General Chat

ar yous talkin fertiliser? (in best country yokel accent) ;-)

Hello again Lavender . . . . .

Oooh u just made me. Go week at the knnes a larde what dids u say................runs off for a cold shower and were not oF the. Subjeect someone mayby sowing seeds at thi rate ;-) ;-)

I think you might be needing a man in a uniform, Puss ;-) preferably one with a large truncheon :-0

oh yes please lavender

that would be good, do you think they will be good as rat cathers too :-D

would you like the man in a white coat to call after he has finished with me Puss? ;-)

we had a vole near the compost bin the other day lavnder, OH disposed of him by the brook, he watched walk the garden initialy thinking this a rat, but he noticed it had no tail, the same with anything small and d furry rats being the biggest,its so bad
ive been thinking of therapy tbh we live in the country side so its a matter okf time lol :-0

Lavender and rats in the garden after harvest :-D

We too are farmers and grow potatoes commercially and I didn't know you shouldn't pot peelings on the compost heap, I thought years ago people use to grow potatoes in there compost heap. Showing my age now.
:-D :-D :-D

No, don't worry Puss. People do say don't add scraps for fear of encouraging them but I've never seen any evidence. There are probably loads on a farm but i guess they come and help themselves to bits and then get on with their lives ie making lots of little rats! It's my greatest fear!!! :-)

omg really lol :-0 :-0

probably only RATS :-D

wow lavender sounds good, ive got 2 compost ins at various stages, ut im scared to look in in case there is any meece in there . xxx :-D

Thought that I might write a little here about my first love - composting.

Since I live on a farm and plenty of space is available I have a long strip of land 37 feet x 12 feet. It is boarded all round to contain the compost.

At present there are five, large heaps which are turned regularly with a digger. The heaps are turned several times a year, particularly during the summer months. In my experience, the more times it is turned, the quicker it makes. If the heap is dry I sprinkle water from the hosepipe as my husband turns it with the digger.

The grass clippings are added (provided it has not been sprayed), weedings, prunings, kitchen peelings (not potato as they give disease, I've read recently), torn up cardboard, cereal boxes, paper etc. help to bulk it out and add valuable 'brown' material. I try to aim for 50 : 50 brown and green. We have two little ponies so the muck goes straight in too. I probably should rot the leaves separately, but they go in as I collect them and they rot down fairly quickly too.

I am always amazed at the speed that the compost becomes usable. A couple of times a year we move the compost heaps down so that there is space to start a new heap. The oldest heap is still pretty huge and resembles very fine, dark soil. When most people look at it they think that it actually is soil.

I really enjoy doing it and have lots to add to my raised beds and borders. Each time I add a crop I add a couple of barrows to the bed. It is so fine that I am even able to incorporate it into a bed when sowing carrots. They don't seem to fork too much as it is as fine as the soil.

It's my only skill! :-)

Great to see you posting again Lavender and enjoying your garden :-D

ash anyone got plenty now, going to pop it around my trees tomorrow, for the first time ever ive planted runner beans, hope its not to early as it said jan to may, ive got seedlings of carrot
and tomato , pots are showing, i just hope oh will keep an eye for me if i stay in hosp :-0

Thank you Ann, I shall let you know whether they continue to thrive, they are tucked up for the night!

It sounds a wonderful bargain, Puss! I shall take a look. I already have 18 and counting, raised beds, nine of they several bricks high. I do have a large garden but not sure whether I can accommodate one but where there's a will... I do use my m-i-laws greenhouse (pretty big), well even m-i-laws have their uses :-D ;-)

I'm going to settle down and read all the posts here so that I can see what everybody is up to and learn a few things.

Take care everybody and enjoy tomorrows gardening <3

i went to the farmers market and bought some lavender plants
then to redcar and bought some sweet peas
they will stay in the green house for now

checked the lavender cuttings i took last year
and only 3 have taken

but 3 is better than none

Yes, it is strange, isn't it.
I don't know how I came about picking that particular date, the 17th March,though it has always worked for me. I think years ago, I wanted a date that would stick in my mind, and picked that. Anyway, I have a son born on that day, a deceased, but favourite aunt, also. And the day before, the 16th, a grandaughter, so it should stick in the brain. LOLOL


Julia in Derbyshire

Julia - strange how Paddy's day comes up in gardening world for planting and sowing!!

Seed potatoes usually planted on that day usually do well.

Wend, I forgot to mention, I usually start setting my seeds of anything around March 17th, so you can watch Peppa Pig with a clear conscience.LOLOL


Julia in Derbyshire