Passionate

Whats moving our bird seed feeder?

Hi, maybe it's a bird? I have seen Jackdaw's  lift feeders off their hooks and drop them on my lawn, then eat some of the spilled contents before flying off

is it ok to feed birds ordinary suet rather the prepared bird suet you can buy

Hi Jean R, thanks for the advice we do have decking and maybe that's were they are. I first saw "the "rat " come from under my shed which is on the other side of the garden but I guess they can come out from anywhere its just were you happen to see them at the time.

I hate the idea of not feeding the birds for the sake of these rodents especially in this cold weather, maybe I had better get the rat catcher in. What puzzles me is how do we know which garden they are nesting in and how will I know other rats wont come in my garden. I guess my neighbours eitherside won't want to know and will be happy for me to pay ??50 for a rat catcher
Oh dear what a pain.

is it ok to feed birds ordinary suet rather the prepared bird suet you can buy

Hi everyone, very interesting info re bird food thanks I do make my own and find the birds love it however, just this last couple of days I have spotted a brown rat trying to eat some bits that have fallen from the fat balls, also I came home just now and spotted the rat (not sure if its same one) in the peanut feeder that only small birds can get into..
I guess rats are all over the place but its a bit of a shock to see one. I don't want to stop feeding the birds but I done want to encourage the rats?

Talkback: Taking geranium cuttings

Hi Bud808 think you might be getting things mixed up.
I began this message trying to explain what it all means but it got quite lengthy and difficult to describe without being able to draw a diagram so i have had to give up.
I think the best is for you to get a book on gardening and give yourself time to read and digest the basics of taking cuttings there are many books on the subject.
Please don't stop writing in as there are lots of experianced people here to help.

Gardeners' Question Time

Poor Gary, bet he wished he hadnt wrote in ha ha, I listen to GQT on fridays or on my iPad if I miss it, I wait until I decide to clean my kitchen floor or something then I can forget my chores and enjoy the program. I think

I do think that amateur gardeners like us should protest to the bbc or itv about the lack of knowledgable gardening program's on tv. I get very frustrated following Carol around grand gardens pointing out the flows and sways of this and that plant and one or two tips on propagating. Why cant they dedecate an hours program in Carol or Montys or Bobs shed answering questions and demonstrating as many problems as possible.
I think Bob Flowerdew is down to earth and very practical, apart from the excessive recycling he is my kind of gardener .
i think the lack of ordinary down to earth gardening tips is extremely lacking.
Ok said my piece I'll go clean a cupboard or dig a hole now.

Talkback: How to ripen tomatoes on the vine

Thanks sotongeoff, for your quick response, I will tell him, he maybe lucky with a few.

Talkback: Grow carrots in a container

Hi everyone, best way to grow carrots is to keep it simple. Get a good size pot or plastic bin with straight sides, (think how long a carrot is then add another two few inches)make a few holes in the bottom for drainage and stand it on some bricks or pebbles how every high u wish just so that water can drain out.
Mix half compost and half garden sand and fill your container leaving a couple of inches at the top and dampen
Make 10mm grooves and put seeds in one every 4inches or scatter sead but very sparingly (less seeds means you wont have to prick out later) and cover lightly with compost. Keep soil moist, if you see two carrots growing together you can take one out or leave them cause one will grow bigger anyway.
If its in spring you can put four sticks around the inside of the container and wrap a layer (about 6inches wide)plastic or fleece around to protect from carrot fly that only flies a couple of feet from the ground, if in summer carrot fly isn't around so no need. Water as needed and check carrot growth by gently moving the soil around the top with your finger to see the shoulder of the carrot, pull up gently as required. Hope this helps.

clematus problem

I have a clematis that grows to about 5 feet every spring then dies back, the same plant grew about 20feet before I moved it out of its pot and into the garden border three years ago. Maybe I will put it back into a pot, gardening is so challenging, but very rewarding which is why we get captured by its spell.

Talkback: How to ripen tomatoes on the vine

I everyone, my friend has tomatoes growing in his greenhouse in very large pots and they have grown into great plants with plenty of leaves and flowers and tomatoes, the only problem is that none of the toms have gone red.
Can anyone tell me what might be the problem ?

Hydrangea Macrophylla.

Hi Jean, be careful because on a garden prog, they said to look for oldest branches to cut down to the ground not all of them.

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