Agree that a photo will make things easier. Will post one later.

In one of my three waterbutts, which has a minimal level of water in it, I have a large number(60/100) of worms. They are wriggling around in two distinct groups and are very active and appear to be around 2/3 inches in length. This particular butt is freestanding ie not connected to any water sourc...

Plumpudding - thought as much! Will have to treat them less generously next year.

Pack of 12 sweet pea plants bought from a local reputable garden centre have not flowered at all this season despite prolific growth. Plants have been grown in a large (two foot wide, eighteen inches deep) pot in a mixture of well rotted horse manure mixed with a general compost. I suspect that this...

General consensus appears to indicate that I should have been using my energy all these past years on improving the soil and not replacing it. Once I have replaced the soil for this season(for reasons stated in my previous post) I think that I will in future concentrate on soil improvement plus rota...

Tend to agree with your comment re "if it aint broke etc" and I have wondered over the years why I change the soil so frequently especially as I tend to use the ring culture system for the tomatoes. Unfortunately, this year I will have no choice as I did not clear out the dead plants from ...

When previously changing the border soil in the greenhouse, I have used a mixture of Garden centre bought "Farmyard Manure" (which is actually mushroom compost and is really a soil improver) John Innes No 3 plus a bag or two of General Potting Compost (peat free) with a generous mixture of...

Morning PA Snip, You could be right about the low level of subscribers and that most will just use the main site for their info etc T'is strange though that if this is the case and KG have effectively abandoned it, then why continue advertising it in the December issue as "new" but not ens...

Just started catching up on the last three issues of KG Page 32 in December's copy includes a note about the " exclusive new online Subscribers Club" and the benefits attached for subscribers. eg "fabulous exclusive offers not available elsewhere - plus the extra snippets of tips, new...

Elaine and Snip, Many thanks for your replies. Elaine your mention of the "yellow with brown stripes" snails could indeed be the answer. The rhubarb plants are right next to the black/red currants and I noticed that there are many of these snails on the branches. The common snails are not ...

Just been down to the allotment and was concerned to see that for the first time ever(I have been growing rhubarb for many, many years) I see that the centre leaves on two of my three plants have been reduced to mere skeletons. Any thoughts please on what has been munching their way through these te...

Interesting comments regarding Ferline not being very tasty. Last year I grew three different varieties of tomatoes and, guess what, the heaviest cropper and tastiest was Ferline!. That was the first time I had grown them and was really impressed with the heavy crop and taste and I can assure you al...

I think you could be right regarding the starch turning to sugar. I peeled and boiled some last night and the taste was really good despite what I have heard / read in the past. Will now dig the remaining row of Charlotte and see what they taste like. Thanks for your input Plumpudding.

Was reminded last weekend that I still had a couple of rows of potatoes to dig from last year(one row of Duke of York and one of Charlotte) I live in North Somerset and , as you may have heard, we have had a fair amount of rain so I did not hold much hope of finding anything but mush when the sun an...

Hi Johnboy Thanks for your reply. I am at present digging and clearing the plot by hand as there is so much bindweed - with each forking I can feel the roots snapping off deep below ground so I am only really clearing the top 10 inches or so and it is only a matter of time before the shoots re-appea...