Gardening.

[Gadget]

So can anyone recommend good compost for growing veg & flowers....we've been using John Inness peat free, Sainsbury's own type Pete free & Wickes (random broken bags) of peat free over the last few years , but have had very little results, with more things failing than growing. The compost doesn't seem as soil-ey as it used to, seems all dried up wood bark & coir stuff?


Is there anything anyone recommends?

We've been using New Horizon it's peat free and you can get it 3 bags £20 from Wickes. We've had fantastic results, I'm sure I showed you the tomato crop we had and the potatoes.

 

[Gramaisc]

I cleared out this bed and stuck in four of the Escallonias that I struck last year, taken from a hedge across the road, they should get going now - and I put back a few plausible things salvaged from the clearance. The slab covers the access to the inflow for the soakaway, so it might be useful to maintain that function, although it hasn't been needed in twenty five years.

I found this, which I've let grow on, to see what it is - any ideas?

Edit - It looks like it might be hoary alyssum, berteroa incana.

I also found the lawn darts, a weapon so horrifically effective and deadly that it is banned in the United States and Canada.

Lawn darts - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[kilmaccumsey]

Last lot of compost I brought is rubbish. It doesn't hold the water. Any decent recommendations for anything better

 

[kilmaccumsey]

Also I'm growing Broccoli for the first time... Any tips

 

[Lucy]

Net them to stop (as much as you can) the cabbage whites

 

[littleme]

Last lot of compost I brought is rubbish. It doesn't hold the water. Any decent recommendations for anything better

I asked this somewhere, as I've had no luck with anything this year

@Gadget says they have great success using 'New Horizon' compost...it's available from Wickes or Tesco I believe, but I've not tried it yet.

 

[Noah]

Think No-Mow May is a good idea but then come haycutting June & July

 

[proactive]

Think No-Mow May is a good idea but then come haycutting June & July

It was No-Mow May No Way in my garden, I'm afraid.

 

[Gramaisc]

I've been given a courgette plant and a cucumber one, too.

Not really using the cold frame this year, I decided that they can go in there. The roots will be in a bit of shade, easily watered and adjacent to the soil in the outside world, but the foliage will be largely, 'under glass', but with access for friendly bees, etc. Robins and sparrows have been spotted popping in there for invertebrate control, too.

They're also adjacent to the 'new' overflow barrel, so watering can happen efficiently.

We'll see if they like it in there...

 

[Lucy]

Something ate my cucumber plants very quickly...

 

[littleme]

Something ate my cucumber plants very quickly...

And my courgettes plants.....overnight!

 

[Gramaisc]

Something ate my cucumber plants very quickly...

And my courgettes plants.....overnight!

I 'have a cat' and thrushes, plus subsidiary security operatives - and the plants are in a compound.

I will also maintain a surveillance regime myself.

 

[Gramaisc]

I've just cut the grass. I thought I'd better assess the situation after all the rain at last, and expected to decide to leave it for a day or two yet, but it really did need a cut - I got more off than I have at any other time this year. It may even need a tidying-up cut again in few days.

Subsequently adding in the record of this event, I note that it's actually thirteen days since I cut it, the extremely dry and extremely wet periods have rather disrupted my cycles...

I also noticed that the old faithful gate rose has got going.

It's a very reliable, easy-care thing and I have a load of cuttings from it on the go for the long-term 'rose hedge' project. I'll do a load more this winter.

 

[Glam]

I 'have a cat' and thrushes, plus subsidiary security operatives - and the plants are in a compound.

I will also maintain a surveillance regime myself.

Ahem! You don't ''have a Cat.'' Cats have Staff, not owners.

 

[Gramaisc]

Ahem! You don't ''have a Cat.'' Cats have Staff, not owners.

I meant in the same way as hotels have guests...

 

[Noah]

Anyone know any good apps or websites for identifying insects? Had some of these hanging around, about 4mm long and they seem to like green (garden waste) bins as a habitat. (a brighter blue than they appear in the photo.

 

[Gramaisc]

Anyone know any good apps or websites for identifying insects? Had some of these hanging around, about 4mm long and they seem to like green (garden waste) bins as a habitat. (a brighter blue than they appear in the photo.

View attachment 14165

It does look like an alder leaf beetle. but they would be a little bigger - 7mm.

 

[Gramaisc]

One of my tasks over the winter was intended to be the emptying and distributing of the contents of the Heap.

I think that I may have to apply to a higher authority to obtain development authority first...

 

[littleme]

One of my tasks over the winter was intended to be the emptying and distributing of the contents of the Heap.

I think that I may have to apply to a higher authority to obtain development authority first...

View attachment 14855

Make sure you get the relevent permissions first....

 

[Gramaisc]

Make sure you get the relevent permissions first....

I know my place.