Anyone any idea what could be causing this damage or how they would go about trying to find the culprit? The first year we had a good crop of nectarines but last year, most were damaged and rotted before ripening and the same looks likely to happen this year.

I've seen ants about in the polytunnel and on the tree also quite a few flies but no wasps. I do get some slug damage on other plants.

   

Mint Wine

In the recipe below, I used a blend of spearmint and regular peppermint. Use whatever mints you have! I can imagine the lovely twist that could happen if you used chocolate mint, or pineapple mint… warning - this was my first attempt so may need tweaking x

Ingredients 
4 litres of water
4 cups of fresh mint leaves (rinsed and removed from the stem)
Around a kilo of sugar, or more if you prefer
1 packet of yeast (a sweet wine or mead yeast is nice, but even baking yeast works in a pinch!)
handful of raisins, chopped, or yeast nutrient

Method
1. Boil most of the water in a large pot. While that is happening, sanitize your demijohn, funnel, strainer, and your airlock and bung.
2. Remove the pot from heat and get ready to add the mint leaves and raisins. Crumple the leaves to bruise them and release their essential oils as you add them to the pot. Cover the pot and let it sit for about 10-15 minutes.
3. Pour the sugar into the warm mint tea and stir to dissolve. leave to steep overnight.
4. Strain the mint tea into the demijohn and top it off with the rest of the filtered water to the neck. Add the bung and airlock to the jug. Toss the leaves in your compost bin.
5. When the demijohn is filed, sprinkle in the packet of yeast and give it a shake. Within a day or two, the jug should be bubbling happily. It should be happy to sit and bubble for a month or so.
6. When the bubbles stop and the liquid is clear, it is time to bottle!

Apparently this golden brew already tasted great at bottling time, and it only became more and more delicious as it aged throughout the year. The longer it ages, the more minty it becomes.

Hi all,

I remember someone mentioning a bitter courgette on here last month. So when I saw this warning, via a fb group, I thought I should share here NB alythrough the post is 2013, the comments and reponse from Fothergills is 2020.

"Hello everyone and I am the social media manager for Mr Fothergill’s. As posted by Mark Carroll above, we have recently become aware of this issue with a small number of people being in touch with our Customer Services team about bitter courgettes. The variety involved is Courgette Zucchini with batch code I printed on the back of the packet next to the barcode. We have withdrawn all stocks of this seed immediately, recalled all stocks in garden centres and are currently contacting customers we know to have bought this variety by mail order.

We are very sorry to hear of the discomfort suffered by anyone who has an affected plant, though there seem to be only some rogue seeds amongst the batch, with some packets causing no problem at all. As pointed out in this thread already, it has likely resulted from an inadvertent cross-pollination in the plants that produced the seeds. We would urge anyone who has a packet of these seeds to get in contact with us by email on debbie.porter@mr-fothergills.co.uk

If you have grown a plant from these seeds, you can taste-test the fruits before consuming them by cutting them a licking the flesh. Affected fruits are extremely bitter and an indication you should destroy the plant. Please do not consume the fruits of any plants that have produced bitter tasting fruits.

Thank you for your patience and understanding."

https://www.bhaf.org.uk/content/advice/g...eYY57jkkzQ

Hello Folks
 
Looking at these for next year, so far I’ve seen/read about MDPE and Conduit, do people have views on what’s best or perhaps there is something else you use?


I can't see a lot of price different plus the conduit is already cut into lengths (obviously only good if the lengths are what you want)

:    

Self explanatory!!
What's your Anecdote?

It was during the 1996 Royal Variety Performance when I rode Sally, a two-humped camel with Housewives favourite, Jeremy Paxman!!

Scallop squash monster, but pretty

   

i notice a lot of house flights, midges and other flies in my poly tunnel, I don’t know if they are doing any good or any harm. I also have a few bees in pollinating plants.
I was just wondering if I put a few Venus flytraps in the tunnel would this get rid of the flies and midges ?
Anybody ever try something like this ?

I fear I've overwatered one of my GH Beth alpha.   The cuclets are turning yellow.  Maybe a lesson learnt.

Look closely and see how many get the correct answer.

The mathematical rules of precedence apply, therefore multiplication and division before addition and subtraction

   

I think I have a bees nest in my shed. They seem to be going into a crack between the roof and the front of shed above the door. They may be wasps but I don't think so.
If they are bees I don't mind but wonder how long they will be active. I didn't have the nerve to stick my head in the door and look up and wonder how big the nest will be?
I usually just lean in and grab tools so I can live with them being there.
Any info appreciated.