Search found 635 matches

by JohnN
Mon Mar 24, 2008 10:54 am
Forum: Seasonal tips
Topic: germinating parsnips inside
Replies: 27
Views: 16816

Germinating parsnips

I've been trying this paper lark but may be doing it wrong. I laid my paper inside the lid of a margerine tub as I found just laying it on a bit of foil on a windowsill it dried out too quickly (Like an hour or two!) Should the paper-with-seeds virtually float in water, or should one try to remember...
by JohnN
Mon Mar 17, 2008 3:49 pm
Forum: General chatter
Topic: World Naked Gardening Day 2008
Replies: 64
Views: 15177

World naked gardening day

My mate in Paris used to go jogging naked in the early hours of the morning, until one a.m. he decided to do a few push-ups on the pavement outside his door. A patrolling gendarme stopped beside him and said "But Mesieur, madame has gone!"
John N
by JohnN
Mon Mar 17, 2008 3:15 pm
Forum: Weeds, Pests and Diseases
Topic: Slug traps
Replies: 14
Views: 15055

Slug traps

Hi all, Have just bought a couple of plastic slug traps in Lidl's spasmodic garden sale (1.79 for two!). They have to be filled with beer (a little roof keeps the rain out) but should they be filled to the lip or a bit down on that? My local publican has said he'll give me some "slops" fro...
by JohnN
Mon Feb 25, 2008 4:06 pm
Forum: Harvesting Q&A
Topic: Freezing runners
Replies: 17
Views: 10064

Runner beans

Sorry for delay in replying to Geoff's question on cutting up my runners. I use a brilliant (I think!) little device made in Australia, called a "Krisk". It has a blade for topping and tailing the beans and then removes both "side-strings" and slices in one pull through.
John N.
by JohnN
Sat Feb 16, 2008 10:53 am
Forum: Seasonal tips
Topic: seed potatoes
Replies: 16
Views: 7580

Problem with language

Hi, Marge Having noted your suffix, which I think is Spanish for Queen of the Kitchen (or cooks?). I must relate what happened when lunching in Spain with friends, who included two Spanish ladies, in trad black, who didn't speak English. I tried to show off by asking one of them in Spanish 'Are you ...
by JohnN
Sat Feb 09, 2008 5:02 pm
Forum: General chatter
Topic: Looks good this weekend!!
Replies: 47
Views: 11748

Great weather here in Surrey, I've dug most of the veg patch and pellet manured. Planted s.onions and a few Early Nantes carrots and plan to give the lawns a first cut tomorrow. Pulled last of leeks this a.m. and cooked a couple of leek, courgette (from last year)and ham bakes for the freezer. John N
by JohnN
Sat Feb 02, 2008 11:20 am
Forum: General chatter
Topic: Repair to porcelain glazing
Replies: 8
Views: 2979

Thank you one and all, I have plenty to consider there! And thank you especially to Compo for his comment on my delicacy. My dad was a farmer and it took my mum a long time to get him to call it manure.
John N
by JohnN
Fri Feb 01, 2008 6:35 pm
Forum: General chatter
Topic: Repair to porcelain glazing
Replies: 8
Views: 2979

The bowl scratches are not just 'marks', which would polish off, but they are not so deep as to go right through the glaze. I could try T-Cut, but I don't want to do further damage. Main problem with the 'patch' is that it will collect stains and faeces residue and is much harder to clean than smoot...
by JohnN
Fri Feb 01, 2008 2:34 pm
Forum: General chatter
Topic: Repair to porcelain glazing
Replies: 8
Views: 2979

Repair to porcelain glazing

Using a metal hook to unblock a wc I've made a patch of small scratches on an area of the glazing in the porcelain/ceramic bowl, just above the water level. Can anyone recommend a "treatment/coating" to repair this damage?
Thanks, John N
by JohnN
Mon Jan 21, 2008 9:51 am
Forum: Harvesting Q&A
Topic: Freezing runners
Replies: 17
Views: 10064

Oops! Think I've solved runner bean problem, sorry for stupid question. Chef at local pub tells me I'm not thoroughly drying sliced beans before I freeze them and they break up because there's too much water in the "flesh". He says they should be dried gently in a warm fan oven.
by JohnN
Sun Jan 20, 2008 5:23 pm
Forum: Harvesting Q&A
Topic: Freezing runners
Replies: 17
Views: 10064

Freezing runners

Happy New Year, all!
I've frozen a lot of runner beans this winter - slicing, blanching and freezing on a flat tray before bagging. But they invariably break up into little pieces (1-2") when my wife goes to take them out the bag. Any tips to reduce this happening, please?
John N
by JohnN
Sun Dec 16, 2007 11:50 am
Forum: Best practices
Topic: Bonfire ash
Replies: 4
Views: 2498

Bonfire ash

I've just had tthe mother of all bonfires - nine month's pile of clippings and branches from eucalyptus, elm, brambles and various other woody scrubs. Should the ash be spread on the veg patch? If so, what will benefit most from it?
Thanks, John N
by JohnN
Sat Dec 08, 2007 11:28 am
Forum: Harvesting Q&A
Topic: Parsnips
Replies: 4
Views: 3032

Parsnips

For several years my parsnips have grown strongly but gone into weird shapes - several thin roots and sometimes looking like a Dr Who fan's bad dream.I was told this might be due to lumps of unrotted manure buried in the ground, so this year I used only pelleted chicken manure and dug it well in ear...
by JohnN
Tue Dec 04, 2007 7:16 pm
Forum: Best practices
Topic: Farmyard manure v compost
Replies: 10
Views: 5154

Horse manure

Hi Granny
Though I have access to rotted horse manure I try not to use it as I find it is invariably full of weed seeds, which have not rotted down. It may be good stuff for growing, but you will spend most of the year pulling weeds!
John N
by JohnN
Tue Dec 04, 2007 4:54 pm
Forum: Birds, Animals and Livestock
Topic: Grass for chickens?
Replies: 34
Views: 14535

Grass for chickens

My dad was a poultry farmer and had over a thousand of the loveliest free range birds you would ever see.(Mostly Light Susses and Rhode Island Reds). He placed each chicken house in the centre of the run, which were the same width as the houses, with 'pop holes' front and back. Thus he could let the...