2022 Thread at https://gardenandgossip.org/showthread.p...=aubergine

We've had some Love or Hate chat about growing Aubergines recently so I've dug out my Aubergine seeds to see if anything tempts me to try again. 
Interestingly, there are a couple that are described as Thornless. One is "Ivory" which is a white one. Orlando is "virtually spineless" and has 2" (?diameter), finger length, bitter-free fruits.

The other advice I read was to pick them small before they start to change colour as they turn bitter when they change (which indicates that their seeds are ripening).
White ones turn yellow, purple ones turn brown - pick them before they change. 
I've always been unsure about when to pick them, as I've only seen shop ones that are huge compared to anything I've ever grown so I've been leaving them as long as possible thinking they would grow bigger.........and been disappointed

The happiness rule seems to be, pick them small, young and at the right colour. 

I have seeds of :-
Ivory (white)
Clara (white)
Miranda (deep purple)
Kermit (green golfball
Orlando (dark purple )
Viserba 3 (long, purple - bitterfree flesh)
Long Purple (deep violet)
Rosa Bianca/Rotada Bianca Sfumata do Rosa (white turning purple with rose pink stripes - said to be non-bitter)
Black Beauty (dark purple)
Turkish Orange (Orange!! pick young to avoid bitterness).

 Decisions, decisions!!

I never really get presents - I usually get what I want throughout the year ( within reason ) the boys are frantically trying to find me something that I would really want on the day... Ive just seen them sneaking  a 6ft eucalyptus tree up the garden path


.... a little walk down memory lane - 8 years ago today I got the dog of my dreams, he didnt last long but the time we had with him was special.
   

What are you hoping for on Sunday - or have you already got it
( I ordered a dozen new dahlias  )

I'm geographically challenged and, when Garden Grower wrote that they were in Suffolk, I struggled to place it on a UK map - and whether there were any more members who lived nearby. I think of the UK as a giant jigsaw puzzle, where each county interlocks with its neighbours, so I wondered whether, between us, we could complete the jigsaw, or, how many pieces are we missing.

How about "Claiming" your county and giving us a pen picture of the area? You can "Claim" your town or village or island too. For those in France, you can "Claim" whatever you like!

I'll start by Claiming the City and County of Cardiff, Capital of Wales and Land of My Fathers and Mothers. I live near the City boundary, where the houses run out and the woods and fields reign supreme. On a clear day, I can see England, Somerset to be exact, across the Severn Estuary. If anyone lives there I'll wave to you.

Hi Guys,
I'm new here. Got a small allotment that I started early on in the year, after many years away from gardening. I'm sure I'll be looking for recommendations soon into the season! :-)

Garden Organic have posted a list of Seed Swapping Events in 2023. (Cardiff is not until 25th February and I'm excited already. +)
https://www.gardenorganic.org.uk/what-we...vents-2023

Please add any events & Potato days that you hear about.

As one swap closes another one opens.

Any commercial seeds (part or full packets) with a sow by date  of 2022 or later, accepted. Also, saved seeds that weren't in the recent swap.
Seeds to be sent to me before 14th April and sent back during April so that there's still time to sow them.
As before, if you send in 20 packets (all different) you'll receive 20 random packets back.  Just an example, you can send in however many you like and I'll try to send the same number back - no guarantees though if you send lots!
Put your names on the packets so that they're not sent back to you.
Seal opened packets well - I hate it when an envelope contains loose, unidentifiable seeds (they go to a random patch somewhere in the garden).

Who's IN 

1. Veggie - RCD
2. Small Chilli - RCD
3. Garrett - RCD
4. JJB - RCD
5. Proserpina X
6. Far End Woman - RCD
7. Scarlet - RCD
8 Sarriss X

RCD = Received.

So I’ve got a little bit of wood chip. I believe it’s mostly larch. I’ll be using most on paths . My question is can I mix it into  beds and add it to compost? I wasn’t sure if the larch had a lot of tannings in it that wouldn’t be good for beds. If it is ok I might be able to get more     .

Didn't know where to put this so i bunged it here!

I made a short video when I first got my Fergie tractor and today managed to eventualy upload it to youtube.

Here's a link for anyone interested!

https://youtu.be/sNwiVa1dGDE

Btw there were three models, a TEA petrol version, a TED petrol/ parrafin version (like mine) and a TEF diesel version. Overseas there was also a TEO.

I bought the Maria Thun Biodynamic Calendar 2023 intending to give this a try next year but I'm totally flummoxed by it. I can't get my head around the system at all. 
In my simple way I thought I could bend my Roots, Shoots, Fruits and Leaves to their Roots, Fruits, Leaves and Flowers planting dates. 
You think my RSFL plan is complicated, but its easy peasy compared to Moon gardening. I can't find any pattern to it at all. 
Unless somebody comes along with a simplified version that my simple mind can understand, I'm sorry to say that I'm giving up on it. 

Anybody tried it who can help a confused Veggie please?

Having had the first (and hopefully only) snow of winter, my happy thought was that, I have enough food in the house to last until the new year, probably longer. May run out of milk ( but have powdered) and bread (have a bread maker and flour). I'd just like a fine day on Wednesday when my car goes for its MOT and then I'm going to hibernate.
I envy the animals that can curl up somewhere snug for a few months and sleep the cold spell away. Are there any more wishful hibernators around?