Search found 1182 matches

by Colin_M
Sat Feb 23, 2013 4:29 am
Forum: General chatter
Topic: Which tall/thich BambooVariety for heavy clay?
Replies: 10
Views: 4890

Re: Which tall/thich BambooVariety for heavy clay?

Hi Berlioz, guess you know what you're taking on, having seen it growing near your previous place. We planted a couple of patches in our back garden (different climate to yours). One was so invasive it multiplied, spreading under our lawn and coming up through the paved patio. I tried to dig out wha...
by Colin_M
Sat Feb 23, 2013 4:17 am
Forum: Readers Recipes
Topic: Moroccan Harira
Replies: 1
Views: 3351

Re: Moroccan Harira

Just the job for a nippy February.

Don't suppose you offer a delivery service Alan? ;)
by Colin_M
Sat Feb 23, 2013 4:11 am
Forum: General chatter
Topic: Definitely a little lighter each day
Replies: 4
Views: 2578

Definitely a little lighter each day

The last week or so, hasn't it been great to see a bit of light in the sky around 7'ish and it still being light on the way home from work? Meanwhile, whilst I haven't done much for 2013 yet, it feels like progress to have some Banana shallot seedlings coming up plus the First Earlies with a few ten...
by Colin_M
Mon Feb 18, 2013 12:48 pm
Forum: Best practices
Topic: PELLETED SEED
Replies: 9
Views: 6721

Re: PELLETED SEED

Just to add to this, Johnboy gave me some Moles pelleted Calabrese seed a few years ago and it germinated & grew faultlessly for several years running. It was almost as if the coating helped extend the life of the seed.

Definitely worth trying out.
by Colin_M
Mon Feb 18, 2013 12:46 pm
Forum: Best practices
Topic: Growing a coffee plant
Replies: 14
Views: 9065

Re: Growing a coffee plant

I've had 4 coffee plants growing in my conservatory for 3 years.

They have healthy green leaves but have never flowered. Not sure it's worth hanging on in hope for.
by Colin_M
Wed Oct 17, 2012 11:38 am
Forum: General chatter
Topic: So no English wine harvest this year?
Replies: 16
Views: 5654

Re: So no English wine harvest this year?

Hi Primrose, what a pain! In a previous house, we had to net the grapes, as it turned out that the birds waited until they were at optimum ripeness, then stripped them. Sadly they were a bit more organised at checking than I was, so always beat me to it Our current vine doesn't suffer from this prob...
by Colin_M
Wed Oct 17, 2012 11:32 am
Forum: Weeds, Pests and Diseases
Topic: The dreaded over-wintering whitefly are back
Replies: 2
Views: 2497

Re: The dreaded over-wintering whitefly are back

Whitefly?
I associate whitefly with what I get on greens, cale etc.

On indoor chillies, the main problem I suffer from is aphids - the light green ones.
by Colin_M
Wed Oct 17, 2012 11:30 am
Forum: Best practices
Topic: Peppers and chillies
Replies: 18
Views: 8724

Re: Peppers and chillies

Colin do green chillis freeze as well or is it just red ones? Green, red, yellow, they all freeze fine. As Alan has said, they need no preparation (other than being dry, if you've picked them from outdoor plants). At the moment, I have 5 large bushes in our conservatory. I'm using some straight awa...
by Colin_M
Wed Oct 17, 2012 11:21 am
Forum: Seasonal tips
Topic: When to plant shallots
Replies: 6
Views: 7075

Re: When to plant shallots

FelixLeiter wrote:The received wisdom is to plant shallots on the shortest day and harvest them on the longest.


I've seen this advice quoted for shallot seeds.
Are saying you'd follow the same approach for sets?
by Colin_M
Fri Oct 05, 2012 1:35 pm
Forum: General chatter
Topic: What a mean policy !
Replies: 7
Views: 3492

Re: What a mean policy !

Another aspect of paranoia over MRSA and the need to keep bugs down?
by Colin_M
Fri Oct 05, 2012 1:28 pm
Forum: Best practices
Topic: Peppers and chillies
Replies: 18
Views: 8724

Re: Peppers and chillies

For anyone with a glut of chilles, don't forget that they freeze really well. For me, this gives the benefit of something very close to fresh chilles all through the winter, plus it's easy to just take one or two out as needed & chop them up whilst still frozen. This produces less juice on your ...
by Colin_M
Thu Sep 27, 2012 5:49 pm
Forum: Readers Recipes
Topic: Beetroot
Replies: 16
Views: 12005

Re: Beetroot

Thanks for the link Beryl. The other week I noticed our Tescos had started doing a beetroot and horseradish dip. Tried it and it tasted promising (though very mild on the horseradish side). So I tried making our own (using commercial horseradish) and it came out much more purple and firey. And very ...
by Colin_M
Fri Aug 24, 2012 11:02 am
Forum: Best practices
Topic: Strange?
Replies: 23
Views: 8848

Re: Strange?

Hi Freddy, yes they're mild.

When roasted they go into a creamy paste which you could spread on crusty bread or Bruschetta. Also can be added to soups & stews.

Just make sure you don't over cook them, or they will turn bitter as they burn.
by Colin_M
Thu Aug 23, 2012 7:45 pm
Forum: Best practices
Topic: Tucker's Open Day 24-25th Sept
Replies: 1
Views: 2234

Tucker's Open Day 24-25th Sept

For anyone interested see below Rijk Zwaan UK and Edwin Tucker Open Days 24th & 25th September 2012 You are invited to attend our demonstration site at Huntstile Farm, near Bridgwater, Somerset where you will be able to see an extensive range of our varieties grown under organic cultivation. You...
by Colin_M
Mon Aug 20, 2012 5:25 pm
Forum: Weeds, Pests and Diseases
Topic: Sad peas
Replies: 8
Views: 3966

Re: Sad peas

My climbing peas did both:
- grew to around 5 foot high, produced quite a good crop of peas,
- then turned pale -> white.