My gut feel about the original question is that if plants can communicate and have higher abilities than we currently can measure then vegetarianism is still probably LESS cruel than meat eating. I don't think that the domesticated veg we grow is probably aware of it's wild past whereas most farm an...

Thanks - have had another dig about behind the bin and I reckon it could be bramble roots infiltrating the bin. They did really look like the pictures of the rooty things on the honey fungus pics. Just means I probably now will get lots of blackberries in the veg patch! I'm going to hit the chemical...

Thanks so much for your reply. We've checked more carefully and can't see other symptoms and the buddleia looks really healthy. So I've got my fingers and toes crossed it's just buddleia roots or some other fungus which is less harmful. Any advice about what to do with the compost bin as I do need t...

Hi, I wonder if anyone can give me some advice about possible Honey Fungus infection. We have a large buddleia next to our compost heap - something (squirrel or rat) has in the last couple of years built a cone of compost next to the wooden sides bridging the gap with the tree. I eventually got roun...

Thanks for the ideas - wondered if I should contact the seed company as they should know - shouldn't they although bet they'll err on the side of caution and say remove the non all female ones.
Thanks.

Hi, Just wondering if I'm sabotaging myself. Currently growing: - a Petita (all female - 3 lovely unbitter fruit so far), - Crystal Lemon (covered in masses of flowers and some with cucumbers forming don't know if M/F etc) - a Tyria (all female - not yet flowering - sown later) and - a Marketmore (p...

Thanks for the reply, I'll chuck it in.

I've just been given a small sack of ultra fresh chicken manure. I was going to put it in the compost bin which won't see the light of day until next year as we have 3. At the mo there won't be many grass cuttings going in with this bag but there would be with future bags. Am I right in thinking I s...

Thanks everyone, I've still seen nothing quite like them - the white marking was above the wing case. Wish I'd got a photo.
All the best,
Helen

Thanks for replying - will have another look if I can see them. There were no spots on them at all though - the wing case was totally black. But it was ladybird size and shape so I expect it was. Bad news for the aphids, good news for the aubergines!
Cheers,
Helen

Hi, Spotted 2 lovely ladybird-sized beetle on my aubergines. They are black and shiny with an unusual horseshoe white shape at the top of the wing case. I left them to do whatever they were doing. Can't find them after extensive search of images on google. Any ideas - are they a type of ladybird? I ...

Thanks, do you think the outside ones taste as good as greenhouse ones? (I'm running out of space on my plot - went a bit mad with seed potatoes this year - couldn't resist some oddities esp as you don't really need to do much to them once they are in).
Cheers,
Helen

Thanks - if Tyria doesn't work out (have got the seeds now - very quick delivery from Lauras Organic seeds) will try Telegraph Improved next year.
All the best,
Helen

Thanks - will check it out.
Happy gardening (not today though - here too cold/windy/mis).
Helen

Thank you so much for the reply - still humming and haa-ing about what to buy. Also your response explains what happened. Pippa Greenwood's book recommends Telegraph Improved and Tyria as indoor ones. Found Tyria at: m As an all female flowering one I'm prob best with that as bound to miss pinching ...