Pests, Diseases and Cures

Hi David, very often chillies are green when you eat them (ie ripe when green) but very often not (very helpful!??). Totally depends upon the variety and I am not able to tell you the type of chilli that you have purchased in the supermarket as I get my chillies from an online company:...

This is the method I use ...Wash fruit and discard any doubtful ones. Wash and dry the jars.(I'm assuming you are using rubber sealed preserving jars) Check the rubber ring, making sure they are not torn..and the jars are not chipped. This will affect the sealing. Fill the jars as full as...

Thankfully it has not affected both beds of tatties so I will hopefully be able to store the other bed.many thanks

Thanks for that, Hornbeam. :D

Thanks Rich - will also keep an eye on mine :(

Giant Diving Beetles (Dytiscus marginalis)are fierce beasties and so are their larvae which are known as "water tigers" They will certainly attack fish, frogs, tadpoles and anything else that moves. Best way of reducing the population is to wait before putting anything edible in your new pond....

Thanks Sally B

Sorry, Fancy, I have just found this looking for something else. I have seen a trail or two so they must be around, but I think we are too dry for them as they have no houses to hide in like snails! :D :D :D

:D :D :D :D :D you had better get a few of these to calm your nerves, then get to the shops for a wig

Totally agree, my friend.

The proper name for your tree is Aesculus x mutabilis Induta. This is a large shrub or small tree with apricot/yellow coloured flowers in Summer. A large shrub is defined by Hillier as being over 3m (10 feet) tall at 10 years old. A similar one which we have has suffered terribly this year from...

Hornbeam, I am starting to get confused, my friend. Never mind, I get confused when I read simple poetry so it doesn't take much. I do like the "legend" that slugs pollinate Aspidistras so I'll spread that word - folks will be well impressed!Cheers! Roy

I've certainly not got earwigs if they eat aphids!Saw a frightening movie donkey's years ago about an earwig crawling into someone's ear and muching it's way from side to side! :eek: :eek:At 26 for our highs, you'll soon be hotter than us, Pete! :D

Yup - daddy long legs ++++ here - and a fair number making it indoors - despite closing windows -my pup is chasing them around and eating them when caught -They are not an insect that I am enamoured with, daft things, keep cannoning into things including me.

Well, you won't go hungry this winter, Dave, with that harvest. All I've done is my sun-dried tomatoes in oil! :rolleyes:And why didn't you invite me for dinner last night ... that sounds absolutely delicious! I love red cabbage with apple and rainins and roast lamb. Mmmmmm!

LOL Crateful of our giants on the way :D :DHornbeam ....snails are certainly not known as pests here ! bon appetit ! :D M-L

I came across this little insect it was about a inch long like a catepillar,and when touched it arch up just like an inch worm. was this so?

Please let us know how you get on Nicola! Any pics are most welcome albeit I am still struggling with the pic thing.Kind regards Roy

I've only seen the "normal" ladybirds here!Following on from what Honey Bee said, there is a colony of geckoos living in Ventor, IoW, and I have many a time seen them scurrying about there. Supposedly they are the only colony living off mainland Europe! At least I have my ltitle critters...

Nathan, tell me about your ants, please ?