Edible Gardening

The fact that they're being completely removed, not nibbled and partially eaten [which lots of birds, slugs etc will do] suggests something like a rat, especially if they're being taken from hanging baskets. I think you'd need a camera to be sure @compostgirl123* , and then you can take...

The ants may be transporting black fly onto your plant, they often do that, if you see any patches of black fly on the undersides of the leaf just squash them. The ants , in themselves do no damage.Leave all leaves on unless they are totally dead, they are still working even if they look a...

Update- Since I took the original pic of the rusty rhubarb earlier this month, it has since grown regular, green, unaffected leaves! It looks the same as the neighbouring rhubarb now. I'm still unsure what caused the 'rust' but its happy and healthy again. Hooray!

We sell loads of these plastic ribbed coated metal tube, in lengths from 60cm to 3m in diameters of 11mm, 15mm and 20mm. Then you get these clips etc etc to make your cage as small or big as you like. Very similar as building one with bamboo canes

You could use Pyrethrum which is a contact insecticide. It is not absorbed by the plant, so it's safe to use on edibles and anything sprayed is fine to eat after 7 days. It is made from Chrysanthemums.I grew sprouts once and they were so heavily infested with whitefly the sprouts began to rot...

I reckon it's due to the weather. It's been a lot cooler this year so things like courgettes are suffering. My pumpkins and courgettes are the same.

I wouldn't worry about it either, just don't eat the laburnum seeds. I would try and pick up as many seeds as possible, but that's to prevent a forest of seedlings, not because of the toxicity.

Thanks @BobTG! Hopefully they'll survive!

I’ve cut them back a bit. Thanks for the advice.

Thanks

Thanks everyone , it looks like i am too eager to prune primarily as there is a lot of new growth each year but by so doing i am still wondering whether such early summer pruning affects next years performance . So i am going to sit on my hands til mid August and prune then . Whether the...

Thanks guys!

Ah … I see …

@Thevictorian , the autumn ones are all fine. Half of the summer ones are fine, one looks a bit sad, the rest have died.

A short video of a walk round my garden.

Hello DABI bought 2 young plants from the GC 2 years ago. One purple and one large green. They have fruited this year.Yes, they are a haven for snails, but I didn't have a problem with them eating the fruit.They need lots of space.I love them just boiled (watch for snail poo)...

They tend to like a warm sunny spot I find.

Might be worth letting one pot grow on without harvesting so see if it is Romaine.You may want to look at starting off some pick and come again types such as Salad Bowl and Lollo Rossa.

It’s unlikely that it’s the compost. Slugs and snails can get in anywhere if they want to. Don’t despair! I find the best defence is to keep tiny seedlings out of their way, because they love fresh new shoots. I plant into seed trays and modules as much as I can, and then plant them out when...