Search found 126 matches

by fen not fen
Sat May 05, 2007 8:35 am
Forum: Weeds, Pests and Diseases
Topic: What's got at my potatoes?
Replies: 6
Views: 3424

ducks?

Spuds I planted into a compost mulch were mostly pulled up and eaten by the wild ducks that take up residence every spring. I know 'cos I watched 'em doing it! Strangely the ones planted normally they left alone.
by fen not fen
Sat May 05, 2007 8:33 am
Forum: Weeds, Pests and Diseases
Topic: slugs
Replies: 5
Views: 2898

bran

I think it works by immobilising them so at dawn either the birds could have bran stuffed slugs or the sun dried them out. It's even cheaper by the sack from feed merchants.
by fen not fen
Sat May 05, 2007 8:30 am
Forum: Weeds, Pests and Diseases
Topic: SNAILS IN GREENHOUSE
Replies: 11
Views: 7446

vaseline

I've found vaseline effective but when you need to move the pots you get in a right mess! My current polytunnel isn't too infested but when I had a badly infested greenhouse I had metal staging (well old catering tables actually) and this stopped them coming up from ground level as the metal holds a...
by fen not fen
Tue Apr 24, 2007 5:22 pm
Forum: Growing places
Topic: Help! Communal Greenhouse / poly tunnel
Replies: 9
Views: 5668

Watch out Johnboy!

Our local planning officer has decided polytunnels are buildings, as they are attached to the ground! Fortunately our tunnels fall within our permitted development rights but it means we can't build a packing shed without applying for planning permission!
by fen not fen
Tue Apr 24, 2007 5:14 pm
Forum: Birds, Animals and Livestock
Topic: what is it about chickens and polystyrene?
Replies: 4
Views: 3488

what is it about chickens and polystyrene?

if I am negligent and leave any polystyrene about the hens eat it as if it were their last chance to eat.It's amazing how quickly they can demolish a broccoli box! Why is it so fascinating? Can it be doing them any good?
by fen not fen
Thu Apr 12, 2007 4:21 pm
Forum: General chatter
Topic: Electric Mouse & Rat Repeller.
Replies: 2
Views: 1630

More of a mice propeller then?
by fen not fen
Thu Apr 12, 2007 4:18 pm
Forum: Weeds, Pests and Diseases
Topic: Is there any such thing as one rat?
Replies: 19
Views: 9249

I had terrible problems with rats last winter, bur despite the mild winter this year they have been less troubling. I think it may have something to do with the fact we've now got a Jack Russel, who though she doesn't catch many rats clearly persuades them to go elsewhere by just being about, diggin...
by fen not fen
Thu Apr 12, 2007 4:12 pm
Forum: Seasonal tips
Topic: Flowering Rhubarb
Replies: 5
Views: 4955

I haven't harvested any stalks from my new rhubarb patch and they are all flowering. I notice another more established patch nearby is doing the same. Why are they doing this? I'm sure I don't remember rhubarb putting up flower heads til mid-summer before.
by fen not fen
Tue Feb 06, 2007 7:05 pm
Forum: Weeds, Pests and Diseases
Topic: flame weeding carrots
Replies: 2
Views: 2824

flame weeding carrots

I've heard a lot about flame weeding carrots just before they emerge to give them a head start over the weeds. Does anyone know how long after sowing the carrots I should flame weed to fry the weeds but not the carrots?
by fen not fen
Tue Nov 28, 2006 7:17 pm
Forum: General chatter
Topic: Metric deficiencies
Replies: 15
Views: 5417

I too was educated in the metric system, so cannot even start calculating in imperial. I do everything in metres, unfortunately polytunnel companies don't, which made putting the blemmings things up a bit frustrating ( not least as I never mastered the 12X table in the first place). Buying and setti...
by fen not fen
Tue Nov 21, 2006 8:08 pm
Forum: Tools and Machinery
Topic: potato lifter for compact tractor
Replies: 3
Views: 4822

potato lifter for compact tractor

I should shortly be acquiring a Kubota compact tractor for the market garden. It has a PTO that is (apparently) standard to all compact tractors. Does anyone know if there is a potatot lifter of any sort that will run on this?
by fen not fen
Tue Nov 21, 2006 8:03 pm
Forum: General chatter
Topic: Book review please
Replies: 10
Views: 4948

I used it as a resource when starting my er, organic market garden, it was good for writing business plans etc, but to be honest I've barely glanced at it since. No time! The problem with box schemes is you start doing them because they are great for cash flow, then you find you spend so much time d...
by fen not fen
Wed Sep 20, 2006 9:02 pm
Forum: General chatter
Topic: Delicate topic
Replies: 10
Views: 3840

Composting is supposed to kill the pathogens, but most authorities (eg the Centre for Alternative Technology) suggest taking the chance out of things and using the compost only on ornamentals or top fruit where there is no chance of contamination.
by fen not fen
Wed Sep 20, 2006 8:57 pm
Forum: General chatter
Topic: Butterfly....
Replies: 8
Views: 3008

Here in North Lincs we've got loads of them, they're wonderful little things. Does anyone know what the caterpillars feed on or why they have suddenly appeared in such numbers this year?
by fen not fen
Wed Sep 20, 2006 8:53 pm
Forum: Birds, Animals and Livestock
Topic: How do you stop a dog that digs?
Replies: 13
Views: 6717

We've actively encouraged our jack russell to dig as we got her to harass the rats, rabbits & moles that plague us! Occasionally she digs in the wrong place but we just distarct her with another digging oppurtunity in a place where it doesn't matter.