[SpadelessAdeParticipant]

So relieved you were able to put your observations in Charles – I wasn’t comfortable with where it had been leading, but thankful that you were able to step in so beautifully and put the record straight! Thank you.

[SpadelessAdeParticipant]

Glad I saw it, and that I thought to bring it to your attention Charles. I’ll look forward to reading your post on the thread when you’ve got more time!
Adrienne

[SpadelessAdeParticipant]

Thanks very much Charles, I’ll compost the dandelion roots and leaves then (I’m thinking they may be a good addition nutrient-wise to the heap and it would have seemed a shame not to be able to use them!) And yes, I take your point about the bittercress, there isn’t much bulk in them is there, and they do come up very readily already without any help from me adding more of them!

[SpadelessAdeParticipant]

I have sown them successfully many times in paper pots (made from newspaper and using one of those paper potters) and then planted the whole thing in the ground – that’s worked fine for me as it doesn’t disturb the roots.
SpadelessAde

[SpadelessAdeParticipant]

Thank you for your help, I’ve sown some today – I hadn’t realised it was OK to do so in June. I’ll look forward to shorter plants that hopefully will be less likely to fall over!
We have got club root on all the plots on this site, but the PSB seems to not be bothered by it thankfully.

[SpadelessAdeParticipant]

Hi Ladbrokes, sorry to hear about your poor lettuces etc, I can well understand how you must feel.

I do find mine seem to be well protected by using Slug Gone, which I surround every lettuce, row of peas etc with, and so far nothing has been attacked at all. Slug Gone is made from sheeps wool and dried into pellets, so is very easy to use, and forms a mat when it’s been rained on or watered, which the slugs won’t cross as apparently it irritates them to move over it, so they don’t!

I’d highly recommend it anyway, if you’re interested. I bought mine online quite easily – I just googled it.

[SpadelessAdeParticipant]

Thanks Rocketscience – sorry I hadn’t noticed your post on the leek topic. As I’ve grown mine singly in modules this time, I think I’ll plant them out close-ish together, sort of in clumps even though they’ve not been together in the modules, then separate them out later on and plant them deeper and at their final spacing when they’ve grown bigger.

[SpadelessAdeParticipant]

Thanks Charles, I think I’ll plant them out now then as we haven’t have a problem with rabbits up to now (hope that’s not famous last words!) Should I plant them in their final positions, or put them somewhere with a view to planting them again later maybe at a great depth when they’re bigger?
Regarding leek moth, we don’t seem to have that particular problem here thankfully, but we do have the allium leaf miner, which is why I grow the early leeks and they are all lifted (and eaten) by the beginning of October. Any that are left after that seem to get attacked. But I do think I should be using mesh really, but I do find it a fiddle! Thanks again Charles.

[SpadelessAdeParticipant]

I have been using ‘Slug Gone’ in the last couple of years with much success – (it’s made into pellets from dried sheep’s wool and apparently slugs don’t like the tiny protrusions – a bit like velcro!) – I’ve planted quite a few lettuces recently with Slug gone round each one, and none have been attacked at all, even in this wet weather. If this is of any interest, you can buy it online.

[SpadelessAdeParticipant]

That’s interesting – I think I really will have to check the pH of the soil! Thank you for that information Charles.
Adrienne

[SpadelessAdeParticipant]

Ah I see – I thought the manure would make it more acid, but have never got round to checking with a testing kit although thought about it often!
By the way, since coming on your course at the end of Feb, and subsequently covering all the beds with own garden compost/manure, it’s all looking great and just ready for everything to go in when it’s the right time. Got a few things in like broad beans (overwintered plus some spring sown) and lettuces, parsnips and carrots starting to germinate, plus the permanent stuff like fruit etc. I’ve also turned over a ‘waste’ bit at the side, that used to grow just weeds, to wild flowers – after watching Sarah Raven’s prog on the TV, to encourage the pollinating insects as well as hopefully give a lovely display. I feel so much more confident after your course Charles, thank you so much!

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