Search found 126 matches

by fen not fen
Mon Apr 21, 2008 1:10 pm
Forum: Tools and Machinery
Topic: gas greenhouse heaters
Replies: 3
Views: 4269

Thanks for the swift replies! OH - that is exactly what this one is doing! And it is just out of warranty as well. Sadly I have no leccy in my tunnels. JB - sounds like Hotbox it is then. Fortunately the weather seems to be picking up now so it isn't the disaster it would have been last week! Thanks...
by fen not fen
Mon Apr 21, 2008 10:11 am
Forum: Tools and Machinery
Topic: gas greenhouse heaters
Replies: 3
Views: 4269

gas greenhouse heaters

Am I alone in being unable to get a second year out of these? Last year my Wee Willie Winkie started leaking from the pilot, this spring the replacement Rite Air has just corroded around the burner so flames are bursting out all over. What am I doing wrong? I only use them in spring to keep toms etc...
by fen not fen
Mon Sep 03, 2007 8:52 pm
Forum: General chatter
Topic: Allotment Projects - Ideas please?
Replies: 4
Views: 2324

A site near my old allotment had a problem of some plots near the river that suffered from occasional flooding, shade from large trees and occasional vandalistic forays when the river was low. They turned them into a communal area with blackthorn along the river edge for wildlife and to discourage t...
by fen not fen
Mon Sep 03, 2007 8:46 pm
Forum: General chatter
Topic: damned rabbits!
Replies: 5
Views: 2537

If there's lots of other herbage around I've had some success with fleece to dissaude the bunnies from my precious brussel sprouts (only ones in Lincolnshire, taking orders for christmas). It also keeps off the pigeons and caterpillars. Famous last words as I speak the rabbits have probably worked o...
by fen not fen
Tue Aug 21, 2007 12:25 pm
Forum: Weeds, Pests and Diseases
Topic: victoria plums
Replies: 5
Views: 3548

Not at all, never felt the need for them and usually had perfectly respectable crops without maggits or anything. If you can cultivate under the trees then encourage birds like blackbirds and robins to feed in the area in the winter most overwintering troublesome beasties will be eaten up before the...
by fen not fen
Mon Aug 20, 2007 7:48 pm
Forum: Best practices
Topic: comfrey
Replies: 15
Views: 7011

am i right in thinking when it smells less offensive it's ready?
by fen not fen
Mon Aug 20, 2007 7:33 pm
Forum: Harvesting Q&A
Topic: CHARD
Replies: 8
Views: 4881

I cut my chard both as small leaves to go in baby salad mixes and as large leaves for cooking. I will completely cut down the plants several times a year and they keep on growing, the worst that will happen is they may put up a flower stalk but you can still use the leaves as they don't go bitter li...
by fen not fen
Mon Aug 20, 2007 7:28 pm
Forum: Weeds, Pests and Diseases
Topic: victoria plums
Replies: 5
Views: 3548

Whatever you do don't prune it in Autumn Winter as it will get silver leaf and die. Other than that I don't know what may be causing the discolouring - are the dark patches a different texture to the other flesh? If it is a bit gummy I used to get this on my Victoria and it didn't seem to affect the...
by fen not fen
Sat Aug 11, 2007 6:53 am
Forum: General chatter
Topic: Food miles - it's not as obvious as you think
Replies: 27
Views: 9659

supermarkets v. farmers' markets miles

If supermarkets had regional distribution receiving regional foods it may add up, but they don't, they have a few enormous distribution centres to which the food travels to then be sent back out to the stores, sometimes in the same direction from which it came. So a Linc carrot bought in Tescos in L...
by fen not fen
Sun Aug 05, 2007 6:30 am
Forum: Harvesting Q&A
Topic: Cavolo negro
Replies: 4
Views: 3821

Sorry that got a bit garbled, ignore the 'pre grow' bit and it sort of makes sense!
by fen not fen
Sun Aug 05, 2007 6:29 am
Forum: Harvesting Q&A
Topic: Cavolo negro
Replies: 4
Views: 3821

The outer leaves will be tough as old boots - I cut the central leaves and ,pre grow back like a cut and come again lettuce
by fen not fen
Fri Aug 03, 2007 6:03 am
Forum: General chatter
Topic: what is this strange golden orb in the sky?
Replies: 7
Views: 3354

Thank you for your kind enquiries

My teeth have stopped hurting, which I think is more worrying than being in agony! Things are drying out and this week we planted up the tomato tunnel. A bit late but we spent time and money growing the blessed things so we might as well see if we can get a few toms off them. The cukes we planted be...
by fen not fen
Thu Aug 02, 2007 8:21 pm
Forum: General chatter
Topic: what is this strange golden orb in the sky?
Replies: 7
Views: 3354

what is this strange golden orb in the sky?

And where has the mud gone?
by fen not fen
Thu Aug 02, 2007 8:16 pm
Forum: Birds, Animals and Livestock
Topic: muscovy ducks - how do i get them to go in their shed
Replies: 4
Views: 2883

muscovy ducks - how do i get them to go in their shed

I've got a pair of muscovy ducks that don't go in their house at dusk like my hens do. How do I get them to go in? I'm sure it is just a matter of time before the fox finds my boys...
by fen not fen
Mon Jul 30, 2007 6:13 am
Forum: Birds, Animals and Livestock
Topic: moth wings on floor of barn
Replies: 3
Views: 2919

sounds like a bird is taking the moths apart on a beam and eating the juicy bits