How long is the perforated polythene supposed to last? I'd never heard of it being used for tunnels before this thread.

My main vegetable growing areas are in the front garden with ornamental strips that look nice from the house because that is the largest flat area. The rest is sloping and terraced so not easy to cultivate. I don't know why everyone doesn't grow whatever they like in the front garden anyway vegetabl...

I've tried a grappling hook thing but it is such a big mass of roots that it won't split without chopping. I've hooked lots of other stuff, branched burr reed, water horsetail, and various pond weeds quite easily with it but the irises won't budge.

I've started taking the excess plants out of my pond and leaving them on the edge for wildlife to be able to get back in the water. The Japanese irises have grown out several feet and I'm having difficulty reaching them to cut them back. Does anyone have any suggestions? I don't have any waders or a...

It's been a lovely sunny warm day here too even with a strong wind. I had planted a row of tubs with Helichrysum quite late in the season, and they are fully open today. They were covered in Red Admiral butterflies this afternoon. Beautiful.

They are lovely birds Alan. The Lakenfelder are exactly the same shape as my Vorwerks with the black head and tail but mine are ginger not white. I've had lots of different breeds over the years from flighty Fresians to giant Buff Orpington, and one of my favourites was a Lavender Araucana that laid...

A bit too friendly old farmer used to occasionally give me a box of duck eggs when I did a rural post round.they were quite rich and very nice. He was harmless enough but I made sure there was a gate between us

I've made two Christmas cakes today, taken the nets off the brassica cages, potted up some basil and a few other things and brought the Chilean guavas into the greenhouse. The fruits smell lovely and taste very nice. The flower end is a bit coarse though. The kiwi fruits are still like bullets so I'...

The new tenants are very lucky Monika. Most allotments I've taken on have been a sea of weeds and rubbish. Good luck with your downsizing. Perhaps you'll enjoy it more if it's not as tiring and you'll have energy left for doing other things.

They used to have young offenders clearing and tidying a local grave yard, but they've put sheep on it now and get a better job - apart from the poo and them eating flowers.

We've already had more rain in the past two days than we had in June and July. I'm planting some lettuce seedlings in the greenhouse border and probably having a baking day to use up the pre slug pellet eggs so I know they are all uncontaminated.

Hi OH. No more problems. They'll know we're on the lookout now. The hens seem fine and are still laying well.
I've bought a hasp thing and a couple of padlocks for the huts so that's one of today's jobs if it stops raining.

Rather worried now, I've gone through everything left in the hut and now think it could be slug pellets. The ferric phosphate pellets are much smaller than the others and they've vanished. They are supposed to be safe with children and pets so I'm hoping they didn't actually eat any which would be a...

I'd not thought about that Geoff, don't be too frivolous or Johnboy will get upset

It's ok OH. I'm not on guard but it has made me a bit on edge. I think it was kids on their way home after school as it was about four o'clock. They left quite large foot prints on the garden but teenage boys can be huge. The hens look alright this morning and I'm hoping it was a one off. I'm going ...