Happy Christmas to all, see more of you in the new year I hope

Piggers

The jury is indeed out. The application of rock dust in one of my tunnels and raised beds will be in its first full season this year, so results will be posted in the autumn.

It certainly helps the soil structure, I can say that much.

Welcome back chuck, Chantal is a good un, just as you are.

I have tried prisma from seed Jb, they were good, soundshallots of a very even shape. When I replanted some saved prisma last year, they split, but just like the banana shallots only into two or three individual shallots and the quality was dreadfull. Some were allowed to run to seed and that seed w...

Sorry Compo but your system just wouldn't work here. If it hadn't been for many many people like me and John the sites would have been under concrete long ago and the plots wouldn't be there now for future generations to enjoy. I think I have said enough on the subject - we are never going to agree...

you can also buy a product called "slime" from cycle shops which instantly seals any punctures you may get with conventional tyres. It works very well and is easy to apply.

We use them for cordons as you can prune them hard to keep the shape.

They have been ideal for that and have fruited very well this year (the second season in the ground).

If you want known rootstocks etc then a specialist supplier would be the ideal choice.

Red Tomato Relish One way of preserving a home-grown harvest for the months ahead. Ingredients: 2 kgs tomatoes weighed after they have been peeled, de-seeded & roughly chopped. 250g fairly finely chopped onions or shallots. 25g salt. Up to a head of peeled & chopped garlic. 1 litre white vin...

I grow swift (and lark) and as a rule give the stems a good shake when the tassels are formed. You will see the pollen drift about when you do it. It does make a difference especially if its wet or very still at that time. This generally gives good results but this year, like most folk, some of the ...

I just wish my legs could get half that high. Tis indeed a grand show.

Count me in......not!!!!!

Ha, I was at work last night, in a quarry I might add and the earth usually moves at 1.30pm every day when we blast, so the 1am rumble was a bit disconcerting to say the least.

Try growing shallots in pots for use a picklers, they stay quite small and are thus an ideal size for the job.

Go for crowns seedling, and a modern hybrid at that. In the second year yuo can harvest lightly and go for it in the third.

Try moles seeds, for prices they will be about the best value.

Oh Chanters, we have two.