Search found 702 matches

by The Mouse
Fri May 15, 2015 11:13 am
Forum: Weeds, Pests and Diseases
Topic: leather jackets in lawn
Replies: 2
Views: 3029

leather jackets in lawn

My son's house was built two years ago, and the lawn turf in the small back garden was laid (we think) on just a thin layer of topsoil with the usual building rubble left underneath. The lawns of the surrounding houses have struggled from day one, with lots of yellow areas. However, my son's was ok ...
by The Mouse
Tue Mar 10, 2015 5:22 pm
Forum: General chatter
Topic: Happy Birthday.
Replies: 8
Views: 2726

Re: Happy Birthday.

Thank you, everyone. Just about to head over to son no. 2's for a birthday meal and a drink or (hopefully) two :)
by The Mouse
Tue Mar 03, 2015 6:44 pm
Forum: Growing Advice for beginners
Topic: fine vermiculite
Replies: 6
Views: 7032

Re: fine vermiculite

The thing is that this year I want to have a go at growing some parsnips for their length, not for their taste, in an attempt to win the longest parsnip section of our local produce show in September. All the experts seem to mix (fine) vermiculite with their compost when doing this, so it seems sill...
by The Mouse
Mon Mar 02, 2015 10:26 am
Forum: Growing Advice for beginners
Topic: fine vermiculite
Replies: 6
Views: 7032

Re: fine vermiculite

Thanks Sally. When trying to grow long carrots (in a barrel of sand, with holes then made where each individual carrot will grow, and filled with growing medium), all of the growing medium has to be finely sieved. I presume this is to do away with any lumps that might prevent the roots from growing ...
by The Mouse
Sun Mar 01, 2015 1:38 pm
Forum: Growing Advice for beginners
Topic: fine vermiculite
Replies: 6
Views: 7032

fine vermiculite

Ok, I'm not a beginner, but I'm new to using vermiculite! This year, I'm going to have a go at growing some long parsnips for the village show, and all the successful growers seem to add fine vermiculite to their growing medium (along with lots of other things). Most of the fine vermiculite that I'v...
by The Mouse
Mon Jan 12, 2015 11:07 am
Forum: Weeds, Pests and Diseases
Topic: Allium Leaf Miner
Replies: 8
Views: 7364

Re: Allium Leaf Miner

This last year's leek crop in my garden is very badly affected by the allium leaf miner. The previous year's was too, but it's only this year that I've realized what it is. In fact, I now think that the same thing could have been responsible for my onion problems for the previous couple of years (I ...
by The Mouse
Tue Dec 09, 2014 9:41 pm
Forum: General chatter
Topic: Please can we have some more 'funnies'?
Replies: 1388
Views: 623238

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

Shallot Man :lol: :lol: :lol:

As someone who has become totally disillusioned with politicians of all shades, that one tickled me!
by The Mouse
Mon Oct 13, 2014 5:16 pm
Forum: Weeds, Pests and Diseases
Topic: Late blight on tomatoes
Replies: 7
Views: 4213

Re: Late blight on tomatoes

I'll keep that in mind, Primrose. :)
by The Mouse
Mon Oct 13, 2014 11:31 am
Forum: Weeds, Pests and Diseases
Topic: Late blight on tomatoes
Replies: 7
Views: 4213

Re: Late blight on tomatoes

I had to pull up my three outside tomato plants (Sweet Baby) yesterday because of blight. Luckily, the ones in the mini greenhouse are still ok. I've been saying for years that I won't plant any more tomatoes out in my garden because they nearly always get blight in September, if not sooner, but whe...
by The Mouse
Mon Oct 13, 2014 11:16 am
Forum: General chatter
Topic: Please can we have some more 'funnies'?
Replies: 1388
Views: 623238

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

Thanks Beryl - your mouse joke has really made me chuckle I have been so busy recently that I don't get on the forum as much as I'd like, but there are so many hilarious jokes still being added that I'm glad I found the time to catch up today. I can't believe this thread is still running after all t...
by The Mouse
Mon Oct 13, 2014 11:04 am
Forum: Harvesting Q&A
Topic: raspberries for village show
Replies: 11
Views: 7145

Re: raspberries for village show

Thanks for your congratulations, everyone John, you are so right - I am already planning for next year's show!!! Along with lots of other things, I definitely plan to give long carrots and parsnips a go and I've already got all the family on the look-out for old barrels or other containers that I co...
by The Mouse
Sun Sep 14, 2014 6:37 pm
Forum: Harvesting Q&A
Topic: raspberries for village show
Replies: 11
Views: 7145

Re: raspberries for village show

I just thought I'd update you - my raspberries won 3rd prize. In the end, I decorated the plate with leaves as suggested, and used about 14 berries. The judges comment was "lovely presentation but could do with plate ful of fruit". To be honest, I felt a bit peeved, as the schedule said a ...
by The Mouse
Sun Sep 07, 2014 9:40 pm
Forum: Harvesting Q&A
Topic: raspberries for village show
Replies: 11
Views: 7145

Re: raspberries for village show

Thanks for your advice, both of you. Leaving the calyx on makes sense - proves they haven't just been bought from the supermarket anyway I wouldn't have thought of decorating the plate with leaves. I like that idea. Now I just need my raspberries to keep growing nicely over the next week. I hope we ...
by The Mouse
Sat Sep 06, 2014 5:34 pm
Forum: Harvesting Q&A
Topic: raspberries for village show
Replies: 11
Views: 7145

raspberries for village show

Does anyone know if you should remove the calix or not when showing raspberries? Our village is having its first produce (and handicraft) show for many years in a week's time, and amongst other things, I'm thinking of entering a "plate of raspberries". The rules seem very relaxed and don't...
by The Mouse
Mon Aug 25, 2014 5:37 pm
Forum: General chatter
Topic: Happy birthday O H
Replies: 25
Views: 7862

Re: Happy birthday O H

This is a very belated Happy Birthday to OH.
Sorry it's so late, but I don't visit the forum as often as I used to. I hope you had a lovely day :)