One of the Chinese families on the allotments thought the "strange" English people grew pumpkins either to see how big they might grow or to carve faces in! When I told them of the different ways they can be cooked I've exchanged several of mine for Chinese meals! I think next season there...

We've found two on the allotments this week, not fully grown ones, I hope it's not slug pellets
The hedgehog house I made early this year has been used, but I've not seen the adults recently.

Gwenoakes wrote:Does that mean that the ones you have are no good at all then?

Ornamental only I'm afraid! I took a spade to it, so now it's ready for a bonfire!

I found this fishing box in a charity shop yesterday for just over a quid, not being a fisherman I found a good use for it!

I had flowers on my goji berry plant but no fruit! Today I found out why. I've got the wrong variety> My neighbour two plots down showed me her plant with berries! They leave a strange after taste not unlike a mild chilli! http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/pp141/Flatters_photos/Photo0354_zps0f38cfc...

Richard wrote:Looks like you're on top of things there Mallard.

Maybe I missed it but what are your footways made out of?

Richard

Pallets, what else! They have the added bonus of moving paths to suit crops and no more problems of grass paths spreading themselves out!

It's been a pretty good season! Failures: broccoli went straight to seed as did my Florence fennel, my parsnips are rubbish and of course my melons that turned out to be cucumbers! But: Amazing carrots and no fly, really good bolthardy beetroot, plenty of runner beans on the successful Munty frame, ...

I made a screen of brambles to stop the local neer-do-wells throwing things at my polytunnel. A few cuttings, a root or two and runners, I prune in back in winter, and this year it's re payed me with masses of fruit! I've never seen wild brambles so big, lots in the freezer and lots of crumbles, I'v...

Thought it was dock leaves for nettle stings, Mallard. Well the plantain job has fallen flat on its face. This morning, I saw that the little beasts were re-growing. We are now talking Weed and Feed. The trails of bare patches on our lawn are not to OH's liking. Plantain works quicker than dock! Bu...

We get them all over the allotments, but I like a few on mine. They're the best thing for nettle stings!

I spent a lot of time this year preparing my poly tunnel for melons, lots of manure dug in and covered to keep warm, a suitable frame constructed and full growing instructions downloaded and laminated! I now have a good crop of.... cucumbers! Needless to say, I've just sent a nice letter to a well k...

A few bits for home; I had the patty pan thinly sliced in beef bolognaise with runner beans.

I've seen these on James Wong's web site, they look like tiny melons and can be eaten whole or pickled. I swapped these for some rhubarb with a lady who stopped to look at my lotty! Anyone else grow them? http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/pp141/Flatters_photos/Photo0332_zpsc181646d.jpg

Here you are have a look round! Sorry about the shaky bits.
http://youtu.be/QukL5bq4k0w

Maggie1 wrote:As you say Bronze Fennel

http://www.google.ie/#output=search&scl ... 92&bih=541" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Ah yes, better pics than I found. Must be a bird planted job!