artjak

feeding houseplants

I had to look after a large amount of superb house plants once for a landscape gardener. She insisted (but nicely!) that the plants had to be fed 'baby bio' in exact amounts every week. I have never seen, except in good nurserys, plants in such amazing condition. Another plant expert suggested that house plants 'like' to be well groomed, i.e. remove all dead or dying material on a regular basis.

Tasty and unusual fruit

You have said that you are short of space, but would you be able to 'pleach' or 'espalier' some small trees against a wall or fence? I'm thinking fabulous apricots and lucious greengages. I know they are not considered madly exotic, but how many people do you know that are actually growing them?

50mm rain water diverter

IMDF, you might try greenhouse suppliers.

Overgrown rose bush

Disco, I agree!

The Year of the Slug

chilli lover OMG! I really loathe slugs; the thought of them being 5" long!!!

Re-design

As my lawn is tiny and plugging the very twisted curly lead into an extension is a pain in the neck, I would love a very cheap, tiny, cordless lawn mower.

Overgrown rose bush

There are a few things to consider here. Are the branches that flowered growing from below the graft (a thickening of the main stem sometimes just above or below soil level). If it comes from below the graft and it is an oldish plant then it could have reverted to the root stock, probably rosa canina or dog rose (?). These days they are grafted onto apple root stock so there is no danger of these 'suckers' which are very vigorous and take energy away from the rest of the plant. The other thing to consider is as mentioned above, the danger of rose repeat disease and according to a T.V. programme about a year or so ago, you can avoid having to replace/sterilise earth by planting the new rose in a cardboard box. By the time the roots grow through it the plant is strong enough to withstand whatever causes this disease.

Favourite allotment food recipes

Tomorrow I am cooking slow roast stuffed boned lamb shoulder, using loads of my home grown garlic. I may use my pickled garlic to give it a 'lift', with chopped capers. It is marinating over night in white wine with homemade preserved lemons.

My cold-unit storage/ cold room in basement

I have just put some lamb to marinate in my unheated studio overnight, I feel the 'fridge would be too cold and the house would be too hot; a goldilocks situation

Thompsons

Sotongeoff, I think we may have frightened him away

Slugarama

Morning Glory

Make do and mend

Chelsea 'Bud' Show?

Compost course

Aaargh! the design of seed packets!

2 plants for large pot

emails about threads

Flowers we don't like?

Cheap seeds

Sick gardenia

What we are doing this week

The Year of the Slug

All I want for Christmas is...

I simply don't believe it