Dear OH, I guess they both just missed being called George then! Sam has decided he wouldn't want to be called George - he doesn't have a reason though - obviously just likes his name. It is good to be back at such a busy time of year. Last year we went away now, which meant everything was either st...

We had a pair of cuckoos chatting across our fields at the weekend!

Evening all, we came back from holiday on Saturday to lovely warm weather and such amazing growth in the garden! When we left at the beginning of April the leaves were still buds on most trees... Along with celebrating my youngest's 10th birthday on Easter Day with a houseful, I have managed to sow ...

Very best of luck for tomorrow and fingers crossed...

The blossom on our plum tree seems to have arrived from nowhere in the space of about 5 days! It does lift the heart to see it though. A few years ago - 3 or 4 I think, our neighbours apple tree was covered in so much blossom it was like a bridal bouquet. I liked to go out in the evenings just to lo...

Dear OH, you are so naughty giving poor Lady Lettuce all those editing jobs! I use the Growing Success and found it absolutely wonderful last year as that was my first real attempt growing and therefore trying to control the pests. I shall be making excellent use of it again this year. And for the r...

Hi Plumpudding,

Can you tell me how you rooted your cuttings from your baytree please? I have lots of shoots from the base which I always cut off because I keep the tree as a standard but I would really like to have a go at growing a more perfect shape in a tub.

Things are growing well at the moment - Broad beans in root trainers will go into large tubs at the weekend, carrots in a tub in the greenhouse are just through, onions are up and some planted out, parsnips and carrots sown into the raised bed, and the first International Kidneys are coming through ...

John Walker, thank you for your post. I have followed all the threads but I must confess that my mind was not in a good place back at the turn of the year and although I was reading I am not sure I was digesting! Anyway, your explanation of the methane process makes sense for me and answers my quest...

Hi Geoff,

No, the wick is burnt right down which suggests it is not long enough to start with - but then the flame will be higher than seems to be indicated. I don't know - it seems rather complicated for something that should be quite easy. I will keep trying.

Thank you boys, I see now with the wick - but it is not the case as the wick is brand new and dangling all the way to the bottom and then some. I did wonder about the ventilation - but for my second trial it was outside in a sheltered corner, so I don't think it that either. I will keep trying to ge...

Thanks JB,

I will try leaving the wick a little longer and see how that goes. As long as it doesn't smoke I suppose it is OK.

I don't think that shows that social networking is an overwhelming success for the purpose, but my opinion is that the subject matter does not appeal to the twitterati, the people who are perhaps most likely to have an opinion on the subject are not on twitter. I am sure that with the right subject ...

BTW do you know what COIR stands for?

No, please enlighten me?

I lit my Parasene Superwarm 4 last night just to give it a test - first time out! I set the flame & wick height according to the (rather basic) picture in the (equally basic) instructions. However, the flame had gone out this morning. So I set it again to see how long it lasts, and with the flam...