steephill

Slugs may destroy my life

Rather than coffee grounds try spraying with coffee. Non-decaf though as it's the caffeine that kills them. Not an approved pesticide though so regard it as a foliar feed..

Getting into horticulture professionally

http://www.rhs.org.uk/Courses/Horticultural-training is good place to start. The RHS is focusing on horticulture as a profession this year. They are currently looking for 4 apprentices, two at Wisley and two at Hyde Hall. The advice to look for a local college is very sound. What region are you in?

what plants for small patch of land.

Buddleia?

Laurel tree troubleshooting

Well they look rather dead. I don't think they needed Miraclegro at this stage. How much have you used on them?

Are these edible?

Not many mushrooms around at this time of year. It might be Spring Field Cap - Agrocybe Praecox. Found on rotting woodchips. Not poisonous but bitter tasting apparently. Don't ever eat wild mushrooms unless they have been clearly identified by at least two experts. So no don't try to eat them.

allotment

Scotland is a big little country with lots of micro climates. Where abouts are you? Conditions on the balmy West coast can be very different from the chilly North East for example which might influence suggestions. Those unfamiliar with the country might have seen some of the Beechgrove programmes which should give an idea of how variable it can be.

Large polytunnel and beds and no clue where to start

You will find that nettles are probably all connected. They spread by runners, thick yellow roots running under the surface. When you start to dig them out you will be able to trace these runners and remive the worst of the problem. It may take a year to remove the weed problem though. I would suggest trying potatoes in the outside beds as these can out compete a lot of weeds. Inside the tunnel I would go for glyphosate then dig over the soil.

Small Urban Gardens and Water Butts - Advice Required

How about a series of connected watering cans working on the syphon principle? Could even be all filled in parallel from a horizontal trough. That could be an easily expandable system, just buy more watering cans. All rights reserved, you read it hear first. Unless I saw it somewhere else of course

Beechgrove Garden Goes National.

A real trip down memory lane for me. I watched it regularly back in the 80s despite living in a flat in the centre of Glasgow. Hearing the old theme tune made me quite homesick. And the presenters are still the same! Wonderful!

HARVEST MITE

http://www.the-piedpiper.co.uk/th5i.htm has useful info. Scroll down the page until you fine the section on harvest mites.

Strange broad bean

Slow worms and roe deer

Air pots

Bean confession