[AndyParticipant]

I could be wrong but it sounds like the cardboard is dry and possibly the compost as well.Not wanting to disagree with Charles advice but it just sounded like some no dig beds I made years ago where I didn’t wet the cardboard and compost before I covered them.Like I said..could be wrong

[AndyParticipant]

Hi Al, I posted almost the same question to Charles a few years back.I’ve had the globe artichokes for about 5 seasons and although I fussed and worried over them at first,thinking they were tender plants, all I do now is mulch them once a year. At present there is approximately 18 inch (450mm for you young uns)of healthy top growth on them.

[AndyParticipant]

Don’t know if this helps but I’m still using Bedfordshire Champs harvested 2017.No special storage, just in plastic mushroom trays in the shed.

[AndyParticipant]

Matthew,Last year I grew two patches of Nasturtiums on seperate parts of my allotment.They went crazy,climbing up and over fences and looked stunning when they flowered.I did this purely to attract bees to my allotment but I can honestly say that at any time of the day I had to make a concentrated search to find any sign of life of any kind on the flowers.Now this could be down to other factors I don’t know about but I would not recommendgrowing nasturtiums.

[AndyParticipant]

I second Charles with recommending Joan J..Very large berries,sweet and crops from July.Beautiful !!

[AndyParticipant]

Over the years I’ve grown quite a few different varieties of climbing bean,including Blue Lake but not Cosse Violette.But since growing Cobra 4 years ago I’ve grown no other climbing or runner bean.The yield is exceptional and like you said Eliza they are edible after growing huge.(unlike runner beans)

[AndyParticipant]

Thanks Charles.I’ll check the maturing times and give it a try.I’m certainly not short of growing space this year!

[AndyParticipant]

I don’t know if there is a special knack to using black plastic for warming the soil, but as most magazines and garden “experts”mention it regularly I tried it about 3 years ago in early spring .I could not detect any benefit at all.

[AndyParticipant]

Thanks Charles,a shame about that but its good to experiment.

[AndyParticipant]

Thanks Charles for the prompt reply.I’m near Pontefract in West Yorkshire and over the years we’ve had some cold winters.Having said that the last few winters have been mild with just the odd icy week or two.I suppose if it does turn really cold and the new growth dies it will recover in the summer giving a later crop maybe.

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