[quote]I think this coming year we should all have a crack at growing things from the supermarket shelves that we actually like. [/quote] My favourite tomatoes from the supermarket have been Piccolo and Red Choice. I thought it wasn't worth saving seed as they were bound to be F1 varieties. But afte...

I am slowly working my way along the plot - digging and removing as much of the couch grass and bindweed roots as I can find. Next I want to cover with a weed suppressing membrane. Trouble is the really good stuff which is woven and lets moisture in - is expensive. My (half) plot is 6m x15m - now I ...

a while back they featured a specialist Hosta grower on Gardener's World. I don't like hostas - but these ones looked great - no slug damage. They had a special slug repellent that seemed to work very well. here is the recipe... 2 Bulbs (not cloves) of garlic crushed Add to 2 pints water Boil for 3-...

If you need some graph paper to do some rough drafts of you plot layout - the very best place to go is... m there is every conceivable type of graph paper from dots to squares, hexagons to circles. all in a range of different scales. you'll definitely find something to use for the plot and can save ...

The previous owner of my (half) allotment rotovated it every year and only grew potatoes So when I took over there was couch grass and bindweed everywhere. With half the allotment - I used glyphosate as it is supposed to go down into the roots and kill off the whole plant. I realise it may need a se...

How about.... Egyptian walking onions?

According to Mark Diacono you can get 4 harvest a year from one plant. Novelty value alone makes this an interesting plant to try

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/gardening/pl ... lways.html

http://www.epinions.com/review/Onion_Bu ... 7570619012

late autumn and winter are usually seen as the best time to plant apple trees - so waiting for the apple tasting days in Oct - is probably a good thing.

http://apps.rhs.org.uk/advicesearch/pro ... px?PID=237

Christina

"What are the best trees to use (both fruit type and variety)?" If you're happy to wait - you'll find there are apple tastings all over the country in October. You can go along and taste a wide variety of apples and then choose ones you know you'll enjoy growing. Plus there are usually exp...

Blue Phacelia with the golden orange of marigold sounds lovely Monika. I can imagine them now in a short vase tied as a posy. Plus, both are so easy to grow and will easily self seed - so that's pretty and inexpensive. Another combination to add to the list - was one I'd seen in a raised bed at the ...

These are all great suggestions. I'd forgotten about Sweet Williams - they used to be my grandmother's favourite. When I was a kid we'd often take her a bunch. I'll definitely grow those - so thanks Sally for the recommendation and bringing back happy memories. I've never grow Dahlias before so that...

It is always nice to be given flowers. But the cost can be expensive and some are flown hundreds of miles. So, I though it would be nice to grow a few flowers on the allotment - suitable for cutting for the house. on my list are Sweat peas ammi majus Bishop's flower Cleome cosmos carnations verbena ...

Catherine I have a vixen who regularly visits my garden. Like John's fox - she likes to look through our glass door to check if we have seen her. Whenever we open the door to feed her - she jumps up onto the shed roof and only comes back down once we are back inside. That is how it should be - she i...

Many thanks for all your suggestions. I have to admit I have never used weedkiller, insecticide or any type of ****cide in my garden....and it is a haven for ladybirds, bees, worms, beetles and our local fox. I don't even put out beer traps for the slugs - Natures Babe you would love it Any use of w...

After a false start - I was offered a plot before Christmas but decided to wait things out a bit longer...I now have a half plot after three years on the waiting list. (I am in west London) It is about 6m wide and 15m long (about 18ft x 45ft in old money). It's wonderfully close to the water supply....

last year I dropped some not too subtle hints that I would like a good knife that I could use for taking cuttings. My other half dutifully took the bait...and luckily Which? magazine even did a report on the best one to buy. Sadly the Which? best buy was discontinued just as he put in the order. Thr...