Can anyone clarify once and for all whether it is safe to use my own "produce" as a compost activator? I have been told, and also read, that being a female, my personal contribution will do more harm than good owing to "hormones". I have asked this question on other fora (ums/i),...

Thanks for the advice - I think I'll give it a miss this year, then, and just concentrate on the earlies and second earlies next year.
Regards, Lyn

I think I got my Carlingfords last year from Thompson & Morgan. I didn't realise that Charlotte is a good variety for second cropping - I might have another bash this year, this time with Charlotte, as I have some left from the crop I harvested back in June. Will I need to chit them first?
Lyn

Carlingford seems to be the variety recommended in most catalogues. I tried growing a few Carlingford last year in pots ready for Christmas, but I only got a mediocre crop from them. I was quite disappointed, considering the success I had earlier in the year with Orla and Lady Christl. Looking back,...

My aubergines are succumbing in exactly the same way - spreading brown-yellow patches on the leaves, causing them to shrivel and die off, but the upper leaves seem to be perfectly OK. Lots of flower buds which are very reluctant to open. Only two small aubergines so far, between five plants. Mine ar...

Congratulations and very best wishes - hope you "live happily ever after!"
Lyn

Anyone going as Feathers McGraw?

Brenjon - absolutely.

Glad it was successful for you. I made some more, too, this year - it has become an annual thing now!
Regards, Lyn

Thanks for that, Mark. I tried it this evening with garlic and rocket on a bed of rice - delicious!
Lyn

Here is a link to information on colchicums/autumn crocus:
http://www.plantingflowerbulbs.com/colchicum.htm

Regards, Lyn

Thanks for the information everyone. I'll leave them to "sprawl", and try a couple outside to see how they do.
Regards, Lyn

I have been given a few "Latah" tomato plants, but no-one seems to know whether they are a bush variety or whether they need to be pinched out to grow as a vine, also whether they are outdoor or under-cover varieties. Has anyone grown these, and how do I treat them?
Regards, Lyn

Hi Vivie - are Idli the tiny yellow cherry toms? If so, they are the ones I grew last year from a free packet of seeds I got from somewhere or other. I didn't pinch out any side shoots, (because I didn't realise I should have done) and got huge bushy plants which were absolutely laden with little to...

Hi - I just make a temporary little "heater" in my cold greenhouse on nights where low temporatures are forecast by putting a stumpy candle or nightlight inside a terracotta plantpot, and inverting a second pot on top as a lid. Might not be ideal, but it certainly raises the temperature a ...