Search found 865 matches

by Mike Vogel
Sat Aug 26, 2006 11:05 pm
Forum: Best practices
Topic: Mulch
Replies: 9
Views: 3695

Hello Brenjohn. Elsewhere in the Forum there are discussions about Green Manures. You may find it better for the soil to use these and keep the grass cuttings etc for mulching round plants. the great thing about GMs is that they not only provide bulk for the soil when dug in, but also, in some cases...
by Mike Vogel
Sat Aug 26, 2006 10:57 pm
Forum: Best practices
Topic: Tomato flavour diluted
Replies: 13
Views: 4568

Yes, Dahlismarie, I think what you have read is right. At the risk of repeating something from another forum place, the Italians with allotments next to mine say that tomatoes shouldn't be overwatered, because their roots need to grow deeply in search of moisture. In fact, toms have a dual-system of...
by Mike Vogel
Sat Aug 26, 2006 10:51 pm
Forum: Best practices
Topic: What are your recommended Beefsteak Toms?
Replies: 20
Views: 7871

I've grown Beefsteak outside with limited success. This year I have Potiron Ecarlate, which have produced enoermous fruit. unfortunately, however, these have started to split at the top , so I now harvest them when they are just turning red and ripen them indoors. They have a lovely, full flavour an...
by Mike Vogel
Sat Aug 26, 2006 10:46 pm
Forum: Best practices
Topic: Green manures
Replies: 15
Views: 6326

The voice of experience must always prevail over theory based on reading, Garlic Guy. I haven't used fenugreek, but maybe I should in the light of what you say. The climate in Bedford isn't the same as Bristol's though; the soil seems to me to stay cold well into the spring. When I first came here t...
by Mike Vogel
Sat Aug 26, 2006 10:34 pm
Forum: Harvesting Q&A
Topic: Rhubarb
Replies: 6
Views: 4684

Sally and others, I wrote to Chase Organics [the Organic Catalogue] for advice about harvesting rhubarb, as I had been told that after July the stems may become poisonous as a result of seepage into the from the leaves ( which are if eaten). This was their reply, which includes advice on harvesting ...
by Mike Vogel
Fri Aug 25, 2006 11:54 pm
Forum: Cooking tips
Topic: Turk's Turban & Patty Pan Squash
Replies: 12
Views: 8344

We roast our patti pans cut into wedges and drizzled with olive oil, salt and pepper and whichever herbs are handy and/or take your fancy. We have not experienced any ill effects from letting them grow quite large, say about 8 inches in diameter. You may be interested in a tale we have to tell. We w...
by Mike Vogel
Fri Aug 25, 2006 11:41 pm
Forum: General chatter
Topic: boundary fence
Replies: 3
Views: 1605

My immediate suggestion would be clematis. Try one spring-flowering and one which flowers in late summer. They'll complement the honeysuckle.

mike
by Mike Vogel
Fri Aug 25, 2006 11:39 pm
Forum: General chatter
Topic: How big are allotments?
Replies: 50
Views: 14717

Sorry, I forgot to add that most of these allotments are rented from the council, but there are some areas of privately owned land which are let out for allotments. The council ones are properly protected with fence and locked gates and have a reliable water-supply; the private ones are left to the ...
by Mike Vogel
Fri Aug 25, 2006 11:35 pm
Forum: General chatter
Topic: How big are allotments?
Replies: 50
Views: 14717

Dahlismarie, the standard plot is "10 pole". This being a medieval measurement which seems to survive only in the measurement of allotments, I can tell you that it means 30 metres by 8. I'll try to take a picture of mine and put it on this forum, but don't hold your breath, as my skill wit...
by Mike Vogel
Fri Aug 25, 2006 11:31 pm
Forum: General chatter
Topic: Skin Irritation
Replies: 11
Views: 5472

Thanks for your concern, Spud - and Chantal too. I have to say that I've had no problems handling my parsnips, leaves and all. Could it be that whatever you handled may have been wild or previously treated with some sort of chemical [not by you of course]?

mike
by Mike Vogel
Thu Aug 24, 2006 10:02 pm
Forum: Best practices
Topic: Green manures
Replies: 15
Views: 6326

Hi Garlic Guy. I don't think fenugreek does well in our climate, but you might get something out of it next summer. The HDRA booklet says that it is unlikely to fix nitrogen in the UK because the right sort of bacteria are rare in this country. You might get a good bit of bulk from it though. mike
by Mike Vogel
Sat Aug 19, 2006 5:18 pm
Forum: General chatter
Topic: Long arms.
Replies: 9
Views: 2989

On our privately owned allotment the water-pump is always breaking. It is looked after by the allotment holder next to it, who mends it and fits it when he is there, but removes it when he goes, to protect it from vandalism or theft. Of course, usually I'm there when he is not. So I bought a differe...
by Mike Vogel
Fri Aug 18, 2006 3:32 pm
Forum: Best practices
Topic: Green manures
Replies: 15
Views: 6326

Well, Deb, I became converted to green manures after reading Joy Larkcoms book about Organic vegetable growing. I use Phacelia tenacetifolia and it really does produce a thick lot of growth. I grew dwarf beans afterwards and they did famously. I also recommend red clover and alfalfa, sown in spring,...
by Mike Vogel
Fri Aug 18, 2006 3:21 pm
Forum: Best practices
Topic: Garlic
Replies: 5
Views: 2696

Hi amo. I have grown garlic since getting an allotment in 2003. I use Thermidrome from the Organic Catalogue, which you plant in the autumn. It tended to get a bit mouldy, but this year it has done wonderfully. I most definitely recommend Elephant Garlic. This year I got some, among other bulbs , fr...
by Mike Vogel
Fri Aug 18, 2006 3:07 pm
Forum: Best practices
Topic: Composting for the weedy?
Replies: 18
Views: 7150

Since reading that the amount of carbon to nitrogen on a compost heap should be about 30 to 1 - yes, 30!! - I have made sure that all corrugated cardboard packaging is torn up and put on. The results have been a marked improvement on my previously produced mush. But I have also noticed on other peop...