators. Currently it is unheated and has no electricity supply. To take a supply from the house would involve a major dig up of a mature garden.
by George Gray
Sun Nov 23, 2008 10:21 pm
Forum: Growing places
Topic: Solar Panels on a Greenhouse
Replies: 7
Views: 5576

Solar Panels on a Greenhouse

Has anyone ever tried using solar panels as a source of electricity for a greenhouse?
by George Gray
Fri Nov 14, 2008 10:18 pm
Forum: Seasonal tips
Topic: Easy Parsley and Basil
Replies: 8
Views: 4415

Has anyone had any success growing basil indoors in winter = or is there not enough light?
by George Gray
Fri Apr 11, 2008 9:18 pm
Forum: Best practices
Topic: goji berries
Replies: 6
Views: 3716

Goji Berries

They are actually Wofberries that occur as natural hedging in East Anglia.

Here is an excellent article in good old Wikipedia.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wolfberry