Tony, it's a hard job to clear red spider once you've got it - they overwinter in every nook and cranny so it's a tough call to expect to be able to eradicate them. With biological controls you can kind of 'predict and introduce' if you know that the mites are bound to make a comeback. You need a ke...

peter, judging by the photo I'd suggest that there's a touch of nutrient deficiency/chlorosis showing between the leaf veins (the pale areas), plus possibly some red spider mite - the pale flecks on the leaf surface. To be sure of the latter you'd need to look on the leaf underside for any sign of t...

lucysmum, do be aware that there are natural and very effective biological controls for red spider mite. I've included a link below to Ladybird Plant Care, which gives some useful information. There are others, just search 'red spider biological control'. Using natural controls lessens any risk of h...

There's something heartwarming hearing about encounters with other species where we show another species compassion and even empathy. Pigeons have feelings, too. Whether the injured pigeon had any realistic chance of survival isn't the point, the fact that someone picked it up, cared and wanted to h...

Ken, please be in no doubt that this is indeed oedema on your daughter's tomatoes. I've seen it for myself on and off during many years of gardening. The lumps matching the spots is unmistakeable. But I took the liberty of sending your photo to the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Members' Advisory...

Ken, it's good news - this isn't a pest or a disease, but a physiological disorder called oedema. It happens in cool weather when humidity is high and the soil/compost is moist. The leaves can't lose water (by transpiration) fast enough, so the cells burst and rupture, which leads to the 'blisters' ...

I know I have commented that New Horizons is not what it used to be, and that it is variable bag to bag, but - I really don't believe it is so bad as some of you suggest. I have used it successfully for a good few years when the homemade mixes run out. Now, maybe I have lower standards because I ha...

Anyone following the link above to the Global Warming Policy Foundation site might want to have these couple of credibility checks on standby:

Lord Lawson's Global Warming Policy Foundation is spreading errors
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2 ... ing-errors

Global Warming Policy Foundation donor funding levels revealed
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2 ... NTCMP=SRCH

BBC Countryfile (29.4.12) carried a well-informed report on the value of peatlands as carbon stores, the ongoing problems of mining peat for garden use, and a look at how peat-free composts are being manufactured from UK garden and other waste streams. For anyone who missed it, the programme is avai...

A reminder that there are just two weeks to go until this free gardening conference taking place at Cawood, near Selby in North Yorkshire.

The peat-free compost trials, including some of the problems associated with hormone weedkiller residues, should be well worth seeing.

Full details above.

Future Growing Composts for Gardeners Stockbridge Technology Centre Conference, February 16th 2012 AGENDA Chairman David Allison - National Vegetable Society 9.15 Registration and coffee 9.45 Setting the scene - Christine Walkden, Plantswoman and Broadcaster 10.30 My trials results with range of av...

Allan, JW already answered that, T&M, unless you're after the Sainsbury Institute trial ones! Sorry, Peter, I meant retail as in going to a shop/supermarket and buying a bag to cook. John Walker didn't answer that one. I'm sorry, but funnily enough I just don't happen to have a list of which sh...

Where can the Sarpo varieties be bought for a commercial venture? I'm not quite sure what is actually going on here, but if you've already been in touch with Dr David Shaw from the Sarvari Research Trust, then common sense might suggest that he would be the best person to contact with regard to the...

The Garden Organic website now carries extensive coverage (of day 1 so far) of the conference, which is available as transcripts, speaker powerpoint presentations and audio files.

http://www.gardenorganic.org.uk/about_u ... report.php

Do the Welsh research establishment sell to the public? Although there is plenty of interesting information on their website about their non-GM potato varieties, the Sarvari Research Trust do not sell direct to gardeners, but the Sarpo varieties are available (by mail order and via some garden cent...