Search found 26 matches

by jethrotattydrill
Wed Apr 25, 2018 9:17 pm
Forum: Seasonal tips
Topic: Best tasting Potato Varieties?
Replies: 17
Views: 13563

Re: Best tasting Potato Varieties?

Gerry
Champion is very floury which is fine in Ireland and Scotland. It also has fairly deep eyes making it unpopular with modern cooks. It was bred in Scotland about 1860 but was mostly grown in Ireland
Jethro
by jethrotattydrill
Mon Apr 23, 2018 9:56 pm
Forum: Seasonal tips
Topic: Best tasting Potato Varieties?
Replies: 17
Views: 13563

Re: Best tasting Potato Varieties?

I'm with Gerry on British Queen. Great flavour but he is so right - it must be steamed. For a main, we always grow Golden Wonder - very popular in Scotland but I think it may be too floury for elsewhere. We have tried a few Sarpo varieties but don't care for the flavour although their blight resista...
by jethrotattydrill
Mon Apr 23, 2018 9:10 pm
Forum: Ask the team
Topic: spent hops and yeast
Replies: 10
Views: 7384

Re: spent hops and yeast

Hello Paul
I'm a keen home brewer too and always put the spent hops onto the compost heap. Sorry we will have to wait for the experts to advise us about the yeast
by jethrotattydrill
Mon Oct 24, 2016 10:45 am
Forum: Ask the team
Topic: Puzzle
Replies: 7
Views: 4790

Re: Puzzle

Many thanks for both replies
by jethrotattydrill
Mon Oct 24, 2016 9:53 am
Forum: Ask the team
Topic: Puzzle
Replies: 7
Views: 4790

Puzzle

A friend has been given this plant and has asked me what it is. I don't have a clue can anyone help?
V__C482.jpg
V__C482.jpg (395.94 KiB) Viewed 4790 times
by jethrotattydrill
Wed Aug 10, 2016 1:45 pm
Forum: Best practices
Topic: Growing blueberries
Replies: 11
Views: 6204

Re: Growing blueberries

We have 4 bushes, 3 varieties. They will be 5years old now. They grow in large containers of ericaceous compost which I top dress with pine needles and tea leaves regularly to maintain the acidity. Last year was best so far - we froze over 6lbs and used more in various other ways in addition. As alr...
by jethrotattydrill
Wed Jun 20, 2012 7:01 pm
Forum: Best practices
Topic: Advice on onion sets
Replies: 18
Views: 7161

Re: Advice on onion sets

Marshall's response was an apology, a credit and advice to break off the flower stems in the hope that the bulbs would swell. Certainly doesn't compensate for the effort put into preparing the onion bed.
by jethrotattydrill
Mon Jun 11, 2012 4:31 pm
Forum: Best practices
Topic: Advice on onion sets
Replies: 18
Views: 7161

Re: Advice on onion sets

Hello again Binky How are your 'higher grade' Red Baron? About 2 weeks ago over 50% had split into 2 or 3. Bad enough but now over 80% are bolting. What a waste of money and effort. I have written to Marshalls but no matter what they say or do the season is ruined. No more Marshalls for me - and I h...
by jethrotattydrill
Mon Apr 16, 2012 7:58 pm
Forum: Best practices
Topic: Advice on onion sets
Replies: 18
Views: 7161

Re: Advice on onion sets

Just out of interest, Binky - were your red sets from Marshalls? Mine were, and like you I have planted smaller(much smaller) shallots.
by jethrotattydrill
Wed Aug 24, 2011 2:05 pm
Forum: Best practices
Topic: Reluctant Damson
Replies: 2
Views: 2854

Re: Reluctant Damson

No, sorry I don't know the variety. If it was producing flowers but no fruit I might have considered the possibility of fertility problems but it has only produced a handful of flowers over the past couple of years. I am no expert on fruit trees though so could it still be the lack of a pollinator?
by jethrotattydrill
Wed Aug 24, 2011 10:36 am
Forum: Best practices
Topic: Reluctant Damson
Replies: 2
Views: 2854

Reluctant Damson

This is a 5 year old Damson, trained along a high fence which has produced only a handful of flowers since it was planted. It shows lots of vigorous growth and appears very healthy - but no flowers. Can anyone help?
Jethro
by jethrotattydrill
Wed Aug 10, 2011 8:36 am
Forum: Weeds, Pests and Diseases
Topic: Pampas Grass
Replies: 4
Views: 2530

Re: Pampas Grass

Thanks to all. Looks like this will keep me out of mischief for a while.
J
by jethrotattydrill
Sun Aug 07, 2011 12:42 pm
Forum: Weeds, Pests and Diseases
Topic: Pampas Grass
Replies: 4
Views: 2530

Pampas Grass

I have 3 clumps of Pampas grass to remove. I call them clumps but they are at least 3ft wide at the base. Does anyone have any tips - or is it just going to be very back breaking work?
Thanks in advance.
by jethrotattydrill
Thu May 19, 2011 4:16 pm
Forum: Weeds, Pests and Diseases
Topic: Bird Boxes and Bumble Bees
Replies: 12
Views: 4584

Re: Bird Boxes and Bumble Bees

Myrkk
That's a good description. The red/orange bum is not too obvious at first but I've been up close trying to take a reasonable picture of one. They are not very big. If I do get a photograph I will try to post it here(might need help with the techy bit)
by jethrotattydrill
Sun May 15, 2011 1:39 pm
Forum: Weeds, Pests and Diseases
Topic: Bird Boxes and Bumble Bees
Replies: 12
Views: 4584

Re: Bird Boxes and Bumble Bees

Thanks very much - this is the answer I had hoped for.