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's better to make an earth clamp. Choose a sheltered, dry site to make your clamp, and only choose carrots in good condition. Prepare the crops by shaking off loose soil and removing any foliage.Home-grown carrotsStrawautumn1 hourDig a shallow hole and cover

three years.More greenhouse adviceFitting an automatic vent opener to a greenhouseDampen down your greenhouseCleaning glazing blog by Pippa GreenwoodView a variety of conservatory climbers Browse plants by sun exposure suitability

Jam jarWaterSieveKitchen towelall year round3 - 4 daysSoak the pulses in water overnight so that they swell. Rinse them thoroughly, then dry them on a piece of kitchen towel.Put the pulses in a clean, dry jar, making sure that they cover only the bottom

Sharp knife10cm potMulti-purpose compostRooting hormone (liquid or powder)Clear polythene bagsJune - September45 minutesChoose sideshoots as cuttings, pulling these away from the main stem with a thin strip of bark, or heel, still attached.This heel

doubt, as wrongly identified plants can be poisonous.150g fresh or 60g dried comfrey leaves500g petroleum jelly or soft paraffin waxSmall saucepanChina bowl to fit on top of the saucepanWooden spoonMuslin or jelly bagContainer with a lidA pair of rubber

them (they will turn brown and papery as they mature), and store in a cool, dry place.Calendula seedEnvelopeSilica gelAirtight containerautumn or spring20 minutesWhen the seedheads have developed fully, remove them from the plant and lay them on a sheet

good sharp knife. Plastic potsSeed/cuttings compostKnifePlantScissorsJune - July20 minutes to take the cuttingsSelect a young, healthy looking, medium-sized leaf. Remove it from the main crown of the plant using scissors or a sharp knife.Use a clean

of the plant, while the skin on affected fruits turns from a white mould to a light brown. The fruits can be scraped clean and eaten, although they'll turn brown when cooked.Greyish-white powdery fungal growth spreads across the upper leaf surfaces and stems

on the go but, what with the slug wars of the summer, I clean forgot to sow any! Fortunately good old catalogue mail order has come to the rescue and a dozen cabbage plants arrived through the post the other day. They look a bit peaky but that's down to them

whiplash. Meanwhile, provided I wear my walking books I can just about stay upright, but with little, if any chance of actually doing anything useful. I even cleaned the inside of the greenhouse the other day (which, for me is rather like ironing