blueberry77

Potatoes

I put in Vivaldi and Lady Christl, dug up seven tops and got enough for about 3 dinners. Dreadful. Have some sarpo mira in a barrel which will leave for a few more weeks and hope to get a few more from that.

Herbs dying

I've lost a couple of rosemary plants, can't work out why exactly. Must have just been over stressed and not coped.

Harlequin Ladybirds

The advice I read was NOT to kill as there is too much risk of people not recognising some of the more obscure natives and thinking they are the "bad guys" (eg 14 spot, kidney spot, 10 spot and so on)

Bees

They like sage and oregano (marjoram), most herb flowers.

The RHS has a list, arranged by season which is something to bear in mind - keep the food sources available throughout the year.

www.rhs.org.uk/Gardening/Sustainable-gardening/Plants-for-pollinators

Have you seen one?????

We've had reasonable numbers (in Yorkshire). They made a good job of the greenfly but are turning their noses up at the blackflies for some reason ?

Keeping Cats off of Garden - Tried and Tested Ideas only please

Mulch with big stone chippings (big ones with sharp edges, not little gravelly stuff). They won't dig through it and eventually just don't come back at all.

Or, cocoa shell (but not good for dogs).

Prickle strips along the tops of fences, and occasional raljex or jeyes around the boundary is repellent to them too.

I've used all these and they work very well

Strawberry Plants - When Do You Cut Them Back?

My strawbs, about 18 months old now have finished but made few fruits and LOTS of leaves. Is this the weather or soil too rich or incorrect pruning ?

Is there anything that can go in now for an autumn crop ?

Thanks all. I have a bit of space where the early potatoes were lifted. Might try for Pak Choi and see if any local suppliers have any decent sized courgette seedlings.

Is there anything that can go in now for an autumn crop ?

Given the poor weather is supposed be on its way out, is it too late to stick a few things in now and hope for some results ?

I was hoping to plant out some courgettes but the seedlings have succumbed and am wondering if it's worth trying to procure some from elsewhere or not ?

What Am I

Hoverfly, no question. Shape of eyes and one set of wings. Still a useful pollinator and gardener's friend.

Anyone oop North started planting yet ?

Overwintered failures

Broad beans again

Watterlogged soil, everything rotting

Holes in soil

Have any of you tried straw as a winter mulch ?

Ideas for some instant Autumn colour please

Is there anything that can go in now for an autumn crop ?

Does everyone know about the rhs plant finder ?