https://gardenandgossip.org/ Fri, 24 Apr 2026 14:12:47 +0000 MyBB https://gardenandgossip.org/showthread.php?tid=2298 Sun, 19 Jan 2025 17:42:00 +0000 Small chilli]]> https://gardenandgossip.org/showthread.php?tid=2298 https://gardenandgossip.org/showthread.php?tid=2189 Thu, 11 Jul 2024 13:53:17 +0000 Small chilli]]> https://gardenandgossip.org/showthread.php?tid=2189 Any advice would be appreciated. I’d really like to plant things but as my sunflower photo proves. I really need to add something to the ground . The 2 groups that are growing reasonably well. Had some old / previously used compost added to the hole before planting. The rest went straight in the ground.


  20240711_144407_Original.jpeg (Size: 598.81 KB / Downloads: 11) ]]> Any advice would be appreciated. I’d really like to plant things but as my sunflower photo proves. I really need to add something to the ground . The 2 groups that are growing reasonably well. Had some old / previously used compost added to the hole before planting. The rest went straight in the ground.


  20240711_144407_Original.jpeg (Size: 598.81 KB / Downloads: 11) ]]> https://gardenandgossip.org/showthread.php?tid=2186 Wed, 03 Jul 2024 15:36:35 +0000 Small chilli]]> https://gardenandgossip.org/showthread.php?tid=2186  .]]>  .]]> https://gardenandgossip.org/showthread.php?tid=2105 Tue, 06 Feb 2024 21:48:37 +0000 Small chilli]]> https://gardenandgossip.org/showthread.php?tid=2105 I don’t want to put it on beds because the weeds will just grow. Can’t put it in compost because soil won’t compost down. Again weeds will probably grow unless in a hot composter. 

Clumps like this, if anyone isn’t sure what I’m on about   .


  20240206_134052_Original.jpeg (Size: 150.52 KB / Downloads: 17)  
  20240206_134044_Original.jpeg (Size: 183.9 KB / Downloads: 15)

I’ll get lots of stuff like this when taking all turf off. And big mats of weedy compost when emptying fish boxes.]]> I don’t want to put it on beds because the weeds will just grow. Can’t put it in compost because soil won’t compost down. Again weeds will probably grow unless in a hot composter. 

Clumps like this, if anyone isn’t sure what I’m on about   .


  20240206_134052_Original.jpeg (Size: 150.52 KB / Downloads: 17)  
  20240206_134044_Original.jpeg (Size: 183.9 KB / Downloads: 15)

I’ll get lots of stuff like this when taking all turf off. And big mats of weedy compost when emptying fish boxes.]]> https://gardenandgossip.org/showthread.php?tid=2067 Wed, 13 Dec 2023 20:51:51 +0000 Small chilli]]> https://gardenandgossip.org/showthread.php?tid=2067
If it is good how do I use it? Just scatter it around the base of the trees?]]>
If it is good how do I use it? Just scatter it around the base of the trees?]]> https://gardenandgossip.org/showthread.php?tid=1969 Tue, 18 Jul 2023 14:21:24 +0000 Veggie]]> https://gardenandgossip.org/showthread.php?tid=1969 Has anyone used it as mulch - wetted to stop it blowing away?]]> Has anyone used it as mulch - wetted to stop it blowing away?]]> https://gardenandgossip.org/showthread.php?tid=1968 Mon, 17 Jul 2023 08:44:39 +0000 JJB]]> https://gardenandgossip.org/showthread.php?tid=1968 bin with perhaps a view to making high potassium feed for the gh toms (it only half-heartedly happened). Anyway the  bucket was sinking lower and lower so I hoiked it out. On the top of the gloop, along with the brandling worms, were several  grubs about half inch long with a long tail. I'd never met these before, so googled before declaring outright war.  They are rat tailed maggots, the larvae/pupae of hover flies, so they're welcome to make their home in my compost gloop. You still learn things even at my age  ]]> bin with perhaps a view to making high potassium feed for the gh toms (it only half-heartedly happened). Anyway the  bucket was sinking lower and lower so I hoiked it out. On the top of the gloop, along with the brandling worms, were several  grubs about half inch long with a long tail. I'd never met these before, so googled before declaring outright war.  They are rat tailed maggots, the larvae/pupae of hover flies, so they're welcome to make their home in my compost gloop. You still learn things even at my age  ]]> https://gardenandgossip.org/showthread.php?tid=1876 Sun, 16 Apr 2023 20:28:25 +0000 doublyjonah]]> https://gardenandgossip.org/showthread.php?tid=1876 https://gardenandgossip.org/showthread.php?tid=1864 Mon, 10 Apr 2023 13:40:48 +0000 Small chilli]]> https://gardenandgossip.org/showthread.php?tid=1864 https://gardenandgossip.org/showthread.php?tid=1859 Sat, 01 Apr 2023 22:01:43 +0000 Veggie]]> https://gardenandgossip.org/showthread.php?tid=1859 I can see the benefits of home composting and returning that to the soil but why do we sow seeds in "compost" when we also direct sow into the ground? Why don't we scrape up some garden soil and sown our seeds into that? 
I'm starting to think that commercial "compost" should be renamed "con-post". Can anyone convince me otherwise?]]> I can see the benefits of home composting and returning that to the soil but why do we sow seeds in "compost" when we also direct sow into the ground? Why don't we scrape up some garden soil and sown our seeds into that? 
I'm starting to think that commercial "compost" should be renamed "con-post". Can anyone convince me otherwise?]]> https://gardenandgossip.org/showthread.php?tid=1856 Fri, 31 Mar 2023 16:11:57 +0000 toomanytommytoes]]> https://gardenandgossip.org/showthread.php?tid=1856
Wickes own brand 50L for £5 (no green waste compost, a mix of wood fibre, composted bark and coir, I quite like it)
Sainsburys 2 x 40L Levington for £8 (I wasn't happy with this stuff last year, contains green waste compost and had quite a bit of plastic contamination)
Home Bargains 40L for £3.49 (not been to a shop to see it myself, if it's the same as the Growmoor stuff they usually sell it's decent quality)
Lidl 40L for £3.49 (no idea what this stuff is like, if they're like Aldi it'll be mostly green waste compost)]]>
Wickes own brand 50L for £5 (no green waste compost, a mix of wood fibre, composted bark and coir, I quite like it)
Sainsburys 2 x 40L Levington for £8 (I wasn't happy with this stuff last year, contains green waste compost and had quite a bit of plastic contamination)
Home Bargains 40L for £3.49 (not been to a shop to see it myself, if it's the same as the Growmoor stuff they usually sell it's decent quality)
Lidl 40L for £3.49 (no idea what this stuff is like, if they're like Aldi it'll be mostly green waste compost)]]> https://gardenandgossip.org/showthread.php?tid=1841 Wed, 15 Mar 2023 15:47:41 +0000 Veggie]]> https://gardenandgossip.org/showthread.php?tid=1841  the 2 runs are ripe for development. Both are shaded so not the best spots for veg/fruit growing - however, maybe I could "grow" compost there instead? 

I have 2 intact wormeries and another one that needs a lid and tap.  Only one has worms in it - but there are worms in the Hotbin that I've been picking out and adding to the wormery. My first step, I think, is to move the wormeries together - putting them on a raised platform/pallet so that the worm juice can be drained off. 
The second step is to be more proactive in collecting compostable material. Less Chop & Drop, more Chop and collect for the worms. 

Is there any benefit in having a conventional "dalek" bin nearby to dump fresh prunings into, before topping up the wormeries? Or putting it in a dustbin?
Should I have containers for coffee grounds, sacks for horse manure and for shredded paper, wood chip, grass cuttings or, in my usual way, bung it all in without a lot of success. 

All advice welcome but don't mention building a 3 bay pallet compost bay - been there, done it and not doing it again. Too much like hard work, turning it.

In case you're wondering, the Hotbin will stay in the GH for convenience.]]>  the 2 runs are ripe for development. Both are shaded so not the best spots for veg/fruit growing - however, maybe I could "grow" compost there instead? 

I have 2 intact wormeries and another one that needs a lid and tap.  Only one has worms in it - but there are worms in the Hotbin that I've been picking out and adding to the wormery. My first step, I think, is to move the wormeries together - putting them on a raised platform/pallet so that the worm juice can be drained off. 
The second step is to be more proactive in collecting compostable material. Less Chop & Drop, more Chop and collect for the worms. 

Is there any benefit in having a conventional "dalek" bin nearby to dump fresh prunings into, before topping up the wormeries? Or putting it in a dustbin?
Should I have containers for coffee grounds, sacks for horse manure and for shredded paper, wood chip, grass cuttings or, in my usual way, bung it all in without a lot of success. 

All advice welcome but don't mention building a 3 bay pallet compost bay - been there, done it and not doing it again. Too much like hard work, turning it.

In case you're wondering, the Hotbin will stay in the GH for convenience.]]> https://gardenandgossip.org/showthread.php?tid=1805 Sun, 15 Jan 2023 08:52:00 +0000 Small chilli]]> https://gardenandgossip.org/showthread.php?tid=1805 We’ve finally got round to picking up the last of the sawdust from milling our cladding. It’s been sat where it fell for over 6 months. So it’s very wet and has a little leaf litter in with it. Other than that it’s just a big pile of larch sawdust.

This is some we picked up while we were milling. Probably don’t have quite that much this time round. 
Just for idea of amount these are ton bags on a 12ft trailer. 


  144321B4-40BA-47E0-A657-87DECC012CE1.jpeg (Size: 489.66 KB / Downloads: 23) ]]> We’ve finally got round to picking up the last of the sawdust from milling our cladding. It’s been sat where it fell for over 6 months. So it’s very wet and has a little leaf litter in with it. Other than that it’s just a big pile of larch sawdust.

This is some we picked up while we were milling. Probably don’t have quite that much this time round. 
Just for idea of amount these are ton bags on a 12ft trailer. 


  144321B4-40BA-47E0-A657-87DECC012CE1.jpeg (Size: 489.66 KB / Downloads: 23) ]]> https://gardenandgossip.org/showthread.php?tid=1772 Thu, 15 Dec 2022 17:58:55 +0000 Small chilli]]> https://gardenandgossip.org/showthread.php?tid=1772  .]]>  .]]> https://gardenandgossip.org/showthread.php?tid=1626 Wed, 20 Jul 2022 19:27:31 +0000 Veggie]]> https://gardenandgossip.org/showthread.php?tid=1626 Now some people's version of "very heavy" varies so, can anyone tell me in pounds or even kilos, what to expect  when I go to pick it up tomorrow please.]]> Now some people's version of "very heavy" varies so, can anyone tell me in pounds or even kilos, what to expect  when I go to pick it up tomorrow please.]]>