Search found 132 matches

by Lyn
Sun Apr 24, 2022 7:01 pm
Forum: Ask the team
Topic: shade plants for a rockery under a holly tree
Replies: 6
Views: 5517

Re: shade plants for a rockery under a holly tree

Hi Daxtell71, I have ended up with a small, dry shady rockery in one corner of the garden (it has become shady since next door's trees have grown taller). I have put some heucheras at the back of it and also some cyclamen. Bellis also seem to thrive. Each year it gets over-run with dog violets growi...
by Lyn
Wed Sep 23, 2009 9:34 pm
Forum: Best practices
Topic: Evening Primrose roots
Replies: 2
Views: 2215

Re: Evening Primrose roots

Thanks Alan. I have a lot plants this year which have self-seeded from a neighbour's garden, and now the flowers are finishing I have started pulling them up. I shall try steaming the roots like carrots and see if it is worth cultivating them in the future.

Lyn
by Lyn
Mon Sep 21, 2009 9:05 pm
Forum: Best practices
Topic: Evening Primrose roots
Replies: 2
Views: 2215

Evening Primrose roots

Does anybody know if the roots of Evening Primrose are edible? They look and smell as if they should be.
by Lyn
Sun Apr 26, 2009 6:48 am
Forum: Best practices
Topic: homemade liquid feeds
Replies: 46
Views: 15639

Re: homemade liquid feeds

Oh dear, Johnboy - you'll be writing in capital letters next!! Yes, it would indeed be antisocial if it were quite so strong as you imagine (are there [i]really[i] people out there who regard high pungency as being directly proportional to efficacy?). However, you only have to be within a couple of ...
by Lyn
Fri Apr 24, 2009 9:40 pm
Forum: Seasonal tips
Topic: How late can you sow outdoor tomatoes & still get a crop
Replies: 5
Views: 2333

Re: How late can you sow outdoor tomatoes & still get a crop

Hi Primrose - I like them very much and think they are well worth growing - although they are quite tiny, they are very, very prolific - you will get hundreds of little yellow cherry-sized toms off one plant, and I find them to be just as sweet and flavoursome as Gardeners Delight (both these variet...
by Lyn
Fri Apr 24, 2009 9:23 pm
Forum: Best practices
Topic: homemade liquid feeds
Replies: 46
Views: 15639

Re: homemade liquid feeds

Hi - Yes, it can be quite "aromatic", particularly when I give it a stir, but, lacking a proper lid, I put a large upturned plastic pot (15'' diameter) on top weighed down with a brick to stop it blowing off. It just fits the rim of the drum nicely. If you don't have a suitably sized pot,I...
by Lyn
Wed Apr 22, 2009 10:17 pm
Forum: Best practices
Topic: homemade liquid feeds
Replies: 46
Views: 15639

Re: homemade liquid feeds

Hi nemo - to return to your original question - you don't need to make a fresh lot each year. I have a large plastic drum into which I add nettles, comfrey, borage, and the occasional shovelful of manure scooped up from a nearby bridleway, and top it up with water. I don't start a new lot each year ...
by Lyn
Thu Sep 25, 2008 10:35 pm
Forum: General chatter
Topic: Malvern Autumn Show
Replies: 7
Views: 2469

Hi - yes, we're going on Saturday - really looking forward to it - I believe it is altogether different from the spring show. Hope everyone who goes has a good time there.

Lyn
by Lyn
Thu Aug 28, 2008 8:53 pm
Forum: General chatter
Topic: PLANT DYES
Replies: 7
Views: 3255

Hi Grock, Woad is very easy to grow, (and the bees love it) but if you use it as a natural dye in the normal way you will get a green rather than a blue dye. I use it to dye wool that I have spun, and with a tin or alum mordant it gives a lovely soft green colour. If you want blue dye (like the Anci...
by Lyn
Thu Jul 31, 2008 9:56 pm
Forum: Weeds, Pests and Diseases
Topic: pear tree leaf disease?
Replies: 10
Views: 8635

Hi - I had this "blight" on both my pear trees last year, for the first time - the fiery yellow spots were on every leaf so it was therefore not feasible to remove affected leaves. It did not affect the crop of pears, however, which were quite o.k. The spots eventually developed into powde...
by Lyn
Tue Apr 29, 2008 10:01 pm
Forum: General chatter
Topic: Allan Day
Replies: 25
Views: 8343

Goodbye Allan, and thank you for your helpful and valuable advice.
Lyn
by Lyn
Tue Jan 29, 2008 1:31 pm
Forum: General chatter
Topic: The pros and cons of mulches
Replies: 8
Views: 3661

Cardboard, every time. As you say, it rots down and adds to the soil, and also helps to retain moisture. Plastic is just "there", and remains "there", getting tattier and tattier. However, the main problem with any sort of mulch, I find, is that the slugs are provided with a perf...
by Lyn
Wed Jan 16, 2008 10:54 am
Forum: Best practices
Topic: does size of garlic cloves matter ?
Replies: 4
Views: 2913

Hi skip, If you don't want to use the really miniscule cloves in the kitchen, plant them in a row fairly close together, and you will get a super crop of "garlic spring onions" which are great for stir-fries, etc. They also make a good edging round cabbage and carrot/parsnip beds to confus...
by Lyn
Fri Dec 21, 2007 9:11 pm
Forum: General chatter
Topic: So scared of cataract operation
Replies: 16
Views: 6346

Hi Happymouse Only one more week, then it will all be behind you. Just think, this time next week you will be looking forward to getting out and about and seeing things "normally" again!! Everyone I know who has had them done has been delighted with the results and never looked back. All t...
by Lyn
Wed Nov 28, 2007 1:32 pm
Forum: Best practices
Topic: Liquid gold - again
Replies: 18
Views: 6936

Thanks everybody for your comments - I shall now carry on as usual!
Regards, Lyn