[ElizaDParticipant]

Now there’s an idea, bluebell!

[ElizaDParticipant]

Thank you Charles. This is the second time now I have read about harvesting from the top of the plants in autumn, can’t see the kale lasting very long this way! My plants generally last until the first week or so in May when they break into full flower and I remove them to make way for another crop.

The Taunton Deane kale is going to be a problem then and I may try to find a spot in a border for one plant only. Can’t really use up all this space in my veg beds.

[ElizaDParticipant]

Please can anyone advise on whether or not to pinch out the growing tip – see my question above?

[ElizaDParticipant]

Thanks for the advice. I have access to some bark which I may use in one area but think I will buy in some compost for other paths then, particularly where the paths meet grass – I have remembered that where I once used some free bark on a border adjoining grass blackbirds did a wonderful job of flinging most of it across the lawn!

[ElizaDParticipant]

Yes, my raised beds have six inch high wooden sides and the long border running along the fence is edged with wood too. The pathways are about 18″ wide.

[ElizaDParticipant]

Thank you, John. Yes, I will always be trying to fit too much into too small a space! Needs must.
Charles, I had not thought of trying the blackcurrant as a mini tree but will mull this over before planting. Interesting, have you tried this? Am I likely to get a reasonable harvest this way?

[ElizaDParticipant]

Thank you. Yes, it’s confusing which so much half-information being given. I think I will use it now that I have it to hand.

[ElizaDParticipant]

I too am undecided about growing my outdoor cucumbers along the ground or up a trellis so will probably do some of each and judge from results which worked best! A question I have is do I need to pinch out the growing tip after about seven pairs of leaves have formed or is this not necessary? Some places I’ve looked for info mention this but not others.

[ElizaDParticipant]

Bumping up this post in the hope of some advice!

[ElizaDParticipant]

I have some organic mushroom compost from Mr Muck that I have spread around the garden generally. I am wondering about mulching the veg beds with it this autumn but keep reading about possible contamination with chemicals. It says it is organic – is there a problem with using it on the veg beds or not? Any advice appreciated.

[ElizaDParticipant]

Hi Huu

I have now put three raised beds over grass, filled with organic horse manure six inches deep, planted veg straight off and everything has grown superbly. No cardboard or any other covering was used and no weeds or grass resurfaced. A bed I put in over soil gave me a minor problem with Japanese anemone coming up in a couple of places for a year or two but this has finally given up the ghost (she said with fingers crossed!).

I’ve also skimmed off the top inch or so of turf, put down a porous membrane and put gravel on top of a small area near the house where cold frames are and did the same preparation but placed bark on top of another area. All worked well for me but these were small areas only.

[ElizaDParticipant]

Seeing lots of talk about rogue raspberry shoots on this site – can any one advise re the above post?

ElizaD

[ElizaDParticipant]

Thanks for your feedback. I think I will try both ways as space is an issue and see what happens!

[Author]

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