Kitchen Garden Forum

JB,Without bringing my personal circumstances into it I am merely pointing out that the hoe isn't the universal answer to all weeds as many 'experts' make it out to be. If the ground is really wet the hoe is of no use. What I do or don't do is my personal business and is not part of the discussion.
Allan

Hey come on guys, we're supposed to be making someone new feel welcome here. At this rate poor Elderflower won't dare ask another question!

What a lot of information & opinion. I can see that this will be most informative.
My point was that just reading a book is often less than useful if it doesn`t also tell you WHY you need to do something and what effect it is meant to have. For example, when I read the instruction, "keep the hoe going" I didn`t even realise initially that hoeing was meant to eliminate annual weeds. I thought it was somehow to do with breaking up the surface of the soil. Dim old me eh?

Not dim at all, Elderflower. It's the author's responsibility to make themselves clear.
Many gardening books are rehashes of what the author has read in other gardening books, and if they aren't that, they're tradition that's been slavishly followed without knowing the reason why such a thing is suggested. Much better to ask around, especially seasoned growers in your particular area.
Welcome from me too.

Hi Elderflower,
By using the Hoe regularly you not only eventually eradicate the Annual Weeds but you prevent the Perennials from establishing. It is well known that using farm yard manure (FYM) will generally bring a whole ruck of Nettles and Docks but if a campaign of hoeing is pursued you do not allow these to get a foothold. When you hoe you will only have to hand weed very close to your plants and hoeing also aerates the soil and believe it or not roots require Oxygen as part of the welbeing and health of your plants.

Thanks folks! I will now commence to hoe with gay abandon!
Love, E

EF I haven't got a hoe! What the devil will I do?

Dear Jopsy, you had better jolly well go out and buy one with all possible haste, as it would be very handy to lean on when your discussing knitting patterns with the other old ladies over the garden fence.
And whats this you can't cook.

Kind regards Old Herbaceous.

Theres no fool like an old fool.

oh dh just told me we have a hoe-lol
oh you know i just love knitting (not)
no, really i cannot cook, i made lasagna for 6 tonight and it was actually edible although my dad said he was scared to eat it 1st!

When I see three hoes in a row I know it's christmas.
Pete

peat i thought you were talking about naughty girls from america.....not ho!ho!ho!

Hi Grock
I have friends in the Sally army and they wont save me any fallen women.
Pete

ask them for the one's who can stand up then!

Oh dear. Desperation strikes.