Welshonion

wind burn

Have you got them wrapped now?  They will probably look manky but they should recover.  What kind of conifers?  If they are Leylandii?

planting potatoes

Sorry if I was misunderstood, but I think amateur growers should steer clear of commercial varieties as grown for the supermarkets.  I suspect commercial growers use gallons of herbicide/pesticides which are not available to the home grower.  From the descriptions Marebel sounds a cracking potato, but there are lots and lots of other wonderful potatoes available too.

My heart sinks a bit when people tell me they are growing Charlotte.  Fine potato, but there are more adventurous varieties which you will never see in the supermarket.

With regard to Google, just put in 'Marebel seed potatoes'.  Some people think just saying 'Google It' is dismissive, but it is such a wonderful way of finding out about everything.  Though don't believe everything you read on the net!

Sycamore trees

elf'n'appiness, we seem to be managing quite well without a question or any details!

Starlings not migrating

Yes we do have some resident starlings, but the large flocks we have in the Winter are migrants from elsewhere. Scandinavia and Russia.

I dislike them.  I put down cheap porridge oats from the supermarket.  They will all fly away round about St Patricks Day.  

planting potatoes

Cas, I hesitate to say Google, but if you do you can take your choice of places to buy them.  But do check their blight resistance as some commercial varieties are better grown by the professionals than amateurs.

James Grieve apple

Jim, try not to type in upper case!  All nurseries which stock apple trees will sell James Grieve, it is a very well-known variety.

Sycamore trees

May burn well, but give out no heat.  Nasty trees for so many reasons!

Leeks

One year I felt quite smug as the price of leeks rose in the supermarkets because of a prolonged (that is several weeks) period of frost.  I had lots in the garden, but when I came to dig them out they were frozen in the ground!  So, if we are in for a big freeze, dig a few and put them somewhere cool, but above ground, like a shed or garage.

Otherwise they will be fine in the ground, just make sure to use them before the hard flower stalk develops when they start to grow in the Spring.

Help please

Andrew, you don't say what kind of 'ferns'.  Are you talking about bracken or ferns which grow in clumps?  You will never get rid of bracken by digging.  Chemical control is feasible or cutting down until it weakens, which will take a long time.  

Most of us do not live where the application of pigs is recommended!

Brambles can be dug out; it is the best method.  Hard work but effective.

Take care not to try and tackle too big an area at once or you will become dispirited.  Start on a small area and get that up and growing before you expand.

Getting crafty with corn

Leave them on the lawn for the birds.  Then you can compost the remains.

Fig Tree Care

Swifts