Getting started - All Comments

re: Stenner line

Dai Dibber — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 19:05:27 GMT

The Stenner Bean is known as ENORMA in the catalogues. Brython Stenner - now sadly passed away - only lived a few miles away from me, and I am friendly with his son, who would you believe it, knows nothing at all about gardening - that's sad!!!

re: Stenner line

Geoff Hodge — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 14:42:11 GMT

Sue

I was 'over the moon, David' when I won - I'm also pleased that the selection of prizes left on the table weren't just the four prizes I'd donated to the raffle!

That's great news that they taste good too. Mind you my girlfriend, who is Gardening Editor of Garden News, is planning on entering some shows this year, so I just hope she doesn't snaffle them all before I get a chance to eat some.

re: Stenner line

sue1002 — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 11:42:59 GMT

Well done for winning a prize Geoff, Digger grows the Stenner runner beans for the showbench, he sent me some of the seeds which I grew last year and they grew to a fair old size and tasted good too. I saved some seed off them myself and am growing them again this year along with my trusted favourite 'Lady Di' which have a very good taste and are stringless.

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scorcher | Fetion — Sat, 24 May 2008 03:25:32 GMT

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re: Don't get caught out

digger — Fri, 09 May 2008 08:38:33 GMT

This has happened with some of my sweetpeas all the top foliage is dried up, i think they might recover with some tlc

re: It's all my fault!

Phot's-Moll — Fri, 02 May 2008 21:05:19 GMT

The organic pellets from Growing Success work for me. They don't have to be replaced if they get wet.

re: It's all my fault!

Guy Barter — Fri, 02 May 2008 16:49:07 GMT

I have used these pellets extensively and think they work well, but it is hard to be be sure as the slugs do not conspicuously slime to death as ones poisoned by metaldehyde do.

However, I have researched the scientific literature and there is good evidence for the effectiveness of Iron phosphate: www.slugcontrol.rothamsted.ac.uk/SlugsBrochure.pdf

I use them for general pre-emptive control and then spot treat any hotspots of slug damage with metaldehyde pellets.

Although there is no firm evidence for the harmful effects of metaldehyde pellets, Iron phospahe is even less likely to be damagaing: www.epa.gov/.../factsheet_034903.htm

re: It's all my fault!

Geoff Hodge — Fri, 02 May 2008 09:16:36 GMT

Graham: no I haven't tried it, but had reports that it becomes ineffective quite quickly and needs regular re-application.

Max: Thanks for your comments. I am a firm believer (having seen plenty of research) that slug pellets do no harm to birds and hedgehogs (providing they are used correctly). I also use them at home where I have a garden (that is typical for a semi-detached in a suburban area) full of frogs and toads, two families of hedgehogs and, in the last two years, regular visits from thrushes. I also have a cat. All seem to live quite happily with the slug pellets.

re: It's all my fault!

Graham Rice — Thu, 01 May 2008 21:40:38 GMT

Geoff, have you tried the new organic slug killer based on Ferrous phosphate - sold as Advanced Slug Killer? Does it work?

re: It's all my fault!

max — Thu, 01 May 2008 16:40:50 GMT

don't apoligies about the rain, but perhpas you should about the "good scattering of slug pellets". I pity the poor birds and hedgehogs in your allotment.

re: It's all my fault!

sue1002 — Thu, 01 May 2008 13:48:22 GMT

No need to apologise for the rain Geoff, we've had quite a bit this week but it had been dry for so long, we really needed it.

re: Massed seedlings

Geoff Hodge — Thu, 01 May 2008 08:38:03 GMT

And I've been doing a lot of that recently too! I've just completely re-planted the front garden.

And boy are those rose thorns fierce!

re: Massed seedlings

Phot's-Moll — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 19:44:32 GMT

I don't want to be cured. Just think about it, the alternative to overdoing things with seedlings is to go in for an excess of plants in the nurseries...

Re the *** maybe the computer is programmed to ensure you never injure yourself on a rose thorn?

re: Massed seedlings

Geoff Hodge — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 08:37:39 GMT

Phot's

Maybe there's some cure - or a clinic we can attend!

And obviously the technology thinks I've used a rude word in this blog, hence the ***; perhaps I should have used transplant!

re: Massed seedlings

Phot's-Moll — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 18:35:42 GMT

Glad I'm not the only one doing the 'seedling shuffle'!

I can't through out a healthy seedling (and can't seem to sow in small quantities)- luckily I've managed to give swap or give away some of my plants too.