Thanks Alan it appears you have to have the http:// at the front to make it work. The other "myths" (such as Bone Meal) she refers to are also worth a look. The only problem I found with her comments is that she likes the scientific method and properly researched claims but occasionally fa...

Found this link that people might like to look at

Sounds like good sense.

edited to correct link

For some reason my version of the link doesn't work so please see Alan Refail's post below

I am also coming to the end of my first year with the greenhouse.

How do you decide when the time is right to turn the remaining tomatoes into chutney, pick the last peppers and do the cleaning in order to move plants to be protected inside before the frosts arrive?

In my experience Ivy doesn't come back from the roots. I had ivy growing up a wall and decided to remove it. I chopped all the top growth off down to just below ground level and left it. It hasn't come back yet after 3 years. I have done this previously at my old house with an ivy trying to demolish...

Thanks Adrian and welcome.

I have taken most leaves off 2 of the plants where the leaves were congested and crossing over the trusses causing some of the fruit to rot. I shall take the old leaves off the other plants and hopefully keep going for a few more weeks.

Do you good forum members defoliate your tomatoes?

If you do - do you continue to water (presumably a reduced amount) to allow the fruit to keep on growing as well as ripening?

Felix This is my first year with the new greenhouse and I picked Shirley by going through the catalogues to find one by description not by recommendation. Hence my question about size as it is much bigger than I expected. I only have a cold greenhouse and Shirley has been the best grower of the vari...

Thanks N.B.
Incas sounds good from the Dobies description. As a bush does it grow very wide - I would be growing it in the greenhouse?

I emptied the potatoes out of the bins yesterday as it seemed to be the best day for a bit. Dried them off ok.

Why are most of the Romano spuds a pale pink instead of red? It seems the deeper they were the paler.

Would they have turned redder if I had left them?

Thanks folks, I think with the current weather they will have to stay in the bins for a bit longer, I hope the drainage holes are still working ok.

Captain Carrot My personal take vegetables for small gardens and beginners from my experience would be to grow Early Potatoes in sacks. Provided you keep them warm with fleece if late spring frosts are around they are very easy. I dislike the taste of New Potatoes from the shops so I can choose my v...

--------------- So why should I complain about the rain - good for the complexion, they say, and what would we do in gardens without it? I think we may get very fed up of rain soon, three inches of rain reported at Capel Curig yesterday - (remnants of Hurricane Irene and TS Jose?) and keep the hatc...

Just a small thought -

Where are the people having ripening problems growing your tomatoes. Maybe if you are using polytunnels, any slightly reduced light transmission compared to a glass greenhouse might be making the effects of the dull summer worse and delaying ripening?

Quote In our small back garden we have definitely "saved" money over the summer months. we have spent very little money on vegetables for the last 3 months. My wife keeps housekeeping records and she has calculated our average spend at the greengrocers for the period 1st March to 31st May ...

Hi Captain Carrot, A few questions for you to help define the answer to your question. 1) What is "the plot" you are talking about? Do you mean an allotment plot or are you also considering small mixed gardens with areas or containers for vegetables and/or greenhouses? 2) What is your defi...