Search found 4546 matches

by Monika
Wed Oct 31, 2007 7:18 pm
Forum: General chatter
Topic: clocks
Replies: 35
Views: 9716

If I had my way and lived alone and unencumbered by modern life, I would get up with the birds in summer and not go to roost until dark, late at night, but in winter I would sleep in, deal with the daytime neccessities and curl up in my little nest again when the sun went down. Life would it cheap a...
by Monika
Wed Oct 31, 2007 6:59 pm
Forum: Harvesting Q&A
Topic: Kale, kale and more kale
Replies: 14
Views: 6311

I always think of spring GREENS as those which are dark green all the way through, from outer leaves to the centre (like the Mastergreen which I mentioned above). Spring CABBAGE is dark green on the outside but has a paler green heart. But my definition is probably just my own interprretation! I thi...
by Monika
Wed Oct 31, 2007 6:52 pm
Forum: Best practices
Topic: Rubbish Sprouts.
Replies: 15
Views: 5994

I think planting sprouts on newly manured soil also makes them loose rather than tight, but that would not explain the small size of the plants, in fact, they would probably be tall and more leaf than sprout.

We grew Topline this year and they are ok.
by Monika
Tue Oct 30, 2007 7:16 pm
Forum: Technical Data
Topic: Blight "resistance" in harvested potatoes
Replies: 30
Views: 23770

Just had a check through all our stored potatoes whose foliage was severely blighted:
Kestrel, Anya and Lady Balfour - only two potatoes slightly dubious in storage

(Sarpo Mira - neither foliage nor potatoes affected by blight)
by Monika
Tue Oct 30, 2007 5:46 pm
Forum: Harvesting Q&A
Topic: Kale, kale and more kale
Replies: 14
Views: 6311

Hello, Colin, We regularly harvest curly kale into late spring, say, May, but Ragged Jack kale tends to succumb to heavy frost. It's the first year we have grown tuscan kale, so I don't know how hlong it will stand. On the question of spring cabbage, Mastergreen (from Marshalls) have done us well th...
by Monika
Sun Oct 28, 2007 7:18 pm
Forum: Harvesting Q&A
Topic: Kale, kale and more kale
Replies: 14
Views: 6311

Kale, kale and more kale

We had some great kale for lunch today: curly kale Darkibor, Nero di Toscana and Ragged Jack, all steamed, chopped up and served with a bit of salt, pepper and a spoonful of low-fat creme fraiche. There's nothing to beat it - and it's supposed to be very healthy, too!
by Monika
Sat Oct 27, 2007 9:30 pm
Forum: Best practices
Topic: Over-summered tulip bulbs
Replies: 2
Views: 1450

Sorry I am late with a reply, but we have been away (in sunny Grange-over-Sands): I never succeed with the larger tulips for a second year and buy them new, but the species tulips, fosteriana and multi-headed ones seem to be o.k. I grow them in containers and feed them well after flowering and only ...
by Monika
Mon Oct 22, 2007 4:41 pm
Forum: General chatter
Topic: Make your own shopping bag and help the environment.
Replies: 9
Views: 3688

As our nearest shops are nearly 2 miles away and I tend to walk there, I always carry a large rucksack and refuse all plastic bags in shops, even when offered. My regular haunts know by now, but some shops seem to be quite surprised. To do the main food shop at the supermarket (we use Tesco, Booths ...
by Monika
Sun Oct 21, 2007 7:09 pm
Forum: Harvesting Q&A
Topic: Harvesting sprouts
Replies: 21
Views: 9864

We had our first sprouts today. They were great (Top Line from DT Brown) and we realised that it doesn't happen every year that the first sprouts of the season have already been frosted!
by Monika
Fri Oct 19, 2007 7:16 pm
Forum: Best practices
Topic: Making leafmould
Replies: 22
Views: 7746

That explains it. so, as I said, I'll try both methods this year. and, John, at the moment we don't have a builder's bag but that sounds a good idea, too. By the way, road pins are really useful things on the allotment. All our wire netting (which we need as double protection against rabbits, jackda...
by Monika
Thu Oct 18, 2007 7:17 pm
Forum: General chatter
Topic: Opium poppy seed head
Replies: 3
Views: 2095

Yes, I would think it's mice. I watched a little fieldmouse this summer climbing up to a poppy head, demolishing it and eating the seeds - I hope it had sweet dreams!
by Monika
Thu Oct 18, 2007 7:11 pm
Forum: Best practices
Topic: Making leafmould
Replies: 22
Views: 7746

Johnboy, I thought the idea with leafmould was that it isn't worms that do the work but fungi and bacteria and therefore the action was quite different. And I thought the bags might be too airless to allow the fungi and bacteria to work. But I'll tell you what: I will fill my leaf cage and will also...
by Monika
Thu Oct 18, 2007 7:06 pm
Forum: Best practices
Topic: Garden recycling bins
Replies: 5
Views: 2259

Craven District Council (which includes Skipton) has provided us with a large wheelie bin for garden rubbish for several years now. This is emptied fortnightly and alternates with another large bin, subdivided for glass, paper and tins. The compost from the rotted garden rubbish can then be bought.
by Monika
Wed Oct 17, 2007 7:20 pm
Forum: General chatter
Topic: Guess what ... 2
Replies: 21
Views: 5965

You are all so kind! Very many thanks for your good wishes and belated happy birthday to you, madasafish (and yes, I AM older than you!). I like your idea, Primrose, of gazing at the picture and will certainly do that when it's horrible outside, though this weekend I think we might get quite a lot o...
by Monika
Wed Oct 17, 2007 7:16 pm
Forum: Best practices
Topic: Making leafmould
Replies: 22
Views: 7746

Thanks for all your hints. I have tried to make leafmould in punctured plastic bags before (like Johnboy suggested) but it seems to turn into a slightly slimy mess or it did with me, anyway. I thought the extra air through the wire might help to avoid that. So I will try the 'cage' method this year ...