Search found 526 matches

by vivienz
Thu Apr 25, 2024 3:00 pm
Forum: General chatter
Topic: How excited am I???
Replies: 5
Views: 2695

Re: How excited am I???

Update: I ate it. It was delicious :)
by vivienz
Tue Apr 23, 2024 7:23 pm
Forum: General chatter
Topic: How excited am I???
Replies: 5
Views: 2695

Re: How excited am I???

These are my greenhouse strawbs that I allowed to take over the borders. An early French variety, ciflorette. Can't wait! I'm doubly pleased as I promised hubby that I'd do my best to have home grown strawbs ready for his birthday on 4th May, which is looking likely now. A nice treat.
by vivienz
Tue Apr 23, 2024 7:21 pm
Forum: General chatter
Topic: How excited am I???
Replies: 5
Views: 2695

Re: How excited am I???

Quality control is so important, isn't it OH?!
by vivienz
Tue Apr 23, 2024 7:20 pm
Forum: General chatter
Topic: Spring Bits and Bobs.
Replies: 225
Views: 44108

Re: Spring Bits and Bobs.

I've been continuing work on clearing, digging and topping up my raised beds which were neglected last year due to eye issues. It's so good to see them coming into productivity again. I've got plenty going on in the greenhouse and put my tomato plants (still in pots) back in there today after bringi...
by vivienz
Tue Apr 23, 2024 7:11 pm
Forum: General chatter
Topic: How excited am I???
Replies: 5
Views: 2695

How excited am I???

To see this! I've been watching it like a hawk for the last week, now it's a question of who gets it first tomorrow - the woodlice, hubby or me, in that order of probability.
First strawb.jpg
First strawb.jpg (269.22 KiB) Viewed 2695 times
by vivienz
Tue Apr 23, 2024 7:05 pm
Forum: General chatter
Topic: Be Nice to Snails
Replies: 8
Views: 3511

Re: Be Nice to Snails

I'm afraid every one I have found in my greenhouse has been promptly stepped on and squished. I have used nematodes this year but they can take a while to get settled in so I resorted to a heavy stomp. Very quick and chemical free, too.
by vivienz
Fri Apr 05, 2024 4:28 pm
Forum: Growing places
Topic: solar irrigation system
Replies: 6
Views: 3409

Re: solar irrigation system

@Colin2016 - how long does a full battery charge last? Roughly how many hours of pumping do you get from it?
by vivienz
Sun Mar 31, 2024 4:54 pm
Forum: Growing places
Topic: solar irrigation system
Replies: 6
Views: 3409

Re: solar irrigation system

I should have added that this type of thing is probably more relevant than ever as we move into a peat-free world as peat-free composts generally don't have the same water retention qualities of previous times and need to be kept constantly moist as they're much harder to get wet again.
by vivienz
Sun Mar 31, 2024 4:52 pm
Forum: General chatter
Topic: Spring Bits and Bobs.
Replies: 225
Views: 44108

Re: Spring Bits and Bobs.

I really must get out and tackle topping up my raised beds. I've had some bulk compost delivered but it's some distance between the compost and the beds with a muddy lake in between the two, not ideal for dragging a wheelbarrow through! I might enlist some help on that, though, as time is ticking wi...
by vivienz
Sun Mar 31, 2024 4:47 pm
Forum: Growing places
Topic: solar irrigation system
Replies: 6
Views: 3409

solar irrigation system

Has anyone tried these? I'm having a look as although I can run a hose on a time out to my greenhouses, our water flow and pressure are so low, the water doesn't make it through the tubes to all of the outlets, only 50% at best. I can't get a mains power supply out the greenhouses due to distance. I...
by vivienz
Sun Mar 31, 2024 4:31 pm
Forum: General chatter
Topic: Spring Bits and Bobs.
Replies: 225
Views: 44108

Re: Spring Bits and Bobs.

My greenhouse sowings are coming along nicely, with plenty of brassicas and flowers. Some duds from old seed that I took a chance on, so I've already re-sown with newer seed. I suspect that seeds that languished in my greenhouse last year got too hot and have gone crispy, so I shall have a sort out ...
by vivienz
Thu Mar 21, 2024 4:35 pm
Forum: General chatter
Topic: Spring Bits and Bobs.
Replies: 225
Views: 44108

Re: Spring Bits and Bobs.

I've been out with the nematodes today. The blighters are having a nibble on my newly emerging asparagus, and that just won't do. I don't mind losing a bit of excess parsley, but I have limits to my mollusc feeding generosity. It has been a glorious day here in Deepest Darkest and the first of last ...
by vivienz
Tue Mar 19, 2024 7:26 pm
Forum: Seed Swop-Shop
Topic: Collard greens
Replies: 0
Views: 7621

Collard greens

Anyone fancy a freshly opened but mostly unused packet of collard green seeds? See the post in 'Best Practices' first, though!
by vivienz
Tue Mar 19, 2024 7:20 pm
Forum: Best practices
Topic: Collard greens
Replies: 3
Views: 3438

Re: Collard greens

Oh blimey, thanks Westi! Forewarned is forearmed! In that case, I'm not sure that I will give the plot space to them. I prefer to lightly cook my greens and don't fancy anything that needs boiling to oblivion and back just to make it edible. There are so many delicious things to grow that I don't be...
by vivienz
Mon Mar 18, 2024 10:28 pm
Forum: Best practices
Topic: Collard greens
Replies: 3
Views: 3438

Collard greens

Has anyone tried these? Apparently, they're very popular in the US and I've seen them mentioned in lots of cookery articles. They're not quite the same as kale or spring greens.
I saw some seeds for them, so bought a packet and have now sown some, so I can report back later in the year.