I grow garlic on the 'bung it in and see' principle too. I brought garlic back from Gran Canaria early on in the year (probably illegal) and planted in late Feb. Autumn plantings are a waste of time, it's too wet and cold and if anything does grow the mice, pigeons or rabbits eat it. I also planted...

My pumpkins think it's autumn-some of them are so huge I need help to lift them. I don't know whether to leave them until usual harvesting time or take them now before they get any bigger. Also the Tuscan kale, spring broccolli and winter cabbage are ready now. The Witloof chicory is flowering so i...

Thanks to all who suggested asoefoetida (aargh can't spell it!) I never thought of trying it. Roast artichokes are just delish! Maybe I can eat them again! By the way, have just come across a herb called epizote that the S Americans eat with beans to help with the gale force problem. does i9t ork wi...

sorry to be so late answering, only just got broadband! These might help this year.Freeze in ice cubes and then bung in a bag. You can get cheap packs of ice cube trays and they're great for everything from chicken stock to iced herbs.Count a cube as a rough tablespoonful. Nuke in microwave to defro...

Roxanne Warrick's article on cooking artichokes was excellent-but- and this is a big but-she doesn't ever mention (even coyly) that they give you wind! If like me your guts don't process the inulin in the artichokes you literally blow up, like the Michelin man. Eventually you get merciful release! B...

Thanks for the replies-I shall treat my wee white worms now as friends!
By the way, I see no other worms i the bins, and very few in the garden, BUT I do see some flatworms, is this likely to create problems later? My soil is very acidic-best overwinter grower is moss!

The secret is in the vinegar-cold spice a good malt vinegar-put the spices of your choice into the malt and leave for at least three months. Strain off and rebottle the vinegar. You can use after this but it tastes better with age-you can pickle just about any veg or fruit in it- it tastes superb.St...

Pulses always used to be rinsed after soaking and often the first water of boiling was discarded too, because beans means f..ts!It was thought the worst of the wind making properties was washed off this way.Unfortunately, it doesn't seem to work-you need special flora in your gut to digest the part...

I'm afraid that over here in N Ireland we DO have flatworms -on the upside, the local wildlife seems to be eating them : : at leat they don't seem to have taken over