Gathering old wives tales

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

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  1. Sirius

    Sirius Total Gardener

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    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
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  2. Jungle Jane

    Jungle Jane Starved Of Technicolor

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    I have two thriving and one dying. Does that mean I need to hit the other half a bit harder? :snork:
     
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      Jungle Jane, Aug 1, 2013
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    • shiney

      shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

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      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:
       
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        shiney, Aug 1, 2013
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      • clueless1

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

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        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
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      • Doug Harding

        Doug Harding South coast mr nice guy

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        See ..... There is a purpose for turnips .......

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

        shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

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        Baldrick had it right, all along! :lunapic 130165696578242 5:
         
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          shiney, Aug 1, 2013
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        • Jungle Jane

          Jungle Jane Starved Of Technicolor

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          Indeed I would. Its the only way to ge him to do anything in this house.
           
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            Jungle Jane, Aug 1, 2013
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          • honeybunny

            honeybunny Head Gardener

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            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
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          • shiney

            shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

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            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:
             
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            • alana

              alana Super Gardener

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              I never bring lilac into the house because my gran always told me it meant someone close was going to die.
               
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                alana, Aug 4, 2013
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              • clueless1

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                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).
                 
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                  clueless1, Aug 4, 2013
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                • Peaceful Gardener

                  Peaceful Gardener Gardener

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                  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
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                • NigelJ

                  NigelJ Total Gardener

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                  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.
                   
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                    NigelJ, Sep 28, 2025
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                  • NigelJ

                    NigelJ Total Gardener

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                    • Peaceful Gardener

                      Peaceful Gardener Gardener

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                      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 :)
                       
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