[DiParticipant]

I plant them closer than that. Survival of the fittest!

[DiParticipant]

Thanks for the evaluation, Charles. I’ll be guided by your advice.

[DiParticipant]

Listen to the man above. He’s on the money! It does take some sifting though to sort the wheat from the chaff when it comes to varied opinions in articles.

[DiParticipant]

I think you answered your own query. From what you report, the compost was not composted enough. There are several methods to use but the end result should be odourless, crumbly and dark.

[DiParticipant]

Hello Clint

I find that coffee grounds are best used as a green component of making compost, especially useful at this time of the year when green waste from the garden is scarce. I have found that adding it directly to the garden is fine but if more than 2inches thick it can be hydrophobic so i gently run the how across the surface to mix it in just slightly.

Personally i wouldn’t use it a primary base for making new beds not becasue of anything to do with anything other than it’s not the ideal growing medium for vegetables. Stick to homemade compost and reserve the coffee for layering in the compost bin or top dressing garden beds.

[DiParticipant]

Hi, not blight as i would recognise it. And if blight does hit i understand you remove the foliage at ground level and leave the tubers for a while.

(SW France here)

[DiParticipant]

Yes, we’ve had blackbirds digging and disturbing our edges in search of worms. But it’s only been a problem when they are nesting. I was somewhat exasperated (sp?) last year but seem to have cracked it this year but tying up silver strips of ribbon (as in gift ties) at strategic places along the beds. I remove it after the blackbirds have fledged as i want birds in my garden under all other circumstances! It was a cheap solution and worked for me.

[DiParticipant]

Hi Rhys

I was interested too so looked it up:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Polystyrene-plant-trays-growing-plugs/dp/B00IIKVU08/ref=sr_1_1?s=outdoors&ie=UTF8&qid=1525702460&sr=1-1&keywords=polystyrene+trays+24+cells

[DiParticipant]

Thank you PeterM. I remembered your original post when i too was despairing about lack of spears on my PSB. Planted 5 last April (not a vegaetable i’d seen in Australia!) so i was uncertain about it’s growing pattern or even if we would enjoy eating it!

Watched it grow to 5-6ft, height was a bit unexpected i must say, but i put that down to good soil preparation last year (initial year). It looked good all the way through winter with the plants looking strong and healthy. Mid February and still nothing showed. Well, imagine my delight this morning when i discovered the beginning of heads in each of them. I was close to pulling them out as i needed the space. Just go to show me that the magic ingredient in gardening is patience.

I’m assuming the spear will appear down the stalks as well at the leaf axils? Is that correct?

[DiParticipant]

So, if i understand correctly, this would mean green waste down first (it’s raw as you suspected), followed leaf mould, compost and composted manure.

As to the crops, they’ve been delightful. The advise you gave re aubergines that were slow to set fruit was useful. Strong 1.5M bushes are carrying 10-12 fruits at a time, and still with equal number of flowers. Luscious!

[DiParticipant]

Thank you for your response, Charles. One of the advantages of growing tomatoes here is that blight can be held at bay by spraying with BM. I know it’s not available in the UK much to the chagrin of many gardeners. I do my best to follow your methodology in all respects, at least to the extent of my knowledge, and practice no dig, composting, mulching, allowing the pests to balance themselves out without chemical intervention etc but the thought of all my tomatoes being at risk from blight isn’t something i could do comfortably.

Perhaps i should err on the side of caution and not compost tomato plants.

[DiParticipant]

Would anyone care to express an opinion as to whether or not Bordeaux Mixture can be safely composted without a negative effect to bacterial/fungal levels in the compost?

[DiParticipant]

I should say that they are growing strongly and haven’t had any set-backs.

[DiParticipant]

I have no lack of pollinators at all, and aubergines have been flowering for several weeks now but nothing setting, to date. the variety is De Barbentane which is common as chips here. I only have 2 plants as that will produce enough for us. Mind you, it’s the only plant with which i’ve shown constraint.

Everything from beans, cucumbers, raspberries, tomatoes to peppers and chillis are settings loads of lovely fruit so i’m stumped!

If we can safely leave out warm weather, steady watering and pollinators, what does it leave?

[DiParticipant]

Hi

My aubergines are growing, about 60-70cms tall, but the flowers aren’t setting fruit. Plenty of heat here in SW France with temps in low 30C so that’s not the issue.
Can anyone suggest what might be the cause pls?

Di

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