For anyone growing potatoes, here's a tip - gather all the nettle shoots (preferably without the roots or flowers/seeds ) and line your potatoe trenches with them and they'll rot down as the spuds grow. As you say, they are rich in nitrogen (even more so if the cat or dog has piddled on them LOL) an...

And you can compost them too They do look really pretty

treat tomatoes in the same category as potatoes in your crop rotation My experience of blight on tomatoes has always been after extremely wet summers (2004, 2007 & 2008) During this period watch out for "scorching" on leaves (but make sure it is not due to wind/sun damage!) and a sort ...

... you'll never know Yesterday I noticed there was a load of wood outside the vacant house opposite mine that is being rennovated, so I boldly went to the door, rang the bell and asked if it was being thrown away. I got a cautious "yes" to which I followed with "do you mind if I have...

Is it just me? I'm probably being ripped off right left and centre but I would rather be ripped off than put someone out of a job or get one over a small business. I'm going to tell you a story about how it works - a business man buys a crate of stuff for £100. Inside are 100 items. He marks them u...

We used to do that when I lived at home with my parents, and I have to confess I used to take a large flask to work (in my other job) and fill up from the "instant hot water" system to take home to do the washing up

I think a home made pork pie, served with fried chips and salad sounds great, and as it is a one off, I'm sure my already expanded waistline would be able to cope

daveindeal wrote: our eleckie bill was >
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£3687 for the year

Are you sure someone else isn't using your electricity as well? I would most definitely question that figure! Or are you running a hotel?

Sorry to say this, it's most definitely not the bleach but TSS is actually from a toxin produced by a Staphlococcus aureus infection from poor hygiene (hence the additives! TSS was quite common among teenage girls & young women when tampons were first introduced until it was discovered what caus...

It's known as "The 3 sisters" which was a way for North American indians to grow their 3 staple crops - squash, beans & maize. Bear in mind that they would have harvested when all 3 had reached maturity for storage over winter (that is, fully formed beans as opposed to pods, and maize ...

Seed potatoes are certified to be disease free. There's absolutely nothing wrong with growing potatoes from supermarket spuds or from a previous crop - but as Kate Egg says, you cannot guarantee they are disease free. I think this applies more to people who have dedicated vegetable gardens and allot...

I get scab even without liming, but a lot depends on the variety as well, AND at the end of the day its only cosmetic and doesn't affect the spud itself. But I agree that liming potatoe beds is not a good idea. Ideally your OH should have been shovelling manure in, but it's a bit late now if the lim...

The tenant agreement should be scrutinised to the letter, because if you get it wrong, you could lose the plot! My site always used to have a half dozen vacant plots available (usually the ones seasoned growers would avoid like the plague) but now have a waiting list - I think the council is under i...

I use those Wright's cake mixes for breadmakers too - the carrot cake & madiera cake are lovely BUT please do use them within the "use by" date or you will end up with a "breeze block" (says she with experience!) I think they contain something like baking soda or bicarb which...

My son is growing 'mixed corn' - he found a split sack in the shed that must have got wet when the roof leaked and had sprouted so he has dug a load in the veg patch to grow his own wheat How this sprouted in the shed I don't know, there is no natural light in there, but the shoots are a couple of ...