I do agree with you Johnboy - the first sighting of swallows is always a magical feeling. I'll be on the lookout. They arrive with a whoosh and it's delightful seeing them flying around our village green and returning to their traditional nesting sites. But it seems that so many people walk past wit...

Plumpudding - yes, I'm pretty sure ducks eat tadpoles. There were lots before the duck arrived and when I checked this morning, I could find just two (although others might have been lurking at the bottom of the pond.) But I can't find any newts at all now, which I'm really upset about. And previous...

i noticed on another threat that Lizzie was recommending tayberries and said they were somewhere between a blackberry and a raspberry. I've got 3 blackberry bushes and wonder whether I should swap one for a tayberry for more variety. What is the flavour like? Can you eat them raw like raspberries, o...

The minis are very prolific once they get going. This is the second year I've grown them outside and even in last summer's poor weather I picked more than we knew what to do with.

Thanks for all your helpful comments. I've sown them in modules and done some spares because of the age of the seed so will keep my fingers crossed.

I try to harden off as much as possible, but without a permanent greenhouse, it's quite difficult. (I only have one of these little 4 shelved things with a plastic cover). Tomatoes, courgettes, cucumbers which are germinated inside, go onto a sunny patio during the day and come in at night (or into ...

Well, Jemima Puddle Duck (as we've named her) has just disgraced herself. Yesterday I spotted her gobbling up one of the few newts we have in our pond. If ducks eat slugs and snails I'm wondering whether I could entice her away from this habit by providing her with small amounts of tinned meat-based...

That's incredibly fast. I've always found parsnips about the slowest of all vegetable seeds to germinate, apart from parsley. If this is normal behaviour I can see it becoming very popular with gardeners because it will rule out the uncertainty of knowing whether your seeds are just slow to germinat...

Yes, Mini cucumbers do well planted outside. I grow mine in a sunny south-facing border. If you look on the seed packets there are several different varieties, called Mini cucumber, Patio cucumber, etc.

Courgettes and mini cucumbers also grow well out of doors (if you like them). And a really nice dessert gooseberry bush perhaps?

Glad you've had some good news to kick off your week-end. Pets are just as important as other family members. It's impossible not to get upset when something horrible happens to them.

When we had a cat, it was impossible to stop him using the veggie patch as a loo occasionally. I decided in the end it wasn't worth getting 'het up' about and just washed everything thoroughly before cooking and eating. The cat has long since died but we're still around and healthy so I guess whatev...

Found this idea for making your own hoops if you want to use fleece or netting protection and want to build something which accommodates taller plants.

http://www.communigate.co.uk/here/orlet ... age6.phtml

Chantal - I planted out my first batch of seedlings in loo rolls into the garden last week. They were less than an inch tall and have survived several nights of frost and Sunday's heavy snowfall.

Thanks John. Have just popped out to follow your advice. But when I slotted the seed packet back into my seed box I noticed that it was dated 2001, so it will be interesting to see if they actually germinate. When you only need a few plants it seems rather a waste to buy a packet of seeds. I know th...