Jumbo56

Welcome to the potting shed

Hi all, don't know whether this is the right page to post this...but I have recently cleaned out greenhouse ready for 2013's tomato and cucumber abundance, and have now put all the spent compost in compost bin after removing the new compost for this years greenhouse...don't ask me how I did this, the logistics were incredible...however, what I don't know is how long before I can reuse this spent compost, as it looks like compost rather than kitchen/garden scraps...my other query is that my hubby refuses to change from Tetley teabags, which I find annoyingly uncompostable, and have resorted to taking the one worm from each bag, and putting the composted tea in the compost and throwing the bag away.  Does anyone else have problems with tea bags, or is it something peculiar to my compost?  One other thing folks, I shred twigs etc., also collect leaves for leaf mould and along with healthy amount of de-teabaged compost, can I combine the three for the ultimate potting mixture or should I use the three independently of each other?  Thanks for any advice forthcoming.  Cheers folks and happy gardening.

Talkback: How to grow early strawberries

To get an abundance of fruit you need to feed strawberries with high potash...don't know whether it will work at this time of year...I usually do it in September, then just use organic strawberry feed through the summer.  Get loads usually, and have grown in old washing up bowls strung up in trees and in the greenhouse, and strawberry tubs and strangely enough the ones that grow between the slabs on the patio are generally the best...the grandchildren walk on the plants and run their tractors and cars into them, but still they persist...they are like weeds.  I have to put fleece around them which I peg down with old fashioned hair pins, because Mrs. Blackbirds insists I was growing them for her, along with cherries.  I even put a full sized effigy of a hawk dangling from a tree close by, but that didn't work to deter her either!

Growing veg with little space

Don't forget the fruits... I grow tomatoes with my strawberries in an old round washing up bowl - holes in bottom for drainage and hung up in a lilac tree.  Also grow with nasturtiums, (I can't spell that either) and have had gr8 success with marrows in a 12" pot, need to feed regularly, I have bilberries in pots, and in a thin wedge of soil about 9" deep by 9" across, up against a east facing wall I have a peach, kiwi and cherry, plus summer green beans, oh and a passion fruit (also edible, but haven't had any fruit off that yet).  Radish did so well, I don't like them anymore - I grew cucumber in a pot in a shed converted into a greenhouse and although spindly it cropped really well.  Best thing about pots, if you have to you can move them and last year with all the rain, I kept taking them out of their trays in order to drain the water, also extended the season by dragging stuff into the shed!  I also store home made compost in a dustbin, and if I have any surplus compost not in use elsewhere, I just bung some spuds that have chitted in the cupboard, and get a few extra for no cost, they would have gone on the compost anyway!  I also grow strawberries in the cracks between the slabs on the patio, they sometimes get trodden on and then the birds eat them, but the presence of birds tends to keep the slugs and snails under control too.

Carrot Tops

Thanx all for the advice...don't know anyone with guinea pigs so I'll miss that bit out and bung the carrot tops in the compost instead!   I remember telling my nephew that you could eat ground elder and he just broke some off and ate it...he said that was bitter as I stood there with my mouth open!!!  I'v used that sort of thing to put kids off grabbing a poisonous leaf and devouring too.

Carrot Tops

Am I right in thinking I can eat carrot tops as a veggie?  If so any culinery geniuses out there who can tell me what to do with them please?

The same goes for japonica, can I use the ornamental japonica in quince recipes as a substitute for quince? 

White bugs infesting compost bin

You are very welcome - I just hope it works for you, pls don't blame me if it doesn't.  I didn't even turf off what I could see I just carried on as I said.  All's well at the moment...I have sunflowers, tomatoes (in flower), cucumbers, plus stacks of cuttings and all the overwintered plants, plus we have cropped cut and cum again lettuce etc etc.  Happy composting.  Did you notice lots of ants in the bin last year...I reckon they may be something to do with these white bits, but the jury is out on that.

getting rid of slugs

Is there anyone there who can tell me which article in Gardeners World Mag that has the gen on slugs and snails, I have spent the last half an hour looking for said article, my sister-in-law wants to check it out - I rely on the birds...if I come across a snail I put in on the path under a certain tree and stamp on it - then kick it under the said tree, next day - all gone!  Fox maybe.  Slugs get chopped in half and put on the bird table!  I know, but I'm not violent in any other way, although I might be if I see a cat at 'my' birds!

White bugs infesting compost bin

HyppyByker, I'm in the same boat - exactly the same, and I garden organically too- the one difference is that I have used the compost - I just thought 'what the hell' and I've loads of ladybirds, although I haven't seen any lacewings yet, just thought they would have a feast.    I have two greenhouses, one heated and one not...I used the compost (mixed with leafmould and shreddings - both well composted) and there doesn't seem to be any problem in the unheated greenhouse, but I do have lots of greenfly (no whitefly) in the heated greenhouse, but I overwintered plants in there so I presume, the greenfly overwintered too.  Watch out using boiling water or you'll kill off the goodies in the compost bin too.  All those worms, slugs, woodlice and the trillions of good microscopic bodies that all help make the compost smell sooooo sweet and sooooo good in comparison with that we buy.

Talkback: Removing weeds

A few years ago our council tendered out the gardening to a company who are supposed to keep the grass verges etc clipped, but they don't and the majority of dandelion seedheads just blow in from these verges. It then takes me hours to dig them all up, both from the lawn and flower beds, meaning that I inevitably also dig some of my own planting as I believe in soil coverage to keep annual weeds and local unwanted cats at bay.

Talkback: Emptying the compost bin

Unfortunately many years ago I 'harpooned' a little frog, and it has stayed with me ever since...my point is don't use a fork or spade or anything metal, as I had been working my way down the compost for an hour or so before this had happened, so I hadn't "...plunge your fork straight in the heap..." in fact I never would do that, but I have found especially with toads, that they just sink further and further down into the middle of the pile in order to stay 'hidden' so this sort of accident is more likely to happen at the end rather than at the beginning. Oh for the weather to get on with my composting!! P.s. I use my hands now and it takes hours but I feel happier

Carrot Tops