Last week it was Tolstoy's War and Peace....but much preferred the Russian version which I finished this morning.

In reality? Steinbeck's East of Eden....wonderful stuff!

Glory B

Great to see you back Herbal!!!

Glory B

Hi Wellie....hope you're keeping well. Sorry to hear about probs and of course you would have them when the 'lovely' Herbal is away! I too have worries about beetroot crop...blotches on most of leaves. Have been looking on-line but can't find a pic that matches up. I did wonder if it was because of ...

Jerry they look fabulous! I'm really envious. Mine have thickened up a fair bit over last few weeks (since I pinched out tops)....but still only about 8-9inches high. They're only annuals too so am getting a bit impatient now....will they have the time to amount to anything? Mine are called 'Singing...

Are those Sweet Williams for soft soaping another of your 'old birds' Herbal?
Remember what happened with the Sweetpeas!

Glory B

Be careful bum doesn't become fixed permanently to chair Carole - watering to be done later!!

Yep it sure is Carole.
It reminded me of that saying.....

"You scratch my back - I'll scratch yours"

All the best,
Glory B.

Thanks for your replies..... It was the roots of the bean plants I was concerned about not the leaves. Roses I've tried to grow in the past have had their roots 'undermined' if that is the right word, by ants. When I emptied it out there were a number of them along with their pupae, but had no need ...

Hi to all..... Am in the midst of preparing ground for runner bean plants. The home-made compost I am hoping to incorporate was, at least until a month ago, teeming with ants. Can't see any signs at the moment, but have to say haven't delved that far down. My question is, when I upend this lot onto ...

Hi David....peppers are something I have grown before so feel I can give an answer. I've only grown from a bought plant never from seed....even so plants were relatively small....no flowers. Mine would have been in their tubs by now flowers or not, bearing in mind I am South-East I suppose. The only...

Good morning to you Johnboy....yes I remember you saying about your neighbours dwarf runners and was going to ask you how hers were getting on. It will be interesting to hear. The label just names them as Patio Dwarf Runner Beans. Apparently, according to label, they are bi-coloured, red + white and...

My Dear Herbal Tonic.....yes you are correct, I do demand high standards horticulturally...and it would seem Mike does too. Just went down to measure both lots of beans and they are 5ft....the runners having the edge as lower buds have started to bloom. In fact I am now training them up the drain-pi...

Dearest Organic Herbal....only you could come up with something like that!! Esther says she bangs on the window and shouts at them - they retaliate by staring insolently at her like teenage delinquents. On seeing Esther's 'bared' teeth it's more likely they regard her as a larger version of the spe...

The 'dwarf' runner bean plants that I planted in a container are as high as my normal runner beans - and still gowing strongly - in fact had to put longer canes in. The labels clearly stated that they would grow to 2ft high.....so what has happened....is this a phen...phenom.....phenomenon! ....or w...

There's a great article in the Daily Mail this morning.... Esther Rantzen versus The Tree Rats. She reveals all as to why her love of them has now to turned to hate! If they do carry a virus or 'pox' as Esther calls it, this could be the reason it is illegal to transfer them to other areas.....possi...