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Post by Flowerpotty on Jul 31, 2006 21:11:39 GMT 1
Are there any others with green fingers apart from Eileen and I? I'll just wait for the pun from Bamber regarding the above.... !!!
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Post by Richard Cranium on Aug 1, 2006 11:59:11 GMT 1
Dr David Banner gets green fingers.
But only when he gets angry!!
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Post by Flowerpotty on Aug 1, 2006 12:30:07 GMT 1
That's very good - I knew you wouldn't let me down!
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Post by eileenh on Aug 1, 2006 17:17:46 GMT 1
This rain is just what we need! (Boring aren`t I?) The plants are just slurping it up and looking very grateful!
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Post by Flowerpotty on Aug 2, 2006 8:39:28 GMT 1
They are! The weeds have been a problem too. I've managed to clear most of them off my garden now. I get overun with a particular kind that gets a small yellow flower on it. It spreads really quickly - a right pain!
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Post by eileenh on Aug 2, 2006 10:14:02 GMT 1
Isn`t it strange that weeds don`t seem to suffer from lack of water? We`ve got bindweed spreading from the neighbouring plot. It must be the world`s most efficient survivor! Pulling it`s no use as the roots just break and carry on growing. If you try to dig it up the fragile root tips break off and set off again in another direction. The cheeky b***ers have expressed their gratitude for our bean sticks. "Ooh thanks, just what we needed to grow up and have a look round!" Still - if your ground`s fertile enough for a good crop of weeds it`s fertile enough for a good crop of good stuff. We`ll never win. I just hope to come in a good second place!
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Post by jacaranda on Aug 2, 2006 15:54:31 GMT 1
if only my runner beans would grow as fast as the weeds
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Post by Flowerpotty on Aug 10, 2006 9:50:01 GMT 1
They like wet, damp conditions - something we've not had of late. I wondered if it was my bean seeds that were to blame, but I think everyone is having the same problems.
My onions and tomatoes have been great this year.
I've just planted my spring cabbage seeds, so hopefully they'll be ready for planting out around Oct time.
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Post by jacaranda on Aug 17, 2006 15:11:22 GMT 1
I set 2 seeds per cane as I was late starting due to moving house,plus about 10 extra at the end of the row,and I still have gaps in my row with no plants,mind you next year it will be a different story,with real preparation I will be on a winner, I HOPE
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Post by Flowerpotty on Aug 17, 2006 15:17:46 GMT 1
My beans have been a dead loss this year. Last year, I started picking them in July and was still getting some off at the end of September. I had loads. Some this year havn't even managed to reach 2 feet high! Those cabbage seeds are taking their time to come through aswell and I need them to be ready for planting out properly in October ready for next spring.
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Post by jacaranda on Aug 17, 2006 17:06:48 GMT 1
mine have reached maximum height,not as many beans as I would normally get,I normally dig a trench around 1 metre deep,plenty of well rotted horse muck in the bottom,loads of old newspaper,any old cotton material (not man made fibres) as mulch,then carryon putting potatao peelings and other veg peelings ,a quick covering of lime,and backfill and leave to rot over winter,come spring you have the ideal situation for the best beans you could wish for,I normally start my beans off in pots indoors or greenhouse,and harden off before setting out,I am normally getting beans when they are top price in the shop and also plenty of surplus for freezing,also save some for seed for the following year,
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Post by Flowerpotty on Aug 17, 2006 19:22:14 GMT 1
My dad was the keen gardener. He grew all sorts of things in the garden which is quite large. I tried to carry on the tradition after he died. I found some seeds that he had left in the greenhouse last year and planted them in pots in the greenhouse and like I said, I had a great crop last year. This year I've done the same and had no luck. When the soil was prepared, I just dug in some compost out of my compost bins. It's a shame, but I wasn't able to water them as much as I would have liked during the hot spell and I reckon thats whats done them this year. I've only had a few off so far. I find it difficult keeping the garden at Calverton - theres alot of bedding plant borders too - when I'm living out here, but it hasn't looked too bad.
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Post by jacaranda on Aug 17, 2006 20:42:50 GMT 1
the idea of plenty of mulch is that it retains moisture ,and if you water as much as you can you should be ok,during the dry spell I had the hosepipe on every morning and evening,and sometimes in the day used water from our pond and soaked them some more,the flowers are still very prolific,and loads of beans still to come,I dont let them get any longer than 6 inches,preferring quality to quantity,a good bean if you can get the seed are LADY DI,decribed as long and slender and very tender,I can vouch for them too
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Post by Flowerpotty on Aug 18, 2006 9:04:11 GMT 1
Thankyou for that sound advice eye eye. I'll definitely try that next year. I'll try those seeds you suggest aswell. I'll still keep some from this year from mine and do 2 lots next time. It's one vegetable I don't get sick of eating - I can't speak for the rest of my family though! Last year, my partner reckoned he'd turn green if we had anymore for dinner!
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Post by jacaranda on Aug 18, 2006 10:45:44 GMT 1
there is a lot you can do witht the lowly runner bean,ideal for making chutney along with surplus tomatoes
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