Hi, We have a big family event coming up in a couple of months. Whilst most will be sipping English fizz, wine and beer there will be a few unable to. So, we thought we'd do elderflower codial with soda water. I think I have a standard recipe somewhere (maybe river cottage), but does anyone have any...

Hi, Bought a huge pack of Waitrose finest for £1.40. I did a trial by putting a few in a pot in the windowsill and they germinated. So last weekend I put a couple of small rows where I had just removed a fence and the soil is pretty poor. Apparently they don't like lots of nutrients. Found quite a u...

Ditto - poly tunnel envy.

Amazing looking plants and crops so early in the season.

Pawty

Hi,

I've only tried growing swede once and I planted direct. They were very small - not sure I left enough space between them after thinning out, but tasted good. Tasted too good in fact - the slugs loved them - litterally ate a whole swede- the slug inside it was the biggest I have ever seen!

Pawty

Hi, Wow - everyone's been so busy! I have seedlings in every window of the house but not planted out yet - we often get a frost mid may. We had rain - and lots of it. Fantastic! No lotty this weekend - had to visit my mum in laws to clear out a barn which is being used for a family wedding soon. Hav...

Hi, So germination of cucumbers was successful, they been re potted on and are looking healthy (fingers crossed / nothing guaranteed at the moment). I don't have a greenhouse so have to grow outdoor varieties. This year I have diva and jogger. One thing I've not mastered is the best structure to gro...

Thanks Peter - yep, that looks like it! I've heard of damping off but never looked into. Just googled causes and there are so many (looking at the rhs website). Suggests using commercially bought compost .... dare I say thar this may have been the common factor?? Maybe combined with the weather cond...

Hi, Hoping someone can help me! A few days ago I noticed all my kale seedlings (young) had pretty much died. I had transplanted them and figured they didn't like it. I noticed on the stem at the soil interface there was damage to the stem but didn't think too much about it. When watering my fennel (...

Hi, Yes, Huge number of cress beds here in Hampshire. All are in very shallow beds with flowing fresh water (mainly spring fed). The in laws have some growing in the stream that runs though the farm... but we've never dared eat it. I bought a wasabi plant from the Dorset watercress growers. Apparent...

Hi, Great thread as I think it's really important to think about ways to minimise water use. We all have responsibly to think about this and use resources carefully, so any tips are appreciated. Good tip tony about the mulching! I'm afraid I'm in the camp who thinks that having a green lawn is a lux...

Hi, Thank you. I'll leave them for now and keep an eye on them. BUT - looking at my chives, the dreaded black aphids are back again! I sprayed them..... thought I'd get in early. Been trying to do a bit of reading around this. It would appear that this is very common for chives, onions and shallots....

Hi,

I spoke too soon...... the kale have all died in the cold frame and the sweetcorn have suddenly decided to germinate just after I'd started some swift off ...... the life of an allotmenteer .......

Pawty

Robo, that would be great - thank you.

Let me know if there are any seeds you are after and I'll see if I have any I can send you in return.

Pawty

Hi, Checked again and don't appear to have KG free seeds (I missed a month as I was renewing my subscription so it may have been then). I have a pack of Long Green Bush 4. Assume these are different though (but must have been free as I would never buy Marrow seeds!! I have a big enough problem with ...

Hi,

I'm afraid that daddy long legs are my one completely irrational phobia (that and custard)...... just the thought of them. If there's one in a room I have to know where they are at all times. So I say squish them (sorry ... not overly helpful!! )

Pawty