You've made it to another year Can. Happy birthday have a good one. A good excuse for a few bevvies,  if you need one.

I've been sorting through my Leek seed collection and they all look very similar to me! Some are described as "blue" or "yellow", some boast about their size but basically, a leek is a leek, whichever way you look at it. 
Do you have a favourite leek please?

I'm also wondering whether they can be sown in autumn for overwintering, instead of January onwards as the seed packets advise. If some onions can be sown now, why shouldn't leeks?

Is there an easy way? Can you thresh them once dried ? If I have to hand shell my beans I will be on forever!

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Sorting through a heap of beetroot seed packets and thinking aloud about the differences between varieties - or not.

Beetroot come in different colours - red, yellow, white and stripy (Chioggia).
They come in different shapes - small ball, big ball, flattened and cylindrical/conical.

There are several with similar names - starting with BO - Boltardy, Bono, Boston, Boldor (which is yellow)

Detroit 2 is the same as Crimson Globe

Real seeds say that Beetroot seeds are viable for 2-3 years.

Beetroot leaves are edible as well as the roots. use like chard or leaf beet.
Bulls Blood beetroot is grown primarily as a cut and come again salad leaf. 

Anything you can add? Favourite varieties? How to grow? When to sow?

Any ideas?

   

How many of us do big batch cooking? 
I do sometimes. But not often. I’ve stopped big batch soup making. It’s never as good from the freezer as it is just cooked. I do like to chilli & lasagna ( meat or veg ) big batch. But it doesn’t happen as often as it could. 
Yesterday I did a big batch of Staffordshire oatcakes.

         

The quality control area
   

Cooling racks filling up
   

35 oatcakes later. 28 made it to the freezer. A couple sampled and some for tea.
         

I want to know all about your Bells, Flaps and Knockers - but, you'll be relieved to know, there's no need for photographs.

As you know, I've been out and about recently, calling at strangers' homes to collect their unwanted items. The assortment  of Bells, Flaps and knockers I've  had to touch is quite amazing. 
This morning, I was forced to stand on tiptoe to reach the lady's knocker. Why she needed it that high I've no idea.

Anyway, tell me what you have and whether its user friendly please - just in case I ever come to visit.

Still finding things to surprise and delight me in the garden.
Pure chance that these are growing together.

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Can anyone name these please. Collected cuttings from these yesterday.

   

   

   

Also got these which I’ve named. But am I right?

     Persicaria affinis ‘Darjeeling Red’ 

    anemone ( not a cutting, I got a big chunk of root ) 

I have a packet of 200 Dill's Atlantic Giant pumpkin seeds. https://www.kingsseeds.com/products/vege...ntic-giant.
Does anyone fancy trying to grow the biggest pumpkin from these seeds next year? I'll send you some seeds and all you have to do is grow them.
Add your name below. If you're in the Seed Swap, I'll send you the seeds then.  Even if you're not in the Seedswap, I'll still send you some seeds. 
 Go on, you know you like a challenge. 

1. Veggie
2. Sarriss
3. Small chilli
4. JJB
5. Proserpina
6. Pyrenees Plot
7. doublyjonah
8. Broadway