This was my first plot, affectionately known as Area51

   

   

After a few weeks

   

   

A few months later

   

Hi I have 3 rogue plants in amongst my chillies, initially I thought they were swede/turnip but now they seem to be developing a seed head and look like a broccoli I don’t know whether to keep them.i I do not have any broccoli growing as I don’t like it so I’m sure it is not broccoli, any ideas anyone ?

   

Hi I got this plant in  Aldi but lost the label from it. I think it’s an indoor plant it was nearly dead but I nursed it back to a healthy state. Can anybody help identify it, its got a very bright golden flower.  Thanks

   

The best time to pick herbs for drying is June/July before they flower. 
Pick them on a dry day, early morning, when the dew has disappeared and before the sun dispels the volatile oils.
Pick off the dead and damaged leaves.
Rinse if they look dusty.

Various ways to dry them. 
I tie them in bunches and hang upside down in a cool room. 

After that its up to you, store them, cook with them, use instead of cut flowers, scent your rooms/pillows.............

Does anyone grow them?

I was sent a little gift from a friend - a mix pack of seed for species pelargonium.

The pack said approx 10 mixed bag.

10 have popped up so far. Looks like I have another 2 to come. They are just breaking through. They have taken maybe a month.

I've never grown them before - I usually choose large tall plants. But I'm quite excited about these - even though I will have to give them windowsill space over the winter. 

I will post some photos when they are a little bigger. I'm looking forward to working out what they are!

I'm puzzled.  I have some random carrots amongst the onions, they were last year's self seeded Solar Yellow I think.   Why would these self seeded ones be flowering before maturity,  they aren't even finger sized yet but are trying to go to seed.  It's not a problem, these  carrots are a bit manky anyway but its curious.

I've mentioned raspberry vinegar a few times so looked up a recipe for you.

Put 450g/1lb raspberries or other fruit into a lidded container with 600ml/1 pint of cider vinegar.
Mash the fruit a little with a wooden spoon.
Leave covered for a fortnight.

Strain well and put in a  pan with 255g/8oz caster sugar for each 600ml/1 pint of vinegar.

Simmer for 10 minutes.
Leave to cool and bottle.  

I use the pulp leftover from jam making - after straining the fruit to make jelly preserves. 
If its already sweetened, just add vinegar and simmer for 10 minutes. 

I've used all sorts of fruit - raspberry, blackberry, mixed with elderberry.

Nice diluted with water as a drink too.

I love the baby beets just boiled or roasted as a veg and OH likes them pickled or just doused in vinegar.   As they get bigger I sometimes add a sauce, probably horseradish or a sweet one like in Harvard Beets.

I'm looking for recommendations from all of you as to your favourite way of preparing beetroot.
I expect we should eventually have a similar thread for courgette recipes when the glut comes

Mods if this should go under the relevant veg type  please move

I know it's an emotive question and maybe a bit too personal,  but are you organic.

To start off I'll confess.  I am until such time as I lose my rag at the pests then I resort to the least inorganic methods to get rid.
If you are organic,  and I can guess who might be , what do you do with a precious crop that the pests have invaded?

I have discussed this a while ago elsewhere but it's still a plan yet to become reality. We have a deep leylandii hedge (approx 7' deep and 9' high) which cuts my veg patch area of the garden from the rest of the lawn. The hedge also screens the garden which runs down the side of the house from the road. I would like to remove the hedge and replace it with fruit trees and bushes to keep the veg patch separate from our lawn. My wife is concerned re the loss of privacy and people being able to see in to our back garden. 

I'm wondering about doing some dwarf fruit trees, either trained or as standards maybe underplanted with fruit bushes. Does anyone have any thoughts on the best of both worlds re screening and producing something edible and also any suggestions of varieties for a garden on top of a hill 1 mile from the west coast in north lancashire.