Island gardener

patio Potato bag

Rosa carriola wrote (see)

A hint I read somewhere and it seems to have worked is put a J cloth in the bottom to cover the holes before compost, prevents some unwelcome visitors.

I put J cloths in the bottom of my troughs last year before planting up and when I emptied them out a few months later the J cloths had completely disappeared.  I suppose they do the job for a little while but not for long.  June

Foxglove illumination pink

Verdun wrote (see)

There was a thread earlier about these perennial foxgloves but I think these are a different type, viz., bushier, summer-long flowering and truly perennial. And the colour is good too. Mine were bought in the autumn but are growing like mad...potted twice already.......so I think they will make good show in the summer

Yes, you are correct.  They are a new cross.  I have just the other day ordered some from the Gardeners' World Magazine.  There was a special offer, which finishes at the end of this month (Jan).  Wish I had ordered them a bit earlier though.  I suppose the only thing to be careful of, is not to pull them out when they finish, if they are anywhere near ordinary foxgloves.  Maybe need to put a label on them.  June

Snow on the Greenhouse

A couple of years ago when we had a lot of snow I discovered a very pleasing side effect.  My polytunnel really did need a clean, it was quite green.  The snow was quite thick and I used a broom to brush it off and guess what all the green algae came off with the snow.  All around on the ground was green snow.  Haven't had any snow settle this year in our part of the Isle of Man, so polytunnel is still green.  Looks like an extra job later on.  June

Winter feeding of cuttings

Verdun wrote (see)

I pot as jo4eyes describes and for same reasons but start end January. Already potted on some as growth has been vigorous and they were taken last September. However, wait a few weeks yet before you pot on newly establishing cuttings and don't feed ...you are likely to lose them if you do.

Hi,  Yes, end of January is a good time.  I repotted some hydrangea cuttings the other day, among other things.  I am so glad I did them because when I tipped them out of the old pots there were lots of vine weevils among the roots.  If I had waited until later they might have done more damage.  There were quite a few roots still there so I am hoping they will be ok.  I sprinkled some of the Root Grow round the roots to help them on their way again.  It would probably be a good idea to repot any that have been outside since the summer.  June

What's the weather like in your area?

Hi, not posted on here before.  Have just been reading about all your weather!!  I am on the Isle of Man, North of the Island and we have been very lucky so far.  Lots of snow in the South of the Island but none settled here yet.  Keep getting snow flurrys but it is not settling.  Spent yesterday and today in the greenhouse repotting cuttings etc.  Emptied out some pots of Hydrangea cuttings I took last year and all but one of them had loads of vine weevil in them.  Luckily there are still some (short) roots left so I have repotted them and keeping fingers crossed.  Added some of that Rootgrow so should be ok.   I was so lucky last week.  We had a couple of dry days and nights so on Wednesday I cut the grass and did the edging.  It looks so good and really makes me feel good everytime I look out there.  I have a cordless lawnmower so it is nice and light which made a difference I think.  Hope everyone's snow soon goes away.  Made me shiver reading all your posts.  June

White Blister on Brassicas

Hi,  I have just discovered that my brassicas have white blister.  They have been getting this for the last 3 years but I only found out what it was yesterday.  I always thought it was some kind of insect making a white coating over itself, or something like that!  I have been putting the old leaves in the compost bin, didn't realise it was a fungus and am now worried that I will spread it around when I use the compost.  I read that white blister mainly only affects brassicas so will it be alright to spread the compost around on the flower garden.  I don't grow wallflowers, which are in the brassica family.  I really don't want to throw all my hard won garden compost away.  

Welcome to the fruit & veg forum

I am having trouble with my raspberries.  Four years ago I planted summer rasp Glen Ample and Autumn Joan J.  The Glen Ample is very, very bitter.  Not just sharp, it is bitter.  It has been like this from the very first time it fruited.  I have grown it before in my old garden and it was really sweet.  It is in Neutral soil and gets the sun from about midday onwards.  I have improved the soil with well rotted horse manure and leaf mould.  Joan J is planted about 2ft away and is lovely and sweet and it doesn't get as much sun as Glen Ample.  Any ideas as to why this is, as it is very frustrating when I can't nibble on them while picking.

White Blister on Brassicas