figrat

New Composter.

Oh I love it! I've got 3 daleks, one filling, one breaking down and one ready to go. Getting near the end of the rotted one, the contents of which I riddle and the reject stuff I put back in the one that's rotting down. I'm not that picky about ratios, but I do stir/turn it frequently, and sling in a bit of pelleted chicken poo and/ or water if it's looking a bit dry.

Once you've got a system going, you'll wonder how you managed without it.

Identifying beneficial insect larvae

Swiss Sue's popped in another very informative post before mine, but here's what I was typing before I saw that.

Well, I see your point, but if, for example, I see a clutch of eggs on my brassicas, I'm pretty sure they're going to hatch into a clutch of hungry cabbage white caterpillars which are going to decimate my crop.

Maybe it might be worth another approach to your search criteria, based on what you have growing and what the common pests might be.

Potato plants

Daintiness wrote (see)

Old potting compost will not add any food to the potatoes just stop you having to dig more from around the plants and possibly exposing the new potatoes forming. The odd  handful of chicken manure won't do any harm as it is a slow release feed which the plants can access if needed as they grow through the new layers of soil.Good watering at this stage is important in order to help swell the new potatoes.

The chicken poo will also help prepare the ground for the follow on crops.

Bindweed :(

When I moved here, the bindweed was so rampant it was covering a wall 20' long and 15' high, as well as scrambling though all the borders. I dug out miles and miles of roots, but am lucky that my soil is very light and free draining - in anything heavier, it would have been impossible. Now I get the occasional wispy bit poking up, which I immediately nip off thinking that chlorophyll deprivation will nobble it. 

I think I tried glyphosate a couple of times, but found that elbow grease was more effective in my situation. Probably a combination of both would be best for you. It can be done, but takes time, persistence, vigilance and determination. Good luck!

Buttercups

Hmm. I'm sure someone thought Japanese knotweed and Himalayan balsam were a good idea too. 

Winter Flowers

Probably not quite what you had in mind, but it might be worth checking out ornamental mustards...some have very decorative red leaves, and survive all but the harshest conditions...and you can eat them. Red Russian kale, in fact most of the kales, are quite attractive too, and edible.

Statue identification

Can you post some of the legible parts?

Potato plants

I've been using old potting compost to earth mine up -checking for nasties first. Have also added the odd handful of dried chicken poo to the mix. It's my first year growing them too, but they look happy enough.

Garlic

Mine have got rust, but don't look too upset by it. Bottom leaves are just turning, so I'll leave it a bit longer before I excavate.

can carrots be transplanted

They can be sown in lengths of guttering, which can then be slid into a matching hollow in the soil, then proceed as above.

Bay tree root eradication

Plan bee

Overwintered runner bans

Red rhubarb leaves

What can I use as green manure?