We've tried that one out recently...I'm afraid I couldn't get the hang of it that well but Emma was a whizz with it!

Just common or garden multipurpose compost - though yields are better from the veg patch

I've just been harvesting some Catriona (second early) that I grew in bags in the polytunnel. A nice looking potato (if that's not too weird a thing to say); quite tasty.

I only ever put one seed potato in a bag and get decent yields generally.

Ha! This reminds me of a chap I ended up doing some gardening for. He was a whizz with computers and bought himself a gardening app for planning his garden and spent a lot of time with it. Needless to say, he never got round to mowing the lawn. Horses for courses, however, whatever floats your boat ...

Anne Swithinbank has a few tips on this in the forthcoming February issue of KG (on sale Friday 30 Dec) - I wont' steal her thunder but it's basically leaving the seeds for 10 days in a jar of water to disengage the sticky coating around the seeds, then washing them followed by drying - she says it ...

I heard on the news yesterday that the best cracker joke this Christmas is:

Q: How will Christmas dinner be different after Brexit?

A: No Brussels.

How funny you find this, however, may depend perhaps on whether you're a Remainer or a Brexiter

As we approach 2017 we may be thinking of what First Earlies to grow this year. I'm growing mine in bags (compost bags turned inside out) this year again as I like to come out the back door, turn the corner and they're there! I've not decided yet what to go for. I've tried quite a number of differen...

Some useful advice here:

http://www.kitchengarden.co.uk/-Prevent ... lu-0d02RaB

Yes Fred, it does make you wonder whether overwintering is worth it with broad beans. I'm fortunate to have a polytunnnel and I was able to harvest earlier last year than I would have with outdoor grown ones. Like you, I'm not sure I'd bother overwintering if I was planting outdoors, especially as m...

Just planted some of the 'The Sutton's yesterday in the polytunnel (started them off last month in cell trays). Last year I planted Aquadulce Claudia in the polytunnel and they more or less took over! Sounds like you're doing well without a poly anyway. My veg plot is so exposed I got fed up with wa...

I've not seen a definitive answer to this one about blight spores remaining in the soil over winter but you'd expect a hard frost should kill them off. Certainly, remove any 'volunteer' tubers that may be lurking. Remove any mulch that may have been had spores if pos and replace with fresh. For toma...

Had a bad attack of blight this year on potatoes and tomatoes so thought I'd give some blight resistant varieties a go this year. The Sarpo potato varieties have a good reputation so will go with one of these. As for tomatoes, 'Mountain Magic' was quite impressive so will grow this again. You could ...

Wondered if anyone has been using air-pots this year? m Interesting concept behind them if you watch their video. Did grow some potatoes in them this year but Steve's in a more conventional pot seemed to do a little better - but it wasn't really a proper trial. Let us know how you got on if you've b...

So how's it gone for everyone this year? Which veg and fruit has gone well for you? What have you been impressed with? I was impressed with the blight resistant tom, 'Mountain Magic' (T & M) (truly blight resistant and flavoursome) and the prolific 'Montello' tom (Marshalls). Going to grow some ...

I know it's only the end of November but already thinking of what chillies to grow next year. My favourites last year were Loco, Numex Twilight, Prairie Fire and Pot Black. Definitely want to give Bishop's Crown a go next year. Just wondered what others have been growing and what they have liked best.