Search found 8052 matches

by Primrose
Tue Apr 01, 2008 7:50 pm
Forum: General chatter
Topic: New To All This
Replies: 5
Views: 2008

Welcome Ray. I think going international would make interesting reading but be rather frustrating to those of us who have to grow our fruit & veg in this rather difficult climate. Imagine reading constant reports of excellent yields of mangoes, avocados and other exotic vegetables from sunnier c...
by Primrose
Tue Apr 01, 2008 7:45 pm
Forum: General chatter
Topic: Defender Courgette
Replies: 7
Views: 2703

Does this apply to all F1's because I didn't think most Winter Squash varieties were F1's but collecting their seed and growing from them produces some very strange results.
by Primrose
Tue Apr 01, 2008 7:31 pm
Forum: General chatter
Topic: If you could grow only four vegetables....
Replies: 15
Views: 5611

If you could grow only four vegetables....

Which would you select, and why? Interruption - Wow - Red Arrows have just flown immediately over our roof in perfect formation after their Anniversary Fly Past - what a wonderful sight! I'd pick: Onions (Can't possibly cook anything decent without them) Swiss Chard - the only greens that don't seem...
by Primrose
Tue Apr 01, 2008 7:23 pm
Forum: General chatter
Topic: Defender Courgette
Replies: 7
Views: 2703

I've always been very happy with Defender and have never experienced a the paler fruits complained of but I do find it grows rather large for the amount of space I have. I wonder if the paler fruits were a result of last year's lack of sunshine rather than any particular breeding/genetic problem? Ge...
by Primrose
Tue Apr 01, 2008 2:10 pm
Forum: Weeds, Pests and Diseases
Topic: Curse of the Phantom Broad Bean Muncher
Replies: 16
Views: 7184

Colin - enjoyed the photos on your website, particularly the mangel worzels. I don't think I've ever actually seen one or eaten one. I always thought they belonged to the swede family and were fed mainly to cattle, but perhaps a lot of people eat them too. What do they taste like? Like swedes?
by Primrose
Tue Apr 01, 2008 10:21 am
Forum: Weeds, Pests and Diseases
Topic: Curse of the Phantom Broad Bean Muncher
Replies: 16
Views: 7184

I wonder if putting your pea or bean seed trays inside very large clear polythene bags and folding the top of the bag underneath the seed trays would prevent the mice getting at them. I know mice might nibble though the polythene but it might make access more difficult. (The little perishers even go...
by Primrose
Tue Apr 01, 2008 10:18 am
Forum: Weeds, Pests and Diseases
Topic: Curse of the Phantom Broad Bean Muncher
Replies: 16
Views: 7184

I wonder if putting your pea or bean seed trays inside very large clear polythene bags and folding the top of the bag underneath the seed trays would prevent the mice getting at them. I know mice might nibble though the polythene but it might make access more difficult. (The little perishers even go...
by Primrose
Mon Mar 31, 2008 8:46 am
Forum: General chatter
Topic: raised beds
Replies: 9
Views: 3435

What are "lasagne" beds? Have to confess my ignorance. I've only ever eaten the stuff!
by Primrose
Mon Mar 31, 2008 8:43 am
Forum: Best practices
Topic: Last years strawberries in g.bags - what now?
Replies: 4
Views: 2003

I'm sure you'll get another year out of your strawberries in your growbag if you keep them well fertilised and watered. However, if you've got room for them elsewhere they will probably thrive. Strawberries seem to be pretty hardy plants. Mine are not in good soil because they're in a side border wi...
by Primrose
Mon Mar 31, 2008 8:37 am
Forum: Best practices
Topic: nonhearting spring cabbage???????
Replies: 9
Views: 3332

I also planted out some seedlings (Hispi variety) in large pots under individual cloches last autumn and mine have also grown well but without hearts. Have just harvested them and used as greens.
by Primrose
Fri Mar 28, 2008 10:28 am
Forum: General chatter
Topic: What do you think?
Replies: 80
Views: 20412

I do think it's rather unfair that you are being forced down a route you don't want to take, almost by default. Providing different meals for different tastes can end up being a nightmare if it's an ongoing process and it can sometimes feel like you're being held to ransom if somebody is making all ...
by Primrose
Fri Mar 28, 2008 10:10 am
Forum: Best practices
Topic: Cucumbers
Replies: 3
Views: 1768

Tomorite and/or chicken manure pellets. Usually end up with more little cucumbers than we can eat.
by Primrose
Fri Mar 28, 2008 10:09 am
Forum: Best practices
Topic: demijohn cloches
Replies: 7
Views: 9066

That's a very helpful reference Belinda. We have several gallon demijohns in our loft which I'm wondering to convert to cloches if their winemaking days are over. So far I've been using some large plastic drinking water fountain containers which make ideal cloches and are much easier to deal with by...
by Primrose
Fri Mar 28, 2008 9:57 am
Forum: Seasonal tips
Topic: soil temperature
Replies: 12
Views: 6228

Don't know what type of soil you have Mike, but I suspect that heavy clay soil will take much longer to heat up but lighter soil will warm quite quickly. Also if the soil has been well dug with lots of air spaces between clumps, the warm air could perhaps dissipate further than once would think.
by Primrose
Wed Mar 26, 2008 4:41 pm
Forum: General chatter
Topic: New Allotments?
Replies: 4
Views: 1997

Maybe if the developers weren't so greedy and built houses with gardens big enough to have a small vegetable patch, instead of squeezing as many homes as possible on a small site, we wouldn't have to demand so many allotments. But I do hope the public keep up the pressure on this one otherwise it wi...