Although I have slugs at my lottie I wouldn't say they are too big a problem ( I havent had to use pellets, just tossed any found over the railway fence into the brambles for the wildlife). However having had my greenhouse up for a year now and having just transplanted my first Aubergines into the b...

This year I managed to put my earlies in really early, I had plastic then fleece from January. The first ones were out in the middle of May and so I planted half a dozen Marfona that I had over. If I am lucky I will get a few more pounds this Autumn. The start of this thread mentioned following a bl...

an update for you Colin, I have transplanted two seedlings into 3 inch pots and popped them into the cold frame and they appear to be enjoying themselves, several leaves now but still on the small side. I will plant them out when I see how the bed is doing ie I dont want to lose them first day to a ...

Colin I use the blue tube. I cut them into 6 foot lengths as I have 4 foot wide beds. I then take a white plastic tube, about 18 inches long, and insert it half way (9 inches) into the blue tube. It is a very tight fit and I tend to heat the blue end in water to make it easier. The white bit goes in...

My spring cabbage are on the tough side this year, they are not very big and I was wondering wether it was because they have taken so long to make any heart that has caused it. The variety is an old one, Offenham? and I think I was late last year in sowing them so they didn't make much growth before...

I used grass clippings as a mulch for the first three years on my beds but gave up as they were always tossed off by the blackbirds!! I now compost them with my shredded paper and use the compost as a mulch.

I'm with you Guy, I grow Duke of York and then Charlotte and tend to stick with them because I enjoy them. I look at the list down the lottie shop but can't decide what else to try. I tried Red DoY once also some with a purple eye that I forget, ratte too however the comments on Maris Bard may tempt...

Aphids are making a wide attack this year, I have also had to nip my gooseberries this year as most of the tips had little colonies. I managed to pinch out my broad beans ( Aquadulce) in time and so far my spring grown broad beans (Green Windsor) are nearing a suitable height and free. My spring and...

thanks ladies for the replies, about Celeriac , I am growing it also as a bit of a fail safe! As for my celery, I have three seedlings germinated now. Two have their 1st set of true leaves but still look incredibly small and fragile to lift out and transplant. I have looked up what J Seymour has to ...

My experience mirrors that of Chantal, I have used sets very year and put up with a percentage of losses to 'going to seed'. This time I have sown Golden Bear seed and they are bulbing up nicely so to the reds, Brunswick I think. I will definately try them again rather than sets next year.

I've never grown Celery before, but I always said I would once I had enough of my lottie prepared. I remember being fascinated by Geoffrey Smith on the BBC back in the late 70's with his trench and cardboard collar, long before I was able to aquire a lottie/garden of my own. Well I planted some last...

C.J. a couple of years ago the husband of a work colleague suffered from the effects of a "spider" bite. Your descriptions match his as far as I can remember, and having seen the Daily Mail article as well I wonder wether the False Black Widow (Steatoda Noblis) is the culprit. The Dr here ...

Last year I treated myself to Germidour Garlic bulbs for planting in Autumn rather than using cloves from supermarket ones that I planted in the spring. Tidying the bed this morning and found rust (presumed as it looks rusty!) on them. The onions on one side and shallots on the other in the same bed...

Plot 36 Hi and welcome, I took over a plot about 5 years ago. Mine was a little different as it had not been tended to for about 3 years and so was rampant with 6 ft high Jerusalem Artichokes and teasels which gave some it sort of focal point among the nettles poppies, docks couch grass and mares ta...

Went to the lottie this morning, having missed the sun yesterday, and transplanted a few cauliflower and summer cabbage plants into my brassica beds. I have 5lt juice bottles cut out as cloches and placed one over each plant and secured with a thin cane. I know its a tad early but I have a family we...