My plot is full of these at the back, last year they blew toward the front & I had little plants everywhere. Easy to pull straight up when tiny, but last year they were hidden under the Rhubarb & difficult to remove when the Rhubarb died down as put out horizontal roots which were hard to tr...

I finished all the re-sows & even weeded the back strawberries & Autumn raspberries. No wonder some first sows were no shows, their beds were really compacted, even though dug over & racked at the time. I suspect the rain/sun weather dynamics over the last few weeks has capped it as the ...

I don't use it. I read something that even if you use it 'sparingly' which is not defined; it will leech into surrounding soil & also kill anything growing near the area treated, but also kills slugs which we know, good bacteria in the soil, earthworms etc. You also have to ask what research has...

Gusty & a bit of heavy rain on & off but gave me a chance to catch up on other jobs, so packed up all the seedlings from the propagator to take down tomorrow & it's been disinfected & popped under the back bed until next year. I'll sow the squash & pumpkins & beans on the sta...

Another productive day sorting & sowing & starting to feel a bit bit more in charge. I am mostly sowing direct again hoping that my Neomode & Slugo assault is enough to control the slimy ones, but did not see very many when I was weeding & my bucket collection was really reduced. Jus...

Sorry Geoff I don't know the name, the little metal tag went ages ago. But I just looked at a specialist supplier directory I kept from 2007 & it sounds like Jonagold. 'Large, juicy, red fleshed eating apple with a sweet honey flavour.' From Victoriana Nursery Gardens in Kent www.victoriananurse...

My red fleshed apple tree has really enjoyed the rain & it looks so pretty looking out the kitchen window I had to take a pic. Looks like I could have a lot of lovely red juice at the end of the year.

In 'normal' years I just move them to the hedge row, but this year with all the rain it is a total invasion! They have a place in the eco system for sure; but like all overly successful species there has to be a cull to recreate the balance or the whole species will die out. I can't squish them or l...

This fits into the rant section! For not the first time a supplier at the end of my contract has sent me offers for reducing & re-jigging my package; only issue being you can't as always sent to a page that does suddenly doesn't work. Currently trying to get rid of the rubbish on my broadband pa...

Trying to get the best of todays wee few hours of sunshine I caught the early bus, not the real early 5am one but the next one. Dog & I were the only ones on it, so might have to check the timetable on that as can't see it lasting, unless lots of folk got on & off before it hit my end as it ...

Back on a weather warning for tonight & tomorrow, very breezy but focus is on the seaside areas as expecting big waves & flooding which will surge up the river into the town as well. Access in is blocked already as a lot of silly folk go down there in their cars for just a high tide so the w...

Hi Colin, It is a fine line between mental health, anxiety, personality disorder & several others. I spent a couple of days out with the Mental Health Team, which was enlightening as we thought they were being a little bit obstructive at times & contributing to blocked beds & assaults on...

Things went to plan today, well actually even better than I expected. Tunnel tidied & put everything back in the shed or wherever it should be. I just couldn't be bothered getting wet all the time! Beds are all dug & fed & the supports put up for the tomatoes, well tied to the top frame ...

Hi Barney, I did find peat a much better medium to grow in, but I have to admit finally the peat free has improved, not the same but way better than their first attempts. Is it worth having a chat to them regarding taking all their peat, it would be a win/win for you both then, they will not get stu...

Nature is really not playing fair - another named storm! Looks like we might miss Kathleen & hopefully you will as well Barney. I have flipped the chores a bit for the weekend as it occurred to me the tunnel is going to be way warmer than the back bedroom & fluctuate more, so just taking the...