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Over the years, Gerry has answered more than 5,000 of your gardening questions. His knowledge is based in science and practical experience, and by working on radio and television.
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I tend to get gardening type presents for birthdays, fathers day, etc etc which include plant nutrients such as fish meal & bone mixes. Do these things have an expiry date (as I seem to accumulate of lot of boxes of different types of veg supplements?)
I'm very pleaaed with my rhubarb as it's been very plentiful this year. I am now wondering when I should stop pulling it?
I planted 2nd earlies (Maris Peer) in late Feb and early Mar 2011 into approx 14 tubs (2/3 plants in each tub). Most of the plants are still in flower but there 5/6 of them looking half withered and dying? The normally dark green leaf is now a very light green with brown spots. Am I in trouble?If so, are they all infected?
I'm growing potatoes (2nd earlies) in tubs (approx 18'' in diameter and 24'' high) and in each tub I have between 2 & 3 plants. I'm told I can start adding potash now but I have no idea in what quantity per tub above or indeed how often. Is a teaspoon once a week too much?
I am growing potatoes in tubs (2nd earlies) and the instructions state t I should put 6'' of compost into a tub on top of which I then place the potato etc. It then states that I should cover the potato with compost etc. My question is simple in that 'is it ok to use a mixture of earth and homemade compost instead of just compost that I could buy at a garden centre?'
I was thinking of growing brussels sprouts again this year despite the disaster with pests I had 2 years ago. In short, every bug known to man attacked my crop which put me right off planting them again.My plan this year is to start the brussel sprouts off in the glasshouse (as before) and when I plant them out, l was going to cover the plants with that light white fleece to keep the pests off. My questions are simple in that (i) will the fleece protect my crop from the usual pests & (ii) will the fleece do any damage or stunt the growth of the crop?
I'm not sure of the brand but I bought 2nd early potatoes in Woodies and I planted them in the fold-up tubs that they sold (circa 60cm high). I brought the earth bit by bit to within 15cm of the rim of the tub. I now have 2 ft st green stalks coming out of the tub with a lovely purple blossom. These stalks are now seriously falling over the edge of the tub and I was afraid that they might break so I have staked them up with bamboo sticks. Is this ok or should I let them fall over? When should they yield some sort of crop?
I am growing potatoes for the first time (2nd earlies) and they appear to be going well. When do I need to spray them (assuming I do) and what do you recommend?
I'm not sure this question is within your remit but I said I'd chance it. My neighbours and I have noticed an inordinate amount of small bees of late in our gardens. They often land on the wall of the house (that has been warmed by the sun) and stay there for hours making it impossible to open a window (I counted 20 bees yesterday on the wall and sills). Is this normal? No one has planted anything different in their gardens that might have attracted the bees. I'm afraid there could be nest nearby? Any advice would be welcome.
This is the time of year that I cut back my pampas grass as invariably, it has increased in size since this time last year. I normally keep trimming around the edges until its approx 50% of its original size. However, I saw somewhere that you could reduce the size of the pampas grass by burning it with petrol? Is this possible? If so, how would you go about it?
My father is eldery and has decided to lay stone chips down on the grass to save him having to cut the grass in the future. The level of the grass in terms of the pathway is low enough that we don't have to take off the top layer of grass. QUE: Should we kill the grass before we lay the horticultural fleece and if so, what should we use? It would be the intention in the Spring to cut holes in the fleece and plant shrubs.
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