What a wonderfully olde-worlde idea Rob Collins has of the "typical English garden"

I wonder if he is still stuck in the 1930s

Can anyone suggest a good peat-free compost brand?

It would have been good to see some further feedback of results on this.
So annoying when people set up experiments and then disappear

Penn-bloedh Lowen

from a fellow Celt

AS I have previously stated I'm opposed to devolution and beleive the Great British Isles and the United Kingdom benefit all as a complete whole but if the Cornish or anyone else wish to seperate then the sooner they go the better for all of us. Barney Hi Barney I'm puzzled as to what you mean by &...

Depends what you mean by "English".
We Cornish might wish to develop the concept otherwise.

http://www.cornishassembly.org/devolution.htm

Jemimap Sorry to take your thread off topic, but, I'm afraid, the mention of Thatcher just makes me see RED . I'm not sure I understand the point of your post. I should have thought that people have always been very conscious of the relationship between the human/animal world and the plant world - n...

There is nothing wrong with growing food using organic principles, I have done so since the early 70s. There are also many sound arguments to support organic growing. The problem arose in my view when past governments started legislating that you could only describe something as organic if you were...

Cider Boys wrote:As for 1984 thank God for Thatcher at least she held it at bay but it does feel like living in 1984 now. I think Eric and Tony were related

Perhaps Prince Charles could help.

Best wishes

Barney

As a lifelong atheist I'm glad not to give thanks to your god, Barney

I have a good crop of Italian plum tomatoes and will definitely be trying this recipe. The usual green tomato chutney recipes are usually little more than a way of using up what should more rightly be consigned to the (compost) bin

I would agree with Richard - use plenty of compost to retain water and provide food for the plants. Crystals may be OK for fancy hanging baskets - which do dry out very quickly- but, to my mind are quite the wrong way to approach vegetable growing.

The main things to remember in storing potatoes: dark and cool
That means not a bit of light or cold.

I read this thread quite a while ago, and since then have got my hands on a copy of Joy Larckom's excellent book. I have earmarked a place in my polytunnel for some Pak choi and Japanese mustards this winter.

Mike

i always save french bean seeds, but each year I like to sow the previous years seed - this way I get good germination. If you sow fresh seed now you will get quick germination and a good crop.

Blight has always been a problem but seems to have got worse in recent years. My view is that there is no doubt that this has coincided with the Organic craze! Years ago allotmenteers were keen sprayers and carried out methodical preventative spraying at regular intervals to keep blight under contr...