Hi all. Sorry not been around for a while. We are now living in NZ and enjoying our first summer here. I only have small garden at moment, but have a few things in pots, including a cape gooseberry, which I am really enjoying! I would love to try and start some new plants off from seed. Anyone know ...

Our nice-long squashes (and a few others) most certainly rippened after picking. In fact I had one full size squash that was green when I picked it in late autumn. I hung it in a pair of tights in front of a sunny window and watched it slowly turn the normal ripe colour of a pinky brown. It was the ...

Maybe it's a very bad year for them as I seem to see them everywhere (maybe they're following me). The only plants that were new to me this year were the herbs I potted up with fresh store bought compost, and they were the worst affected. So I assume the flies came from the compost. I suppose they a...

I was just about to put a posting up about this. We have been infested for about a month now and it is driving us potty! I believe they like to breed on damp soil, so I have tried putting sand on the surface and watering from underneath, but they are still everywhere. I binned the most infected plan...

I love the idea of a hot box for spuds thanks! We are still unsure of a departure date - will depend on jobs etc. Might be setting off as early as May, but will definitely be around for Easter. Early potatoes would make husband very happy indeed. What sort of "box" would work? Last year I ...

I am hoping for a bit of advice and help. It will be our last year at the allotment as we are planning to move to New Zealand next year. We're planning to give up the allotment around June/July next year, but would still like to get as much out of it as possible in that time. So I am looking for adv...

Ok, I'm getting ready to start sorting my xmas give aways of jams, chutneys etc. This year I have made various jams, green tomato chutney, preserved lemons, pickled nesurtium seeds, and plums preserved in brandy. Any other unique and yummy ideas? What are the things your friends and families request...

Thanks for the advice. I think I will chuck the compost, but hang on the the ring cultures and clean well.

Tara

What an intersting idea! Wish you had mentioned it earlier as I have now chucked all of my tomatoes. All had signs of blight. Before that they struggled all through august. Plants were producing good amounts of fruit, but so wet they all burst. Fortunately I had gotten them in the ground early (2nd ...

This is probably an obvious question, but would like to make sure I am not making more work for myself. Do I need to get rid of old growbags from tomatoes (which have now succomed to blight) or can it be composted? Also, can the ring cultures be re-used?

Tara

Yes mine have revived over the last few weeks. I think it's because all the black fly has gone. They have been very vigorous. Any tips from anyone re best way/time to harvest the seeds? Also, what is the "drastic gastronomic effect" and how many is too many?

Tara

I don't know the answer to this, but would like to know what replies you get. I have 2 chilli plants that have done quite well on a window sill indoors. They both still have fruit (but no new flowers)on them but are looking a bit sad and don't know whether I should give them the boot. Sorry to hear ...

What is the picture at the top of the forum page? Are they nuts or nasturtium (spelling?) seeds. If they are N seed, how do you collect/preserve them? When should you harvest them? I think I've read you can use them like capers. I've got tons on the plot and would be good to put them to use as could...

I harvested all of our PFAs last weekend. They were free seed potatoes that I got from a mistaken order, so I wasn't all that fussed about how they ended up as hadn't actually intended to grow them. Most were pretty small or large with lots of knobbly smaller potatoes starting to form. A real pain t...

We recieved on free blueberry bush from a magazine offer (Bluecrop) and then also bought one from the Dorset Blueberry Co. The free one was tiny and produced only a handful of berries this year but the other one came as a substantial size plant and gave us more berries. Another plot holder bought hi...