Edible Gardening

It seems that my passiflora finally have decided to wake up from their slumber. I was already fearing the worst after what Pete said, but they seem to grow back faster and stronger than last year. It was an exceptionally mild winter, so that definitely helped.They are now producing 8-9 vines...

Was it recently planted? It takes a t least a couple of years to establish. Slugs and snails do like the leaves when young.

I usually take hardwood cuttings in winter when dormant, but I have rooted softwood cuttings.

I had yellow seedlings that stalled growing in100% peat compost. I dont think it has anything to do with what the compost is made of its more about how much fertiliser they add.They are probably adding less because or the war in Ukraine.

Inside the shaded 8X6 in early June 2021, the French beans planted out (salad crops lower down):Inside the 8x8 Aug last year, Melons and Cucumbers:Mainly tomatoes inside the 12x8 last year in early august:

@pete there was a whitening on the shed roofs on Monday morning and cold with almost constant rain for two days, strong north winds also. Then yesterday afternoon sunshine and warmer temps, okay today also. I have cut the three blackened leaves off, I’ll check it again in the morning and if more...

It's not the normal practise to pinch out the tips of edible peas but it will be interesting to see how yours perform @Michael Hewett

looking at what you received... is a pitiful sight ... and tickled pink !! oh my !which company did you receive it from ?

I only got toms, basil, thyme, betroot, lettuce, spring onions……growing in the greenhouse at the moment

Brilliant, thanks @NigelJ As it happens, I did feed with Miracle Gro today (quite impressed with the hose attached feeder); I am quite happy to hack open more of the membrane if it is needed to allow sideward spread or for chicken pellets - indeed, the membrane stops at the right hand side...

Looks like leaf miners. Hold a leaf up to the light and you might be able to see the insect inside the leaf . They often grow out of it if it doesn't get too bad.

JWK's 2005 strain. A bit behind my other toms, as I had to re-sow. Bagged for the promised seed save.

Almost certainly flea beetle. Scourge of all small brassicae. Its what has stopped farmers growing spring canola (oil seed rape) since a suitable insecticide has been banned. Very fine netting could be used to cover seedlings, but make sure you shut them out not in!.Traditonal remedy was to drag...

Many thanks Hanglow, I’m now thinking of swede if they have a punnet at the garden centre. I haven’t any fleece left for covering carrots and the brassicas I grew before in that plot had root problems so bad they didn’t grow and I had to throw them out. V

Top tips how to grow strawberries in containers

Picked the first blackberries and made a crumble along with some raspberries:

Sorry for the late reply, yes both are maincrop so it's a bit early to take the tops off. If you are happy with the size you could remove the tops of the ones flopping over on top of the onions.

I'd either prune off the lower branches in Feb/March, flush with the trunk, or just use strong forked stakes to support them. The first option should encourage the tree to grow upwards, but a lot depends on the variety.

I had the same problem. We found the culprit to be a couple of doves. They flew into the bushes, breaking twigs left and right while trying to land and keep their balance. After that, they clumsily pecked at everything looking even remotely like a piece of fruit, ripe er green.(destroyed my...