David K

Fork Handles

Hi, Becks...hope you & the little un enjoyed your holiday.

Quite right about the sun & ripening tomatoes. Ethylene gas given off by ripening fruit encourages ripening,. Over ripe bananas give-off the same gas, so it would help to put one near the green tomatoes.

Wartime Farm

Hello, Ma...so  pleased to hear your input.

As I said earlier, I was still a tot during the mid 40s, but was well aware of things around me. I do recall that heavy horses were the main source of muscle on farms (little mechanisation) in my village.

I do have happy memories of helping the lady from our local dairy deliver milk from a churn & metal jug with a long handle from a pony & trap.

Also visiting farms on threshing-day with an old uncle on his AJS motor cycle & sidecar, to collect chaff for the chickens.

Wartime Farm

Jellyjam wrote (see)

Frank, it is really interesting to read your posts alongside the programmes. I have always watched these recreation projects with the thought that they can only present a partial view  of what it was actually like to Iive through the times.I hope you will continue to post as the series progresses  

 

I do so agree with you, Jellyjam.

I'm no spring chicken myself, and do have some childhood memories of the late forties onwards. I know enough to know that Frank's accounts are accurate &  do compliment the program admirably.

Wartime Farm

A little taster of tonight's program:

"The experiment continues by re-creating the challenges faced by British farmers as the Second World War continued into 1940. Ruth Goodman discovers the impact of rationing on the country's kitchens, learns about the black market, and takes part in a canning drive with the Women's Institute. Alex Langlands and Peter Ginn try their hands at making silage, a practice designed to provide alternative food sources for livestock. They also explore the work of the Women's Land Army, and discover how a farmer helped put a stop to racial prejudice during Land Girl recruitment."

Wartime Farm

Yes, pretty humbling wasn't it, Leigh.....this is my parents generation and we do have to admire their pluck & determination.

As for me, just had to put up with the lack of a few sweeties & a few hand-me- downs in my early years.

Fork Handles

Ta-ra-a-bit, Becks....'ave a bostin time.

Autumn Sowing Sweet Peas

Tootles wrote (see)

I did the trial too and found the autumn sown sweat peas were very leggy, quite weak and quick to dry up. I'll be sowing mine in late spring as these gave me the best results. Good luck!

Tootles - with respect, legginess is a result of cultivation rather than being sown in autumn. However, as I always say about gardening, if it works for you, go for it.

Can anyone recommend a good make of greenhouse pls?

I agree with Frank, Robinsons do make an excellent greenhouse. However, their 10' 6" x 8' 8" greenhouse would still cost around £2,500, which would make an Alton cedar-wood version a preferable buy for me.....metal framed greenhouses will always be blistering hot in summer & just the opposite in winter.

Wartime Farm

I enjoyed this first episode too, although having the benefit of knowing the final outcome, it's difficult to comprehend how serious the situation really was.

Can anyone recommend a good make of greenhouse pls?

Pleasure, Tootles.

You said 'decent,' so I presume you are looking for quality. So I would suggest an Alton 8' x 10' 6" made from cedar....costing a mere £2,492. 

 They will erect it for you on a prepared site, but that would cost extra. Personally, I prefer to have a soil base until it becomes exhausted, then lay slabs.

Carol Klein's, Life in a Cottage Garden

The A to Z of TV Gardening

Happy New Year

Left handed tape measure:

Growing Sweet Peas

Wartime Farm

GW memories 1991

Wyevale...

|Just learned a new trick

Sweet Pea Queries

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Spirit of Chartwell

Hanging basket trial

Clematis 'Bijou'

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