Have you been watering the plants or just letting them fend for themselves?

I asked about late sowing because I noticed somthing similar with my French Beans. They were only a couple of feet up the canes and started producing fully mature bean pods. I figured that the plant knew when in the season it was, and was getting on with the survival process, however mature it was. ...

Have a look at the thread posted earlier: http://www.kitchengarden.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?p=17200&highlight=#17200 As mentioned, I've tried saving then cooking these - they had a very tough coat that was difficult to get through (too much effort for what was inside). Keeping & sowing them...

Can you help me with this? I'm still quite new to growing sweetcorn. This year my plants seem to have the "antennae" flowers at the tops, but no silky tassels (or the early cobs) below. By comparison, my neighbour's have both. I thought the pollen fell from one onto the others. Some of my ...

So if we think the French grow from seed, the next things is to send some search parties over and buy some of their seed. Over the past few years, I've brought back seed for tomatoes and red onions from Italy. Their packets are actually marked with the European regions/climate zones to help with sow...

I expect the "seeds or sets" question has been asked before. However for Banana shallots, availability may help decide things. Many of us want to grow these (JB has championed us well!). However I think that those who have obtained seed haven't had brilliant results (weather may have playe...

The first lot I harvested about 5-6 weeks ago were normal sized and had a faint pleasant garlicy smell. The ones I harvested in the last 3 weeks have had the most powerful garlic smell I've every come across. I had to store them indoors the day after picking (big downpours) and the family accused be...

I too have planted nasturtiums t- as others have said what a great sacrificial crop they make. So out of interest, have you noticed a reduction in the number of bugs on your main crops, or do you think the nasturtiums have just helped make your patch a more attractive place for bugs overall?! I'm h...

They produce a very big root They certainly do! I finally dug mine up this year and had quite a job getting them out of the ground. What had grown under the soil was very dense and quite hard to cut up. These had been in around 3 years - I imagine after 5 years they'd have moved in and taken up per...

Ok, by now some of you must be starting to harvest your shallots (the ones that didn't go to seed). These may not strictly be Banana shallots (I think they're Longor) but some of them did quite well. Here's a shot of today's harvest, drying in a very bright hot sun: http://www.pbase.com/cmalsingh/im...

I'm glad it's not just me that gets ignored - I 've e-mailed John Rowswell and left messages on his ansaphone, all to no avail. Is this the guy who had an article about him in the Guardian? I expect he hasn't been able to cope with the demand. When I rang up (several months ago) his mother answered...

Johnboy wrote:Hi Tigger,
I feel that with Piglet's and Colin's B. Shallots going to seed there is a Nucleus of seeds that these two lovely, loverrrly people could help us all out with.

Can you talk us through what's needed to do this JB?

As well as the water, aren't there some minerals that make a difference to blossom end rot? I had a feeling that Calcium might be one - certainly a compound called dolomite is both cheapish and has good range of minerals that Tomatoes find beneficial for things like B.E.R. That's in addition to your...

That was a lovely expression JB!! I'm sure you can get cream for that. Unfortunately I'll admit to trying to use organic methods - I don't mind inorganic feeds, but aren't as keen on putting man-made pesticides on stuff I'm going to eat. Call me paranoid. You are right though that there are never en...

Piglet wrote:80% of my french banana shallots have gone to seed

Does anyone ever water their shallots and do you think it would make a difference to this problem?

So many other veg seem to be prone to bolt if the environment threatens and I wondered if watering was an answer?