Rewrite the nursery rhyme “Beans, beans….”
Beans, beans the musical fruit Read More »
broad beans french beans nursery rhyme runner beanDeer in Runner Bean Row
Sharing the glut of runner beans with neighbours is fun, but finding a Roe deer in the Runner Bean Row was a bit of a shock!
Click on the image to enlarge the deer in the Runner Bean Row!
runner bean vegetable gardenTree Of Happiness Award
I am delighted to receive the Tree Of Happiness Award from Sara of Farming Friends.
The rules are to list six things which make you happy, so here goes:
- planting the first seeds of spring
- seeing the first leaves of broad beans poking through the soil
- eating the first carrot - straight from the garden
- watching the strawberries turn bright red
- inspecting the vegetables in their winter store, and smelling their perfume
- taking a basket full of veg to friends
The Tree of Happiness has to be passed to six inspirational bloggers, & these are the ones who also make me happy!
http://theconsummategardener.com
greatbigvegchallenge.blogspot.com
When to Harvest Pumpkins
When to harvest pumpkins & how long to leave pumpkins (Latin name - Cucurbita pepo) growing in the garden is a problem, particularly when they will be needed for Halloween at the end of the month. The pumpkins are in danger of being caught by an early frost, or developing some rot, if left out in the garden. But can they be safely stored inside, so that they last for the important date?
Harvest Pumpkins:
- when the shell has hardened completely
- do not damage or break off the stem
- handle the pumpkin carefully to avoid bruising
Store Pumpkins, to avoid chances of post-harvest rots:
- out of the sun
- in cool, dry conditions
- on padding, which will not sweat
- if storing for a long time, wash the pumpkin in a solution made up of 1 part chlorine bleach and 9 parts water. Then dry.
Pumpkins handled gently and stored correctly will keep in good condition for Halloween.
Different slug habits
Different slugs have different habits.
The Grey Field Slug-
- the most active surface slug
- prefers green material
- 3.5 - 5cm long
- moves 4 - 5 meters per night
- active from 0.8 to 20 degrees C
Black Slug
- mostly a problem for potatoes & newly sown seeds Read More »
5 tips for combating slugs
5 tips for combating slugs after a wet summer:
- Monitor - check for slugs in the garden every day
- Cultivate - aggressive cultivation, like digging or rotovating the garden soil, kills slugs & blocks their movements
- Prepare good seedbed - a fine, well consolidated seedbed is not a good home for slugs
- Sow seeds deeper - sowing at 4cm rather than 2 or 3cm makes it harder for slugs to attack germinating vegetable plants
- Put out slug traps to catch the slugs & pick them off when seen
Click this link for more information about the Pyramid slug trap. Read More »
Green Tomatoes are not Going Red.
If green tomatoes are not going red, don’t worry about them & leave them on the vine as long as possible if they are disease free.
Be patient and they will ripen all of a sudden. Read More »
Slug Pellets - Metaldehyde - Contaminate Water
Slug pellets are pesticides, some contain metaldehyde & should be kept out of water, so it is not contaminated.
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- do not apply slug pellets if heavy rain is forecast Read More »
Greengage
The Greengage (Prunus domestica or the ‘Reine Claude’) is a cultivar of the plum.
- have a small, oval shape
- smooth-textured flesh
- very juicy
- rich flavour
- are a greeny-yellow colour
Greengages are ready for picking in late August.
Tomato : Cherrola F1 Hybrid
Tomato : Cherrola F1 Hybrid is new for 2009, and an RHS winner!
Cherrola F1 hybrid:
- extra long trusses of up to 20 fruits
- excellent flavour
- cordon
- early ripening
