Hi Geoff,
If a compost heap fails stinging nettle, minus the seedhead, at the base is a very good method of generating heat to initiate degredation and save the day.

There is a very great difference in price between horticultural grit and a good sharp sand but if you sieve out some sharp sand you end up with a slightly finer grit but virtually the same result. The fines from your sieving can still be added to your potting or seeding mixture. Where moisture and d...

I slipped with the stylus and from nowhere appeared a dropdown with settings and a host of other things which I will explore in the days to come. Thank you Robo and PP for holding my holding hand with such a brave step! Of course if Amazon were to enclose just a word telling you a about the dropdown...

Hi Robo, The machine in question is an Amazon Fire HD 10 and arrives without any instructions as to the best use etc. so I am having to find my way around in the dark. I desperately need my grandchildren and we have a family meeting on Sunday they will all be there. Then I have to tune into the farm...

God save us from contradicted text. Which has just changed predictive text to Texas's wall see. I wrote germinated which became terminated and it has changed it again and peasticks became breadsticks. I am new to this Fire thing and it is driving me mad. Is there any way of disconnecting it! It says...

If you remember we had a quite warm spell in February which was just after my first sowing of peas had germinated and I expected to plant out in about a month but they were ready at not quite three weeks and were then nearly 4"tall. Since then they have grown at a pace never experienced by me b...

My first peas were sown in gutter lengths( 10 x33inches) in the first week in February on the bench in one of the tunnels and I am picking for the second week. I have three more rows on the go. Most of my produce is picked and frozen and get distributed to my family cos there are quite a few peas on...

I used to grow onions from seed always sown on Boxing Day morning which was really a way of recovering front the previous days excesses. Ailsa Craig and Bedford Champion were the onions in vogue in those days so it shows how long since I have sown an onion for seed. Ailsa Craig were the ones my wife...

Hi Pasty,
I would suggest a little feed might do the trick. It maybe the compost you are using because on another thread the complaint with the peat-free composts is that they are lacking in nutrient.

Well without being offensive to anybody I feel that this thread has strayed far from the original post and I therefore will take no further part.

Hi Primrose,
Well really that sounds like Organic Myth and Legend at it's worst. I would ask that person for a full scientific explanation and would further love to hear the excuse for not being able to do so.
I think that is about the most monstrous statement ever. A case of 'BULLSHINE' if ever!

Hi Tony, This is why we were all at loggerheads a few years back. Every seed has it's own supply of food but as the root structure grows a source of external nourishment is needed and try as they may these manufacturers simply do not seem to be able to get it right but sell their efforts irrespectiv...

When I used to grow Sweetcorn I used to grow very large quantities for mail order and local retail sales. Using 38mm by 38mm by 50mm after sowing watered well just once until germination and the mono cotyledon is around 50mm high before next watering and then only sparsely. They were produced on the...

Hi Tigerburnie,
The soot required is from a chimney serving a coal fire. We can burn coal in this area but I really don't know anybody who does. I burn Anthracite but sadly that soot is not suitable. I no longer grow Celery because I do not have the time or to be more truthful have the inclination.

Slugs with Celery can be combatted with genuine coal soot but where the hell can you get coal soot today!