https://gardenandgossip.org/ Tue, 07 Apr 2026 16:10:38 +0000 MyBB https://gardenandgossip.org/showthread.php?tid=2469 Sun, 05 Apr 2026 11:33:31 +0000 Veggie]]> https://gardenandgossip.org/showthread.php?tid=2469

I don't know about you, obviously, but I have never followed any of the soil rotation plans  - where a specific group of veg move to another area each year - the theory being that each veg benefits from whatever was grown there in the previous year. Don't expect me to explain it  as its beyond me!
I've realised that I always grow beans in the same place - always grow peas in their own place, every year - because that's where the supports are.
Perennial vegetables - leeks, kale etc stay put and seem to thrive. ...............
.........So, why, are we advised to grow annual leeks and brassicas in a different place every year?

You can probably see where I'm going with this........to create permanent "beds" for each veg that I grow. It would have the added benefit that self seeders would be in the right place to grow, year on year.]]>

I don't know about you, obviously, but I have never followed any of the soil rotation plans  - where a specific group of veg move to another area each year - the theory being that each veg benefits from whatever was grown there in the previous year. Don't expect me to explain it  as its beyond me!
I've realised that I always grow beans in the same place - always grow peas in their own place, every year - because that's where the supports are.
Perennial vegetables - leeks, kale etc stay put and seem to thrive. ...............
.........So, why, are we advised to grow annual leeks and brassicas in a different place every year?

You can probably see where I'm going with this........to create permanent "beds" for each veg that I grow. It would have the added benefit that self seeders would be in the right place to grow, year on year.]]> https://gardenandgossip.org/showthread.php?tid=2468 Sat, 04 Apr 2026 12:37:54 +0000 JJB]]> https://gardenandgossip.org/showthread.php?tid=2468
A particular species of bamboo will flower at intervals of 10 to 130 years. All examples of that species will flower at the same time no matter where in the world they're growing or under what conditions. A bit of a simplification but nonetheless fascinating. 


https://www.guaduabamboo.com/blog/bamboo...rs%20later.]]>
A particular species of bamboo will flower at intervals of 10 to 130 years. All examples of that species will flower at the same time no matter where in the world they're growing or under what conditions. A bit of a simplification but nonetheless fascinating. 


https://www.guaduabamboo.com/blog/bamboo...rs%20later.]]> https://gardenandgossip.org/showthread.php?tid=2467 Fri, 03 Apr 2026 17:07:25 +0000 Veggie]]> https://gardenandgossip.org/showthread.php?tid=2467 Let's start with essentials - the veg that you always grow and couldn't do without. For example - tomatoes - but which one?

Let's start with 10 (or less) essential veg, then we'll narrow it down to naming the variety. 
 My essential veg are :-
Tomatoes
Courgettes
Lettuce
Mangetout
Beans
Cucumber
Rocket
Kale]]> Let's start with essentials - the veg that you always grow and couldn't do without. For example - tomatoes - but which one?

Let's start with 10 (or less) essential veg, then we'll narrow it down to naming the variety. 
 My essential veg are :-
Tomatoes
Courgettes
Lettuce
Mangetout
Beans
Cucumber
Rocket
Kale]]> https://gardenandgossip.org/showthread.php?tid=2466 Tue, 31 Mar 2026 16:50:32 +0000 doublyjonah]]> https://gardenandgossip.org/showthread.php?tid=2466
This is mostly a rant of course, but please give me your advice for keeping them out of the garden and/or not being so worried about disease. We have purchased rolls of rodent mesh that are 40 cm deep which we plan to bury along the fence as much as possible. We have probably useless sonic scarers. We have moved pots and things around back there to make it less hospitable and blocked up the garage access (awaiting new steel door installation). Any other ideas? Please help your neurotic internet acquaintance.]]>
This is mostly a rant of course, but please give me your advice for keeping them out of the garden and/or not being so worried about disease. We have purchased rolls of rodent mesh that are 40 cm deep which we plan to bury along the fence as much as possible. We have probably useless sonic scarers. We have moved pots and things around back there to make it less hospitable and blocked up the garage access (awaiting new steel door installation). Any other ideas? Please help your neurotic internet acquaintance.]]> https://gardenandgossip.org/showthread.php?tid=2465 Fri, 27 Mar 2026 16:55:04 +0000 Small chilli]]> https://gardenandgossip.org/showthread.php?tid=2465
  20240529_114809_Original.jpeg (Size: 302.61 KB / Downloads: 10)  
Or would you just use them single hight ?]]>
  20240529_114809_Original.jpeg (Size: 302.61 KB / Downloads: 10)  
Or would you just use them single hight ?]]> https://gardenandgossip.org/showthread.php?tid=2464 Fri, 27 Mar 2026 13:55:32 +0000 Small chilli]]> https://gardenandgossip.org/showthread.php?tid=2464
I’ve just started again. We used to feed them at the old place. Now most of the big noisy work is done. I thought it was about time we started. 

How & what do you feed ? Hanging feeders, bird table, ground.? 

I’ve got 2 hanging feeders, 1 seed, 1 peanuts. 4 fat feeders, 3 different types. Also one homemade feeder with wool in for nesting material. They get one handful of mealworms a day as well. They go on top of the big rock in the garden. 


  20260327_124907_Original.jpeg (Size: 191.3 KB / Downloads: 3)

I plan on having a bird table at some point. But it’ll probably be a homemade unique piece. It’s still in the planning stages. 

I buy my seed from here https://www.amazon.co.uk/stores/MaltbysS...BNAZ4QHQD0
I get the 15kg bags . I’ve brought enough half coconuts fat feeders now that I can refill them with homemade fat feed. A mix of seed, mealworms & chopped currants .

What species do you see the most of? Mine is definitely the chaffinches 

Finally how often do you clean your feeders? 
I brush any stuck stuff off every time I refill. Going to try to be good and clean monthly.]]>
I’ve just started again. We used to feed them at the old place. Now most of the big noisy work is done. I thought it was about time we started. 

How & what do you feed ? Hanging feeders, bird table, ground.? 

I’ve got 2 hanging feeders, 1 seed, 1 peanuts. 4 fat feeders, 3 different types. Also one homemade feeder with wool in for nesting material. They get one handful of mealworms a day as well. They go on top of the big rock in the garden. 


  20260327_124907_Original.jpeg (Size: 191.3 KB / Downloads: 3)

I plan on having a bird table at some point. But it’ll probably be a homemade unique piece. It’s still in the planning stages. 

I buy my seed from here https://www.amazon.co.uk/stores/MaltbysS...BNAZ4QHQD0
I get the 15kg bags . I’ve brought enough half coconuts fat feeders now that I can refill them with homemade fat feed. A mix of seed, mealworms & chopped currants .

What species do you see the most of? Mine is definitely the chaffinches 

Finally how often do you clean your feeders? 
I brush any stuck stuff off every time I refill. Going to try to be good and clean monthly.]]> https://gardenandgossip.org/showthread.php?tid=2463 Sat, 21 Mar 2026 20:36:09 +0000 Veggie]]> https://gardenandgossip.org/showthread.php?tid=2463 These days, I don't have any "best clothes" - probably because I rarely go anywhere "posh". 
The point of this waffle, is the realisation that these habits have rubbed off into the garden - and I need to break the habit.

For example, I pulled some carrots up this week because they were bolting.  They were big but inedible! If I hadn't been keeping them "for best" and had pulled them up weeks ago they would have been smaller but much nicer. More to the point, I could have eaten them instead of adding to the compost bin. 

Its the same with seeds - I'm a hoarder - not necessarily a buyer, but, an acquirer of seeds at swaps. When I decide to sow a particular seed - let's say courgette for example. I'll sow the oldest seeds first and keep my fingers crossed that they'll germinate. If they don't, I'll sow the next oldest but, I rarely sow the freshest seeds. They go into storage for another year.
Each time I sow and fail, I've wasted time, compost and energy. If I went straight to sowing the freshest seeds, in theory, I should have healthy seedlings from the start. 

Part of the problem is that, some packets of seeds contain far more seeds than any "normal" person needs  - or can sow within a year or two. As you know,I am unable to throw anything away - especially seeds - so part used packets are stored with the unopened - and my next round of sowings will not just be old seeds, but opened packets of old seeds, which may have deteriorated even more than unopened packets of a similar age. So its a double whammy!

I'm going to try to overcome my frugal habits this year - by sowing seeds that are in date and by picking "small and beautiful" crops instead of thinking that I need to win a giant veg competition. 

Is there a support group in G&G that can help me please?]]> These days, I don't have any "best clothes" - probably because I rarely go anywhere "posh". 
The point of this waffle, is the realisation that these habits have rubbed off into the garden - and I need to break the habit.

For example, I pulled some carrots up this week because they were bolting.  They were big but inedible! If I hadn't been keeping them "for best" and had pulled them up weeks ago they would have been smaller but much nicer. More to the point, I could have eaten them instead of adding to the compost bin. 

Its the same with seeds - I'm a hoarder - not necessarily a buyer, but, an acquirer of seeds at swaps. When I decide to sow a particular seed - let's say courgette for example. I'll sow the oldest seeds first and keep my fingers crossed that they'll germinate. If they don't, I'll sow the next oldest but, I rarely sow the freshest seeds. They go into storage for another year.
Each time I sow and fail, I've wasted time, compost and energy. If I went straight to sowing the freshest seeds, in theory, I should have healthy seedlings from the start. 

Part of the problem is that, some packets of seeds contain far more seeds than any "normal" person needs  - or can sow within a year or two. As you know,I am unable to throw anything away - especially seeds - so part used packets are stored with the unopened - and my next round of sowings will not just be old seeds, but opened packets of old seeds, which may have deteriorated even more than unopened packets of a similar age. So its a double whammy!

I'm going to try to overcome my frugal habits this year - by sowing seeds that are in date and by picking "small and beautiful" crops instead of thinking that I need to win a giant veg competition. 

Is there a support group in G&G that can help me please?]]> https://gardenandgossip.org/showthread.php?tid=2462 Tue, 17 Mar 2026 11:24:10 +0000 Veggie]]> https://gardenandgossip.org/showthread.php?tid=2462

Last year (2025) https://gardenandgossip.org/showthread.php?tid=2329
Previous year's threads at https://gardenandgossip.org/showthread.p...d+my+first]]>

Last year (2025) https://gardenandgossip.org/showthread.php?tid=2329
Previous year's threads at https://gardenandgossip.org/showthread.p...d+my+first]]> https://gardenandgossip.org/showthread.php?tid=2461 Wed, 11 Mar 2026 22:43:21 +0000 Veggie]]> https://gardenandgossip.org/showthread.php?tid=2461 https://celticrootsfarm.com/14-best-cut-...er-garden/

To save you reading it, the 14 best CACA flowers are:-
Zinnias
Cosmos
Dahlias
Sweet Peas
Strawflowers
Statice
Gomphrena
Amaranth
Phlox
Marigold (Tagetes)
Celosia
Scabiosa
Nasturtium
Cornflower

I rarely cut flowers from the garden as I prefer to see them growing outdoors. Cutting flower heads off seems so ungrateful !! I might cut flowers from a shrub that wouldn't miss a few flowers but otherwise I only pick damaged flowers, like the daffodils that have snapped off in the wind. 
Maybe, if I grow CACA flowers, I could convince myself that I'm not being ungrateful!!]]> https://celticrootsfarm.com/14-best-cut-...er-garden/

To save you reading it, the 14 best CACA flowers are:-
Zinnias
Cosmos
Dahlias
Sweet Peas
Strawflowers
Statice
Gomphrena
Amaranth
Phlox
Marigold (Tagetes)
Celosia
Scabiosa
Nasturtium
Cornflower

I rarely cut flowers from the garden as I prefer to see them growing outdoors. Cutting flower heads off seems so ungrateful !! I might cut flowers from a shrub that wouldn't miss a few flowers but otherwise I only pick damaged flowers, like the daffodils that have snapped off in the wind. 
Maybe, if I grow CACA flowers, I could convince myself that I'm not being ungrateful!!]]> https://gardenandgossip.org/showthread.php?tid=2460 Wed, 11 Mar 2026 11:42:10 +0000 doublyjonah]]> https://gardenandgossip.org/showthread.php?tid=2460
*Prizes not that fabulous. Mostly kudos and seeds saved from seedlings.
§Prizes not at all contingent on winning and quite definitely contingent on actually growing any of these seedlings into successfully flowering plants.
^Prizes also contingent on you wanting to give me your address and grow my no-longer random varieties.

I'll start with the seedlings that I think I have identified.

Lupin

  Lupin.jpg (Size: 220.64 KB / Downloads: 8)

Marigold

  Marigold.jpg (Size: 217.93 KB / Downloads: 7)

Zinnia

  Zinnia.jpg (Size: 164.39 KB / Downloads: 6) ]]>
*Prizes not that fabulous. Mostly kudos and seeds saved from seedlings.
§Prizes not at all contingent on winning and quite definitely contingent on actually growing any of these seedlings into successfully flowering plants.
^Prizes also contingent on you wanting to give me your address and grow my no-longer random varieties.

I'll start with the seedlings that I think I have identified.

Lupin

  Lupin.jpg (Size: 220.64 KB / Downloads: 8)

Marigold

  Marigold.jpg (Size: 217.93 KB / Downloads: 7)

Zinnia

  Zinnia.jpg (Size: 164.39 KB / Downloads: 6) ]]> https://gardenandgossip.org/showthread.php?tid=2459 Mon, 09 Mar 2026 19:24:36 +0000 Veggie]]> https://gardenandgossip.org/showthread.php?tid=2459
https://butterfly-conservation.org/news-...ss-england]]>
https://butterfly-conservation.org/news-...ss-england]]> https://gardenandgossip.org/showthread.php?tid=2458 Mon, 09 Mar 2026 18:45:31 +0000 Small chilli]]> https://gardenandgossip.org/showthread.php?tid=2458 Do tell. Don’t be shy, we know how the tomato addicts are already   

I have a short list. I have to reduce it to 11 varieties. One plant of each.

If anyone has advice on which 11 I should go with , I’d be grateful. 

Tomato Black Russian  ( not optional. Definitely growing)
Tomato rosella   ( not optional. Definitely growing)
Tomato matts hornet 
Tomato EM champion 
Tomato  northern lights 
tomato oleron yellow 
tomato orange banana
tomato orange jazz 
tomato Oregon spring 
tomato indigo pear drop
tomato sweet casaday 
tomato santiam sunrise 
tomato mountain princess 
tomato gourmet bite size 
tomato girl girl weird thing 
tomato juaune flamme 
tomato piglet Willie 
tomato red zebra 
tomato buffalo horn ]]> Do tell. Don’t be shy, we know how the tomato addicts are already   

I have a short list. I have to reduce it to 11 varieties. One plant of each.

If anyone has advice on which 11 I should go with , I’d be grateful. 

Tomato Black Russian  ( not optional. Definitely growing)
Tomato rosella   ( not optional. Definitely growing)
Tomato matts hornet 
Tomato EM champion 
Tomato  northern lights 
tomato oleron yellow 
tomato orange banana
tomato orange jazz 
tomato Oregon spring 
tomato indigo pear drop
tomato sweet casaday 
tomato santiam sunrise 
tomato mountain princess 
tomato gourmet bite size 
tomato girl girl weird thing 
tomato juaune flamme 
tomato piglet Willie 
tomato red zebra 
tomato buffalo horn ]]> https://gardenandgossip.org/showthread.php?tid=2457 Thu, 05 Mar 2026 14:58:44 +0000 Veggie]]> https://gardenandgossip.org/showthread.php?tid=2457 https://www.bumblebeeconservation.org/le...ies-guide/

https://www.bumblebeeconservation.org/le...umblebees/]]> https://www.bumblebeeconservation.org/le...ies-guide/

https://www.bumblebeeconservation.org/le...umblebees/]]> https://gardenandgossip.org/showthread.php?tid=2456 Mon, 02 Mar 2026 11:42:21 +0000 toomanytommytoes]]> https://gardenandgossip.org/showthread.php?tid=2456
https://www.plantsofdistinction.co.uk/ne...ance-0518f
https://www.simplyseed.co.uk/tomato-seed...rance.html
https://www.seedhub.wales/seed/endurance...or-tomato/]]>
https://www.plantsofdistinction.co.uk/ne...ance-0518f
https://www.simplyseed.co.uk/tomato-seed...rance.html
https://www.seedhub.wales/seed/endurance...or-tomato/]]> https://gardenandgossip.org/showthread.php?tid=2455 Sat, 28 Feb 2026 12:25:52 +0000 Small chilli]]> https://gardenandgossip.org/showthread.php?tid=2455  . Oh gods , does that make me a pusher   . 
So which companies will send seed to Northern Ireland? He’s buying from eBay! He could be growing anything! But probably not what he thinks!]]>  . Oh gods , does that make me a pusher   . 
So which companies will send seed to Northern Ireland? He’s buying from eBay! He could be growing anything! But probably not what he thinks!]]>