Search found 1608 matches

by John
Sat Dec 25, 2021 6:59 pm
Forum: General chatter
Topic: Merry Christmas Everyone!
Replies: 7
Views: 3683

Re: Merry Christmas Everyone!

Wishing you all a most Happy Christmas and a good New Year

John
by John
Sun Oct 10, 2021 5:40 pm
Forum: General chatter
Topic: Late Summer Bits and Bobs 2021.
Replies: 97
Views: 14797

Re: Late Summer Bits and Bobs 2021.

I don't know about the laxative effects of beetroot but eating it does sometimes give my water a nice pink colour!!

John
by John
Wed Jul 14, 2021 2:46 pm
Forum: General chatter
Topic: Some days you just shake your head in disbelief.....
Replies: 13
Views: 5790

Re: Some days you just shake your head in disbelief.....

Obviously a big SCAM.
The spelling and grammar are the giveaway signs - and that colour!

John
by John
Thu Jun 17, 2021 10:39 am
Forum: Ask the team
Topic: potato plant problem
Replies: 2
Views: 3201

Re: potato plant problem

Hi Chloe This sounds like potato blackleg. Its a bacterial infection and there is nothing you can do to save the plant. June is the time when it makes its appearance. You must remove the infected plants and dispose of them carefully - don't put them in your compost heap. Nearby plants will probably ...
by John
Fri Feb 19, 2021 12:04 pm
Forum: General chatter
Topic: Please can we have some more 'funnies'?
Replies: 1388
Views: 622588

Re: Please can we have some more 'funnies'?

Barry Cryer's favourite rude joke from the The Oldie mag -

Because I'm getting on a bit, I've replaced sex with food.
It's working brilliantly.
I love food so much, I've put a mirror on the ceiling over the kitchen table.

John
by John
Fri Sep 04, 2020 2:47 pm
Forum: General chatter
Topic: Please can we have some more 'funnies'?
Replies: 1388
Views: 622588

Re: Please can we have some more 'funnies'?

And now for something completely different A well set-up family hire a marriage broker for their son. The marriage-broker goes away and comes back with a picture of a beautiful young woman. He tells the family, 'She's popular. She's beautiful. She's from a good family. She's perfect!' Then the son b...
by John
Sun Jun 28, 2020 10:59 pm
Forum: Readers Recipes
Topic: Bread flour
Replies: 19
Views: 13003

Re: Bread flour

Agree with you V.
I use Shipton Mill and their flour is some of the best around. Many less common types to choose from that are hard to find any where else.
Delivery is quick but then I don't live very far away from the mill. The website is excellent.

John
by John
Sun Jun 21, 2020 11:04 pm
Forum: Ask the team
Topic: Courgettes: No male flowers, several female flowers
Replies: 7
Views: 4534

Re: Courgettes: No male flowers, several female flowers

Hi Westi
As courgettes go Parthenon is the one against which others must be judged. Its so reliable - grows fast, fruits early and the fruits are excellent.
You've made a good choice!
Regards
John
by John
Sat Jun 20, 2020 9:07 pm
Forum: Ask the team
Topic: Courgettes: No male flowers, several female flowers
Replies: 7
Views: 4534

Re: Courgettes: No male flowers, several female flowers

Hi W It is in the nature of squash and courgettes to produce mainly male flowers when they first start flowering. Pollination is haphazard until the plant is established. With courgettes one way round the problem is to grow the variety Parthenon F1 as the female flowers will develop fruits without p...
by John
Mon Jun 15, 2020 10:46 pm
Forum: General chatter
Topic: Early Summer Bits and Bobs.
Replies: 181
Views: 33939

Re: Early Summer Bits and Bobs.

Hi Westi
I grew Abbot earlies last year and agree with you about the taste. Won't be trying them again.

John
by John
Mon Jun 15, 2020 3:40 pm
Forum: Best practices
Topic: Climbing French beans
Replies: 4
Views: 2088

Re: Climbing French beans

Hi Monika An excellent tonic for anaemic plants is dried blood - available in most garden centres. Its high in nitrogen, contains iron and is fast acting. Don't overdo any application on beans. If you do you will get a lot of soft lush growth and fewer flowers/beans. I've found that a little on youn...
by John
Sun Apr 12, 2020 10:19 pm
Forum: Ask the team
Topic: Lettuce Thermo-inhibition
Replies: 8
Views: 3599

Re: Lettuce Thermo-inhibition

If we are having a warm spell it is best to sow in the late evening when its cooler and then water with cold water.
John
by John
Tue Mar 03, 2020 5:42 pm
Forum: General chatter
Topic: Late Winter Bits and Bobs
Replies: 210
Views: 40421

Re: Late Winter Bits and Bobs

Handles on supermarket trolleys must come a close second in the germ spreading stakes.

John
by John
Tue Dec 03, 2019 7:55 pm
Forum: Ask the team
Topic: Planting broad bean seeds end November
Replies: 11
Views: 4738

Re: Planting broad bean seeds end November

Hi Colin2016 Quite some time ago now Johnboy (is he still lurking here?) did an experiment involving planting groups of BB seeds in different positions and showed that the black scar down position gave the best germination results. He posted his results on forum but they may have been lost when old ...
by John
Sun Dec 01, 2019 3:31 pm
Forum: Ask the team
Topic: Planting broad bean seeds end November
Replies: 11
Views: 4738

Re: Planting broad bean seeds end November

Totally agree with you Monika. This is by far the best way to grow broad beans - use the deep (12cm) trainers. I've found the varieties Jubilee Hysor or Witkiem Manita do very well when sown mid Feb. onwards and given a bit of protection while germinating. Don't bother with the trainer lids. Remembe...