Search found 722 matches

by sally wright
Thu Jul 31, 2008 10:07 pm
Forum: Weeds, Pests and Diseases
Topic: Rust on Broad Beans same as Leek rust?
Replies: 2
Views: 2258

Dear Judy, the fungus on your BB's is called chocolate spot. If you look carefully you will notice that is is a darker beast almost russet compared to leek rust which is a vivid shade of orange. I don't think they can infect each other (any one with a collins P&d handy can look it up to check). ...
by sally wright
Wed Jul 09, 2008 9:48 pm
Forum: General chatter
Topic: Monty Don is not alone!
Replies: 3
Views: 1927

Dear Alan, I work at one of the Cambridge Colleges and I already practice this, but I supose that I have a head start being one of the gardeners! I maintain the herb garden and try to encourage the chefs to use them. The kitchens have been self sufficient in rosemary and bay leaves for years now. I ...
by sally wright
Sun Jul 06, 2008 11:44 am
Forum: Best practices
Topic: Rotation & Multiple crops in one year
Replies: 11
Views: 3759

Dear Colin, in my experience the downy mildew does not affect the bulbs to the point of rotting. What it does do is limit the size of the bulbs by reducing the leaf area of the plant. It attacks the overwintering onions first but because they are further along they still give a reasonable crop. Howe...
by sally wright
Wed Jul 02, 2008 11:58 pm
Forum: General chatter
Topic: Right Book for a new veg grower
Replies: 5
Views: 2322

Dear C&D,
what about the vegatable expert by DG Hessayon. Not organic I know but still very good on the plant basics. Just tell her to ignore the cover it with pesticides and just follow the growing instructions.
It is only about £6-7. so it is a very reasonable buy.
Regards Sally Wright.
by sally wright
Wed Jul 02, 2008 11:51 pm
Forum: Best practices
Topic: Rotation & Multiple crops in one year
Replies: 11
Views: 3759

Dear Colin, liberal applications of lime are helpful in reducing the virulence of club root. I have 2 rotations on the go. In my big plots I do a four crop rotation over 3 years. Potatoes go in in March. As they are dug leeks go in after the first earlies, garlic after the 2nd earlies (in Sept) and ...
by sally wright
Wed Jul 02, 2008 11:25 pm
Forum: Seasonal tips
Topic: Humid greenhouse
Replies: 6
Views: 3714

Dear NBK,
why not some basil plants. They will love the heat and the root run.
Regards Sally Wright.
by sally wright
Fri Jun 20, 2008 10:02 pm
Forum: Harvesting Q&A
Topic: Rusty Garlic
Replies: 10
Views: 6137

Dear Goldilox, don't worry too much about rust as it is a pest of the leaves not the bulbs. It might make you cough and splutter a bit if you clean them up in a confined space. Make sure that any leeks are planted as far away from the garlic spot as possible as it IS leek rust after all. Also remove...
by sally wright
Fri Jun 13, 2008 12:04 am
Forum: General chatter
Topic: Fancy something tasty?
Replies: 4
Views: 2045

Dear Alan,
it reminds me of the Bakkers plant catalogue, especially the improbably coloured roses!
Regards Sally Wright.
by sally wright
Thu Jun 12, 2008 11:55 pm
Forum: General chatter
Topic: What are allotments for?
Replies: 7
Views: 2706

Dear Barry,
go to a building society for your account. They are MUCH easier to deal with for small scale finances like this.

On our site we have 40 plots and 100 people on the waiting list.... The people at the end of this list will BE 100 before they get a plot!
Regards Sally Wright.
by sally wright
Sat Jun 07, 2008 2:19 pm
Forum: Best practices
Topic: thick-necked onions
Replies: 8
Views: 10667

Dear OH,
you have made me blush...
Regards Sally Wright
by sally wright
Sat Jun 07, 2008 12:36 pm
Forum: Best practices
Topic: thick-necked onions
Replies: 8
Views: 10667

Dear Caz, the size of the neck is an indicator of too much water/nitrogen but not usually of an increase in bolting. The only reliable indicator of bolting is when you can see the flower appearing. This is usually a small white arrowhead in the centre of the plant. This should be snipped off just un...
by sally wright
Fri Jun 06, 2008 9:39 pm
Forum: Best practices
Topic: thick-necked onions
Replies: 8
Views: 10667

Dear Caz, thick-necked onions are usually caused by too much nitrogen based fertilizer. There is nothing you can do about if it is the case except remember not to put so much fertilizer on next year! I usually plant mine after my maincrop potatoes and do not feed at all except perhaps a scattering o...
by sally wright
Tue May 27, 2008 11:10 pm
Forum: General chatter
Topic: first strawberries of the year!
Replies: 5
Views: 1979

first strawberries of the year!

Dear All,
I picked my first straw's today! They are in open ground and have not been covered (except by netting). The variety was honeyoye. I got about 400g, now where did I put the cream....
The old boy from two plots over was GREEN with envy.
Regards Sally Wright.
by sally wright
Mon May 26, 2008 12:39 pm
Forum: Seasonal tips
Topic: Celery
Replies: 5
Views: 2745

Dear Marge, use lots of slug pellets as the critters LOVE celery just as much as we do. They are very greedy feeders and will need lots of fertilizer. If you are growing the self blanching sort I would grow them in blocks as they blanch better this way. I would also put a 12" fence of the fabri...
by sally wright
Mon May 26, 2008 12:23 pm
Forum: Growing places
Topic: right type of netting
Replies: 18
Views: 7997

Dear Pongeroon, I should have also said that the wide winter top netting should be fitted first and the smaller butterfly netting put on top. This allows for easy removal of the mall mesh for the winter and the wide mesh can stop there permenantly. A good two year rotation alternate with the brassic...