Had a glut of apricots this year from my one small tree. So far we have made a crumble (delicious), a less fattening puree for stirring through yogurt etc, bottled (in brandy, Hic!), roasted, made ice cream and ice lollies and jam. Now waiting for the pears to ripen!

Still no ripening tomatoes despite the sunshine and temperatures in the polytunnel above 40C most days for the past couple of weeks. I had better get ready for making sauce and soup for the freezer in a few weeks' time! Are you chaps picking ripe toms or peppers yet? PS: The sharp-eyed among you may...

Hi Guys. Sorry I've not seen this thread before. The first issue of KG was launched in September 1997 and in fact we've highlighted on the cover the fact that the July 2018 issue (the latest one) was our 250th! We'll be 21 and get the key to the allotments this September. Yes the digital version is ...

Some interesting advice there chaps. We hope to have a feature on LED lights when we can find an expert, maybe a commercial grower who has used them. My set up is below and looking a bit old fashioned now! I've been researching LEDs in anticipation of my two 125w bulbs blowing and have found some li...

Thanks Plumpudding - much appreciated! Well of course - we only chose the picture to get you guys talking!

Hi Chaps - sorry your KG editorial team were out this morning making videos for the January digital edition of the magazine and I've just caught up with your enquiry. The fruits above the carrots are rattan fruits. Unfortunately I can't tell you what the red peas/beans are in the other dish or spoon...

Will you be stuck in traffic, at the airport, or enjoying the sunshine on the plot? I'll mostly be making tomato sauce and juicing apples!

Wouldn't fancy a second hand one! Cheery topic this!

If the plants are making healthy roots and the leaves are green and not showing any signs of yellowing or other obvious signs of deficiencies, then I'd tend to agree with Pa Snip that you just need to be patient. I'd agree with Robo on the garden compost - it's OK mixed in with other composts such a...

Yes feel free to remove leaves or parts of leaves that are preventing sunlight from reaching the trusses, remembering that the plants do need some healthy young leaves to feed themselves, so no nudity please! About this time I also take off the leaves from the base up to the first truss. Then as tru...

Yes that's right Colin. Just finishing a tray of 'White Lisbon'. Mostly only sow in trays early and late in the season though since I can then move them about and give them the best conditions, so stretching the season. I mainly sowed the ones in the picture in a tray to take to a show where I have ...

Leave them on for show? I like to eat mine!

No harm done Colin - got us all worked up for a moment there!

Must admit I've never tried any sort of scientific trial Primrose. Hanging them in the plants is new to me last year - just thought I'd give it a try, but to be honest, they may have ripened anyway! I am pretty sure they do help if the fruit is picked and placed close by a ripe banana or banana skin...

Here's my latest sowings. The ones in the ground were sown on 6 April and are just ready for harvesting (Ishikura). The ones in the tray ('Lilia') were sown on 23 June. So 12-13 weeks for the first harvests. So quicker than parsnips, but slower than mustard!

I knew an old gardener who would trap the pheasants that came looking for his peas using a wire mesh 'cage' baited with corn and propped up on a stick at one end. He reckoned they went well with peas! :) Yes, tight netting helps prevent them getting caught in the first place. It is a bit expensive b...