Palaisglide

What is wrong with my apple tree?

Geoff, I never knew that brilliant, never too old to learn especially on this electronic whizz kid kit called a laptop.

Frank.

growbags as raised beds?

The problem with some grow bags the compost inside is quite coarse and woody usually the cheaper ones so go for the named ones.
You could buy a grow bag and mix some of your garden soil with it enough to fill some pots, some GC's give them away, neighbours or family may have some odd pots. Grow bags tend to be very bright and off putting but they will work so if that is the way for you do it, never be put off doing things your way.

Frank.

What's the weather like in your area?

Rosa, it was the Sam who said the birds are singing, I am singing as I bake squash in the oven to make soup, it frightens the birds away, I popped a garlic clove in each pod where the seeds were dug out and it is all I can smell.
The Sun is brilliant, I now have doors and windows open as the house gets full sunlight and the warmth it brings, warms the heart too.

Frank.

What's the weather like in your area?

Stockton, sunshine blue sky and windows open as it is warm.
I can see the misty shape of the Cleveland hills and they are glowing, I would say it is not too bad a day.

Frank.

What's the weather like in your area?

Stockton on Tees, very miserable and grey, never mind my Daughters have been so the sun shone in the house, it is winter after all but will soon be spring.

Frank.

A mild annoyance

You can use garden soil riddled then into a micro wave or into a bucket and boiling water poured on it to sterilise the soil.
Drain the water and dry out then mix with washed sand and you have a perfect seed mix, I also add some fine grit for drainage.
When doing a lot of trays use riddled potting compost with washed sand and fine grit, one third of each although for some seed I use only a quarter compost, most seed will germinate in damp sand, when I spilt some tomato seed on my hot sand bed I had better results than from the actual seed trays.
As a lad we did not have bespoke compost so it was all done with soil, we had no problems with that so why do otherwise?

Frank.

The A to Z of TV Gardening

Sue H, Teenagers go their way then come back with add ons, Hi dad just popped in (with all family) "oh if there is enough we will stay" they know there is always enough. Smart Grandson puts two feet firmly in it "why can't we have food like this at home mum" nasty looks all round.
Sunday gardening or TV is a dream around these parts though I do have all the rest of the week being retired.

Frank.

The A to Z of TV Gardening

Wish I had time to watch TV on a Sunday morning David, chance would be a good thing, I am just sitting down at half two replete from a roast lunch, the stuffing would be getting made when the programme was on.
I do have some Video of the old garden programmes but need to convert them to DVD and digital having bought a new TV and disc player at Christmas, meanwhile anyone else arriving gets their own tea I am finished for the day.

Frank.

personal experience on composting

Kate is correct adding compost and roots from old pots is an automatic reaction for me. Collecting a bag of well rotted manure from my Son I add that as well it all helps.
Those with Daleks can get in with a fork or even a crow bar, shuffle it around shake the bin and if possible spin it on its bottom edge when it is still light, once it gets heavy tipping it out and throwing it back will be best
I also store natural water or recycled water, Old Speckled Hen beer recycled (Ladies does not work) in an old milk container to add to the watering can when I am damping the compost after turning.
A handful of granular fertiliser added sparingly will also speed things up or use up any Tomorite you have left over well diluted, it is like a good stew, we all have different ways and ingredients but it all comes out tasting good, "err" I do not advise tasting the compost, especially if using recycled beer.

Frank.

personal experience on composting

Hollie, you have a right to be pleased, you did what a lot of people fail to do simply because they forget it.
All things need some help and compost definitely does. When you have a spare half hour tip it all out mix it and put it back, with a Dalek once a month although it would depend on how much new stuff you add in that time, once it is fairly full let it take its course.
That really is the reason I have two on the go one to fill one to use, Monty has four and tosses it from one to the other down the line to get perfect compost. My Son has one long one, plenty of room in the farm yard and adds the new stuff to the front we take the old from the back. It all works the Dalek being the basic takes longer, I would expect compost from it in six months as you tell us it is where it can get the sun to warm it up.
The one thing you should not do is use it for seed trays unless you can sterilie it, another story.

Frank.

Poetry Thread

Get Rid of your Lawns

Not all bad news in the garden

Gardeners world weather