Dear Gallotments, do make sure that the blender is suitable for boiling hot foods as when I bought mine not all of them were. The blender is also useful for delumping gravy and other sauces. Recipe for instant icecream. Put 8-12 oz of frozen raspberries into a plastic bag and beat with a rolling pin...

Dear Mouse, we run 50m lengths through our herbaceous borders with no trouble. I don't seem to have made myself clear on the point that low water pressure is a GOOD thing for soaker hose. We generally turn on the tap for no more that 1/4 to 1/2 a turn. Anything more than that risks blow outs as it i...

Dear Mouse, we use lots of soaker hose where I work and it is very good. here are a few tips on getting the best out of it. 1. use only clean or fine filtered water through it as it can clog up easily. 2. it is best used at low pressure as it is not a strongly made pipe and high pressure will will f...

Dear Alan, celeriac, basil, red onions, long shallots and aubergines. Don't forget the fruity things such as yellow raspberries, blueberries and cranberries etc. It is interesting to look at veg growing books from the post war period and seeing how not only the things we grow have changed but also t...

Dear All,
I once put a tablespoon of ground mace into a stew instead of chilli powder. Truly a waste of food and 2 1/2 hours.
Regards Sally Wright.

Dear Peter,
toilet?
regards Sally Wright

Dear All,
the old adage "if you knew what was in it, you wouldn't eat it " comes to mind here!
Regards Sally Wright.

Dear George,
you could try skinning them and then eating the inner bits with pine nuts, pesto, fried diced courgette pieces and some new potatoes. Lots of recipes call for only the inner pieces. They must be boiled before you try to skin them.
Regards Sally Wright.

Dear Macmac,
I just prefer the belt and braces approach as I use a mixture of vinegars and they are not as acidic as just malt on it's own. so I heat the jars.
regards Sally Wright.

Dear Fred, I use LP's for beetroot. This is what I do. Fill as normal with sliced beetroot and hot vinegar and then sling them in the oven (top of the jar is open at this point) for around 3 hours at around 100C. When they come out top up the vinegar if needed and then seal them down. If you have on...

Dear GA,
they probably have powdery mildew.
Regards Sally Wright.

Dear all,
I was not thinking for thinning but actually cutting the ripe bunches.
Regards Sally Wright.

Dear PP,
I think they might be for cutting grape bunches.
Regards Sally Wright.

Dear Elaine, remove the jam from the jar and add 2-3 tablespoons of hot water (from a boiled kettle) to it. Stir until a suitable consistency is reached. Return to a slightly larger jar and keep in the fridge until wanted. Do not keep watered down jam for more than about a month. Extra stiff jam is ...

Dear All,
I forgot to mention the stone of b/c's from last year that were in the freezer until I managed to palm them off on to someone at the plots last month.
Regards Sally Wright.