Gathering old wives tales

Discussion in 'General Gardening Discussion' started by Doug Harding, Jul 26, 2013.

Page 3 of 7
  1. Sirius

    Sirius Total Gardener

    Joined:
    Jun 26, 2012
    Messages:
    1,449
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Hertfordshire
    Ratings:
    +1,250
    My mother-in-law waters her house plants with the plastic milk container when the milk has finished, but with the dregs still lining the bottle.
    It's supposed to be good for plants. :hate-shocked:
     
    Sirius, Aug 1, 2013
    #31 Quote in Conversation
  2. Jungle Jane

    Jungle Jane Starved Of Technicolor

    Joined:
    Dec 12, 2010
    Messages:
    2,136
    Gender:
    Female
    Occupation:
    Local Nutcase
    Location:
    South Essex
    Ratings:
    +3,398
    I have two thriving and one dying. Does that mean I need to hit the other half a bit harder? :snork:
     
    • Funny Funny x 4
      Jungle Jane, Aug 1, 2013
      #32 Quote in Conversation
    • shiney

      shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

      Joined:
      Jul 3, 2006
      Messages:
      67,254
      Gender:
      Male
      Occupation:
      Retired - Last Century!!!
      Location:
      Herts/Essex border. Zone 8b
      Ratings:
      +134,075
      When we moved in here the back garden was a jungle and, as we gradually, cleared it we found that couch grass had spread through the hedge from the jungle next door. No matter how much time we spent digging it out it still came through as if it was competing in the Olympics.

      An elderly customer of mine said that we should plant turnips all the way along the hedge and couch grass won't cross it. Anything was worth a try so we planted the turnips. No more couch grass! :blue thumb: :hapydancsmil:
       
      • Like Like x 2
      • Informative Informative x 2
        shiney, Aug 1, 2013
        #33 Quote in Conversation
      • clueless1

        clueless1 member... yep, that's what I am:)

        Joined:
        Jan 8, 2008
        Messages:
        17,778
        Gender:
        Male
        Location:
        Here
        Ratings:
        +19,601
        I've just looked up couch grass. That's what keeps invading my borders. Looks like a crop of turnips next year then.
         
        clueless1, Aug 1, 2013
        #34 Quote in Conversation
      • Doug Harding

        Doug Harding South coast mr nice guy

        Joined:
        Jun 9, 2013
        Messages:
        166
        Gender:
        Male
        Occupation:
        Garden centre manager/horticulturalist...
        Location:
        A little town called Bournemouth
        Ratings:
        +124
        See ..... There is a purpose for turnips .......

        Jungle Jane .... You wouldn't hit a poor defenceless bloke would you
         
        Doug Harding, Aug 1, 2013
        #35 Quote in Conversation
      • shiney

        shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

        Joined:
        Jul 3, 2006
        Messages:
        67,254
        Gender:
        Male
        Occupation:
        Retired - Last Century!!!
        Location:
        Herts/Essex border. Zone 8b
        Ratings:
        +134,075
        Baldrick had it right, all along! :lunapic 130165696578242 5:
         
        • Funny Funny x 2
          shiney, Aug 1, 2013
          #36 Quote in Conversation
        • Jungle Jane

          Jungle Jane Starved Of Technicolor

          Joined:
          Dec 12, 2010
          Messages:
          2,136
          Gender:
          Female
          Occupation:
          Local Nutcase
          Location:
          South Essex
          Ratings:
          +3,398
          Indeed I would. Its the only way to ge him to do anything in this house.
           
          • Like Like x 1
            Jungle Jane, Aug 1, 2013
            #37 Quote in Conversation
          • honeybunny

            honeybunny Head Gardener

            Joined:
            Feb 15, 2013
            Messages:
            1,213
            Gender:
            Female
            Location:
            Ireland
            Ratings:
            +1,915
            don't pass a clout 'till may is out! that was one my granny always said :imphrt:

            how about

            red sky at night sailors delight
            red sky at morning, sailors warning
             
            honeybunny, Aug 3, 2013
            #38 Quote in Conversation
          • shiney

            shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

            Joined:
            Jul 3, 2006
            Messages:
            67,254
            Gender:
            Male
            Occupation:
            Retired - Last Century!!!
            Location:
            Herts/Essex border. Zone 8b
            Ratings:
            +134,075
            We didn't harvest the turnips but did harvest the turnip tops (greens) and they made a good veggie. Turnip tops were one of my father's favourite veggies and, when I used to run a veggie stall in the East End of London in the fifties (no, not the 1850's :heehee:), they were a very good seller. :blue thumb:
             
            • Like Like x 1
              shiney, Aug 3, 2013
              #39 Quote in Conversation
            • alana

              alana Super Gardener

              Joined:
              May 5, 2008
              Messages:
              765
              Occupation:
              Head Gardener
              Location:
              Far East of Suffolk
              Ratings:
              +2,632
              I never bring lilac into the house because my gran always told me it meant someone close was going to die.
               
              • Informative Informative x 1
                alana, Aug 4, 2013
                #40 Quote in Conversation
              • clueless1

                clueless1 member... yep, that's what I am:)

                Joined:
                Jan 8, 2008
                Messages:
                17,778
                Gender:
                Male
                Location:
                Here
                Ratings:
                +19,601
                Tree related folklore is my favourite:)

                A pregnant woman should kiss an Elder tree to invoke the protection of the tree spirits to protect the baby.

                Don't burn Elder wood, it will result in a death in the family (while I don't really believe this, it has earned some scientific backing. The smoke from it contains a toxin that can mess with your heart rhythm).
                 
                • Agree Agree x 1
                  clueless1, Aug 4, 2013
                  #41 Quote in Conversation
                • Peaceful Gardener

                  Peaceful Gardener Gardener

                  Joined:
                  Sep 19, 2025
                  Messages:
                  128
                  Gender:
                  Female
                  Location:
                  Nottinghamshire
                  Ratings:
                  +282
                  Wart remover from 'Homely remedies in Lark Rise Recipe Book'
                  ... remove beans from broad bean pods and use the inside of pods to remove warts'
                   
                  Peaceful Gardener, Sep 28, 2025
                  #42 Quote in Conversation
                • NigelJ

                  NigelJ Total Gardener

                  Joined:
                  Jan 31, 2012
                  Messages:
                  9,078
                  Gender:
                  Male
                  Occupation:
                  Mad Scientist
                  Location:
                  Paignton Devon
                  Ratings:
                  +29,011
                  Rub the wart with bacon, bury the bacon and as the bacon rots so the wart disappears.
                  We'll pass over the one about warts and moles.
                   
                  • Funny Funny x 2
                    NigelJ, Sep 28, 2025
                    #43 Quote in Conversation
                  • NigelJ

                    NigelJ Total Gardener

                    Joined:
                    Jan 31, 2012
                    Messages:
                    9,078
                    Gender:
                    Male
                    Occupation:
                    Mad Scientist
                    Location:
                    Paignton Devon
                    Ratings:
                    +29,011
                    • Agree Agree x 2
                    • Like Like x 1
                      NigelJ, Sep 28, 2025
                      #44 Quote in Conversation
                    • Peaceful Gardener

                      Peaceful Gardener Gardener

                      Joined:
                      Sep 19, 2025
                      Messages:
                      128
                      Gender:
                      Female
                      Location:
                      Nottinghamshire
                      Ratings:
                      +282
                      just found my very old book called' herbs for daily use' ...author collected folklore remedies from Travelers .
                      Feverfew...used for young women suffering from suppression and inclined towards hysteria' lol
                      says old country name for feverfew is ' maydres weed' oh and its a laxative lol lol
                      book has loads of 'useful more remedies lol..l'll post them one a day lol

                      the book is really old and battered.. belonged to my mom from the 1950's..l'll have to do a google search as to see when printed :)
                       
                      • Like Like x 3
                        Peaceful Gardener, Sep 28, 2025
                        #45 Quote in Conversation
                      Page 3 of 7
                      Loading...
                      Similar Threads - Gathering old wives
                      1. LeadFarmer

                        Gardeners World forum members gathering place

                        LeadFarmer, Mar 13, 2024, in forum: New Members Introduction
                        Replies:
                        603
                        Views:
                        48,004
                        shiney
                        Apr 2, 2024
                      2. TheMadHedger

                        Wasps gathering around the base of a tree ..... sap related?

                        TheMadHedger, Aug 11, 2020, in forum: Pests, Diseases and Cures
                        Replies:
                        2
                        Views:
                        4,923
                        TheMadHedger
                        Aug 12, 2020
                      3. Sian in Belgium

                        Gathering seeds

                        Sian in Belgium, Jul 14, 2015, in forum: General Gardening Discussion
                        Replies:
                        6
                        Views:
                        708
                        Sheal
                        Jul 15, 2015
                      4. HarryS

                        The Great Gathering ( steam trains )

                        HarryS, Jul 4, 2013, in forum: Off-Topic Discussion
                        Replies:
                        2
                        Views:
                        830
                        Phil A
                        Jul 4, 2013
                      5. Heather-Whitty

                        Gathering Garden Waste

                        Heather-Whitty, Oct 8, 2009, in forum: General Gardening Discussion
                        Replies:
                        21
                        Views:
                        1,473
                        Selleri
                        Oct 10, 2009

                      Share This Page

                      1. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
                        By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.
                        Accept Learn More...
                        Dismiss Notice