Its mid July and the plants are going yellow and dying off. Lifted 1/4 a row (2 1/2 metres) today and got 6 kgs. They are now stored in a cardboard box in one layer, but can I put a thick layer of newspaper over the top and build another layer on top?

As we have quite a large pottager I planted way too many Bintje seeds and now are overwhelmed with the quantity as the growing season has been very favourable here in SW France. As there are more than we can consume I have been giving them away to our neighbours and friends. Over three quarters of t...

Many thanks Clive,

Yes we do live in France.

We have friends who come over regularly, I can find a dealer near where they live and ask them to get and bring it over next time.

Regards

Just serviced the Ensign B17, and saw that the land drive belt is worn and looks like it may not last too long.(has a crosswise split starting). Question is where to obtain a replacement. The manual does not give any dimensions for this belt.

Can you advise how to improve the soil in my veg plot. I've added some compost in early spring but because of the continued dry weather and restrictions on watering my veggies are suffering. What do you use to improve your veggies production. I have tried to be organic, but the results are indiffere...

We live in SW of France, and we have some plants specie Cijosee, and several of them have developed strange shapes like this. Does any one know the cause, and how to stop this happening. I can email a larger size photo if it helps identify the cause. Also we have others with either 1 or two of these...

Done, I marked the direction of the cord pull, and just needed to bend the spring a little so it caught the post on the spindle as first time it did not catch. So new cord should be good for the next 20 years.

Thanks to all for help and instructions.

Hi Kev

Problem is you cannot get to where the knot is secured to the pulley as its located underneath the pulley.

Thanks for the suggestion.

Hi Madasafish

Tried to open your photo but cannot. Is yours like this?

How is it dismantled? By removing the cotter pin and how are the springs re-tensioned?

There just does not seem to be any way to secure the cord.

Its beginning to fray and before it goes completely how do I replace it? Its on a Atco Ensign 17". I can photo it for identification if required. I've done it on a Tecumseh, which was quite easy, but this is a different item completely. There does not seem any way to get in to secure the new co...

Thanks for the replies, with over 1500m² to mow, my conscience is clear when I leave off the grass box, but will possibly need the scarifier in the autumn. As we are away quite a bit I sometimes have to use a ride-on as its got too long for the Atco to cope.

Should lawn clippings from a cylinder mower be left or collected in the grass box? Are there different times when either is appropriate?

Many thanks Clive for the very detailed information, our problem is living in South West France there are no local garden equipment stores capable of dealing with cylinder mowers.


Regards

Larkspur's other half, commonly known as the under Gardener.

Can anyone tell me how to eradicate pear scab from my pear tree. I've sprayed it with an organic winter wash in the autumn and spring but still it appears. The other pear tree Comice is fine. I live in the west of France.

My OH recently obtained a S/H Atco Ensign 17inch Cylinder mower which had been recently serviced. He asks:- At some time in the future will need to sharpen the blades, what can you suggest. A long time ago had a Qualcast cylinder mower, and was able to sharpen it with something called a Truegrind, w...