Search found 300 matches

by Chez
Fri Dec 01, 2006 10:51 am
Forum: General chatter
Topic: Do you have an induction hob?
Replies: 15
Views: 6502

Thanks for all your replies. Much appreciated. I'd love an Aga - kitchen can't accommodate it! Re using LPG, we've always thought bottled gas consumption was rather more expensive than electricity. Is this not the case? BTW, if anyone is looking - Neff, John Lewis, Whirlpool, Bosch, Smeg and Zanussi...
by Chez
Wed Nov 29, 2006 2:31 pm
Forum: General chatter
Topic: Do you have an induction hob?
Replies: 15
Views: 6502

Do you have an induction hob?

And if so, what do you think of it? We are in the market for a new hob (currently have halogen) and as we are very rural don't have our preferred option of gas. Having spent considerable time researching the induction option, we know most of our saucepans are compatible. But we've recently purchased...
by Chez
Wed Nov 22, 2006 12:17 pm
Forum: Harvesting Q&A
Topic: harvesting beetroot
Replies: 17
Views: 11674

We fully cook beetroot before freezing. Once cooked, we grate it, then freeze in small portions, for use as a hot vegetable. As Lyn says, it just needs thawing (and/or heating) before eating. The good thing about grating, is even large beetroot can be used. We eat it sliced on sandwiches too, but ha...
by Chez
Tue Nov 21, 2006 12:15 pm
Forum: Harvesting Q&A
Topic: harvesting beetroot
Replies: 17
Views: 11674

Goodness Granny, not boring at all. Many people grow those varieties quite happily. We only grow Red Ace because it was so highly recommended. Once we'd tried it, simply found it was so good at not losing flavour, we've stuck with it. I wouldn't throw the baby out with the bath water. Maybe just try...
by Chez
Tue Nov 21, 2006 11:19 am
Forum: Seasonal tips
Topic: Garlic
Replies: 9
Views: 5118

Last year we grew Albigensian, Solent, Early Wight and Elephant garlic. They all appear at different rates, with Elephant garlic showing later than the other varieties. Unless you see cloves on the soil surface due to birds (just push them back in) as Monika mentioned, I wouldn't worry at all. We've...
by Chez
Tue Nov 21, 2006 11:08 am
Forum: Harvesting Q&A
Topic: harvesting beetroot
Replies: 17
Views: 11674

Hello Granny It depends on the variety, I think. I've always understood beetroot (generally) to be better smaller and loses sweetness as it gets larger and older. However, we grow a fantastic variety (F1 Red Ace) which grows very large if given room to do so and the flavour remains superb with no lo...
by Chez
Sat Nov 18, 2006 11:47 am
Forum: Best practices
Topic: Growing and using lemon grass
Replies: 9
Views: 4475

I tried lemongrass from seed (twice) and was very disappointed in the outcome. Germinated and grew well, but was just like thin grass - nothing like that you buy in the supermarket. Following advice from someone on here, I rooted some of the supermarket ones in water (took a few weeks) then planted ...
by Chez
Sat Nov 18, 2006 10:38 am
Forum: Best practices
Topic: Growing squash in a grow bag
Replies: 8
Views: 8507

Hello Primrose Following on from the knowledgeable advice you've received, I wouldn't try this with method with Crown Prince for two reasons. 1) each vine can extend up to 4-6 metres and with several vines produced from each plant this means not just in any one direction. Yes, they can be directed a...
by Chez
Sat Nov 18, 2006 10:17 am
Forum: Seasonal tips
Topic: BROAD BEANS
Replies: 52
Views: 24387

I'm not of the 'catch 'em and let 'em go' school, so I'm with you Barney! Wellie - Git or not, a cat that kills mice is an asset! I would take you up on your kind offer if it (your cat) was at a different level in the food chain. Foxes love them! Just a pity the foxes don't do a better job of cullin...
by Chez
Fri Nov 17, 2006 7:53 am
Forum: Seasonal tips
Topic: BROAD BEANS
Replies: 52
Views: 24387

We're in Leicestershire and tried soaking both our peas and broad beans in paraffin before sowing. Our mice enjoyed the extra 'sauce' too. Lost 95% of the peas and about 40% of broad beans (just the same as without paraffin). We have gone back to starting broadbeans in pots/trays/rootrainers. Peas i...
by Chez
Thu Nov 16, 2006 10:09 pm
Forum: General chatter
Topic: Holly Wreath.
Replies: 7
Views: 3575

This link might be useful. Uses sphagnum moss, instead of oasis. I've not made one myself (yet) but I do buy the sphagnum-based ones and they last very well.

http://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profiles12 ... reaths.asp
by Chez
Wed Nov 08, 2006 5:10 pm
Forum: Tools and Machinery
Topic: sheen x300 flame gun
Replies: 22
Views: 20449

Hello lez

As I can't lay my hands on ours right now, if you can give me a day or two, I'll have a look for them for you.
by Chez
Wed Nov 08, 2006 8:32 am
Forum: General chatter
Topic: THIS WEEKS UPDATE POSTED 03/11/06
Replies: 26
Views: 9397

You can fool some of the people some of the time...
by Chez
Sat Nov 04, 2006 9:12 am
Forum: Seasonal tips
Topic: BUTTERNUTS NOW ?
Replies: 47
Views: 19905

Shy and retiring... hmmm. That lump on the side of your face must surely be your tongue firmly planted in your cheek, Wellie. You know, I've never come across a horticultural cat before. Or a horticultural Trousers for that matter. Lucky you are hanging onto them. Insured posting would be rather exp...
by Chez
Fri Nov 03, 2006 9:59 pm
Forum: Seasonal tips
Topic: BUTTERNUTS NOW ?
Replies: 47
Views: 19905

Crown Prince Seeds

After all that I forgot to say, we will be placing a commercial order for 50 Crown Prince seeds this month. And we can't use them all! We only need 3-4 plants in one season. If anyone is interested, the cost works out at 11p per seed + posting. Or we could come to some arrangement re swapping 'somet...