These "cheapos" are a waste of time and money. Not always ! There are occasions when I see plants that haven't been very well looked after in various places and I offer 20p or 50p for it (even if it's not actually marked as reduced). It's amazing how often they'll take it and I've had som...

Weeding. Definitely. My plot was left to go to rack & ruin for 2 years before I took it on and it is absolutely riddled with weeds. I've cleared & dug about ¾ of it but even though I was there on Saturday and hoe'd like my life depended on it, I've just been up there to find it's got even mo...

Absolutely agree John. So many people see things on the telly that makes it look like having an allotment is easy and all you have to do is chuck a few things in the ground and hey presto, a couple of months later, wonderful home grown veg appears. The reality is somewhat different and when people t...

Elaine wrote:Oh FA you never said that did you??? Ye gods!

'Fraid I did Elaine. It was said with a smile on my face and a laugh in my voice but the words "lead" and "balloon" spring to mind. *sigh* you live and learn

FA x

I've been sent some seeds by a lovely friend and I'm told that they are Red Sprouting Broccoli. I've only heard of the purple varieties (none of which I've ever grown before). The seeds came to me in a plain brown packet so I have no idea of the planting instructions. Any advice or assistance greatl...

What gets me most about Jade Goody was that when she was in Celebrity Big Brother, the red tops labelled her a "despicable human being", a "vile racist" and "public enemy number 1". Less than a year later she was diagnosed with terminal cancer and she suddenly became &q...

If your wife says "do these trousers make my bum look big ?", under no circumstances should you answer "no love, it's all the cake and biscuits you eat that does that". Even in jest. Honestly, it's not worth it. Your life will be a pit of hell and despair for weeks afterwards. It...

It doesn't sound great but I'd give it a bit of time yet. You might want to bung some sulphate of potash around it and water it in. I usually chuck some round my fruit trees at this time of year.

FA

I'm a member of a number of other gardening forums. The 2 I use most are

http://gardenworld.proboards.com/index.cgi

http://wellieswheelbarrows.proboards.com/index.cgi

Very friendly boards with some good advice but also a good laugh at times too.

FA x

I have broad beans and peas in the plot, unprotected from frost. They should be fine.

Give them a good water before you go and the person looking after your plot will probably only have to water once in the middle of the week you're away.

Have a nice holiday !

FA x

Well folks it looks like I was a little premature. I visited the plot yesterday, removed the cloches and found 2 rows of beans just breaking the surface. The haven't all germinated yet, I'd say I have about an 80% success rate but there's still time for the others. Unfortunately, I did hoe the top o...

Geoff wrote:FA : Have you had a dig to see if you can find any beans?

Not yet Geoff, I haven't been up to the plot for a few days. I'll have a look this weekend and report back.

Thank you all for your advice.

FA

Thanks for the advice folks. I don't see any sign of mice on my plot but I have recently acquired a mole. Could that be it ?

I'll wait until the weekend and if there's still no sign, I'll have another go, but I'll plant them in a trough first to make sure they germinate !

FA x

I planted my broad beans - masterpiece green longpod - on 21 March. They're under green plastic mesh cloches. I haven't seen any sign of them yet. Do you think they've failed ?

If so, have I got time to try again ?

Thanks
FA x

Ah, how refreshing to know that I am amongst fellow "sufferers" of this addiction After 6 hours digging at the lottie yesterday, I had an easy day today although I did start some leeks off and make a scarecrow !!!! Caz - whereabouts in Northampton are you from ? I used to live in Irthlingb...