GARDENERS WORLD

13 Feb 2006

Well its seems no one took any great exception to the idea so here it goes.
The format I had in mind was Topical Tips at the top of each post from them that have the knowledge, and thet questions / answers at the bottom.
Iâ€™ll start with this:
Topical Tips.
Now is the time of year to make sure all your tools and machinery is serviced and ready to go. Sharpen your bladed items including spades, hoes, mowers and scythes.
Its also time to clean out your greenhouse and make sure that you disinfect your seed trays and implements, preferably with some form of fungicide.
Thereâ€™s still time to dig over the veg patch, but donâ€™t rake it over, leave it dug so that the frost can get into it and break it up, this helps aeration and allows the frost to get at any weed roots to kill them off.
Question
I am planning to plant early potatoes this year, but the price of seed potatoes is quite high. My question is, whatâ€™s the difference between seed potatoes, or just planting ordinary eating potatoes? In fact, what is the difference between seed and shop potatoes generally?
Cheers
wave

13 Feb 2006

Blimey Pete, are you related to Alan Titchmarsh?..... biggrin

On the potato issue there isn't really a difference, however, with seeds you can guarantee the quality of the produce (allegedly) and they are less prone to be attacked by worms or slugs.
Hope this helps
Leo

13 Feb 2006

Hooray for Gardeners World........ wink

I'm still a novice when it comes to gardening however, I've spent a small fortune on my front and back garden over the last year or so and I'm keen to get growing again.
My front garden is maintenance free...apart from the odd pruning and general weeding. Last year all my hanging baskets were grown from seed...they looked really good too...!!
I haven't tried to grow veggies yet but was considering growing some in pots...? My back garden isn't that big....approx 60ft x 40ft....most of it lawn, patio & shed etc.
CC..... cool

13 Feb 2006

i have been doing dawns garden all winter
well used oiled and in good con lol

13 Feb 2006

Quote by twos_company
i have been doing dawns garden all winter
well used oiled and in good con lol

:rotflmao: ...... :twisted:

13 Feb 2006

Quote by twos_company
i have been doing dawns garden all winter
well used oiled and in good con lol

Ahhhhh but did you find that little rose bud. confused

:
phredd

13 Feb 2006

it`s flowering very nicely been blooming all year

13 Feb 2006

Quote by twos_company
it`s flowering very nicely been blooming all year

Dawn will be very happy then, In fact out of this world and over the moon.
wink

Phredd :love:

14 Feb 2006

Quote by Italeo
Blimey Pete, are you related to Alan Titchmarsh?.....
nope, i suspect I'll be asking for as much advice as giving it
On the potato issue there isn't really a difference, however, with seeds you can guarantee the quality of the produce (allegedly) and they are less prone to be attacked by worms or slugs.
Hope this helps
Just the job Leo, thanks, I thought that perhaps you get a better yield from seed spuds, but if theres no difference I'll save me money and use ordinary ones.
Leo

14 Feb 2006

Pete, try some "sprouting" Jersey Royals - I've had a great crop for the past 3 years....

14 Feb 2006

one potato
two potatoes
three potatoes more...............
soz couldn't resist lol

14 Feb 2006

Quote by Italeo
Pete, try some "sprouting" Jersey Royals - I've had a great crop for the past 3 years....

Thanks Italeo
Someone did pm me and said the best thing to do with non-seed potatoes is to put em in a cardboard box in a cool dry place for a couple of weeks, encurages the sprouting apparantly dunno

14 Feb 2006

Well you should propergate any seed before planting in the ground - sounds as good a way to me as any, wouldn't they need some water though?

14 Feb 2006

seed spuds are sold because they are 100% true to their variety, not cross pollinated with others.

14 Feb 2006

Any advice on grape vines? I've been using copper sulphate for years (as my dad did) as a fungicide / growing agent, surely there is a more "modern" derivative.
Perhaps i'm just stuck in my ways....lol

14 Feb 2006

im not a fan of using some of these modern chemicals. i have my pesticide appliction license and used to knapsack spray some very dodgy stuff in a previous job. ten years on and i read about how half of the "cides" i usedhave been banned for being dangerous to health. i used to have the stuff running down my back cos of leaky knapsacks. stick with the old and tested in my view.

14 Feb 2006

Quote by easyease
im not a fan of using some of these modern chemicals. i have my pesticide appliction license and used to knapsack spray some very dodgy stuff in a previous job. ten years on and i read about how half of the "cides" i usedhave been banned for being dangerous to health. i used to have the stuff running down my back cos of leaky knapsacks. stick with the old and tested in my view.

Sound advice, cheers easy

14 Feb 2006

grapes yummy especially in wine lol

reminds me of a song
Red red wine........
OOh I am bad on this thread!!!

14 Feb 2006

does it go to your head, hisandhers? make you do things you'd rather forget? lol

14 Feb 2006

Quote by hisandhers
grapes yummy especially in wine
reminds me of a song
Red red wine........
OOh I am bad on this thread!!!

In wine

:
I'll send you some home brew h&h :lol:

14 Feb 2006

I'm NOT an alki really , just coz I like going in the GFZ bar!!!

15 Feb 2006

Quote by Italeo
Well you should propergate any seed before planting in the ground - sounds as good a way to me as any, wouldn't they need some water though?

They say to store them in damp newspaper :shock: I wouild have thought they would rot dunno

Quote by Italeo
Pete, try some "sprouting" Jersey Royals - I've had a great crop for the past 3 years....

Thanks, I'll givem a go lol

15 Feb 2006

Quote by easyease
seed spuds are sold because they are 100% true to their variety, not cross pollinated with others.

I just knew someone on here would have the answer thanks Easy :thumbup:

15 Feb 2006

Quote by easyease
im not a fan of using some of these modern chemicals. i have my pesticide appliction license and used to knapsack spray some very dodgy stuff in a previous job. ten years on and i read about how half of the "cides" i usedhave been banned for being dangerous to health. i used to have the stuff running down my back cos of leaky knapsacks. stick with the old and tested in my view.

I am totally against using chems in the garden, food chain and all that, but yes, i can understand why it would make you un-Easy (sorry), I used to work with aspestos as a youth, only time will tell the ramifications of that short bout of employment. sad

15 Feb 2006

Quote by hisandhers
grapes yummy especially in wine
reminds me of a song
Red red wine........
OOh I am bad on this thread!!!

ah now I'm glad you mentioned that.
I'm sure your all sick of hearing it, but for those that haven't we have a large patio where we like to have parties n stuff in the summer, half of it is surrounded and roofed with trellising. I would love to grow a nice grape vine over it, but am worried about how long it takes to fruit, can anyone suggest a quick growing variety that doesn't take years to fruit?

15 Feb 2006

Quote by hisandhers
I'm NOT an alki really , just coz I like going in the GFZ bar!!!

I know what your after

:smackbottom: :smackbottom: :smackbottom: :smackbottom: :smackbottom: :smackbottom: :smackbottom: :smackbottom: :smackbottom:
there you go, better now? lol

15 Feb 2006

Bring some home brew into the GFZ on Friday!!! lol

hickup :lol:

16 Feb 2006

Quote by Pete_sw
grapes yummy especially in wine
reminds me of a song
Red red wine........
OOh I am bad on this thread!!!

ah now I'm glad you mentioned that.
I'm sure your all sick of hearing it, but for those that haven't we have a large patio where we like to have parties n stuff in the summer, half of it is surrounded and roofed with trellising. I would love to grow a nice grape vine over it, but am worried about how long it takes to fruit, can anyone suggest a quick growing variety that doesn't take years to fruit?
Here we go.......lol
Well instead of me waffling on about it check this out

There is always a problem with growing vines "fast" in the UK - it's a tad cold you know. :lol:
However, the above article gives sound advice. I have tried the Blauer Portugese and it fruited, but was a tad bitter - I don't think the grapes fully matured - it was a "tester" in a pot so I put it down to that.
Personally I use the Sangiovese (then again I would...lol) but they are greenhoused with no problems, but always have to buy more when it comes to brewing time... :cheers:
Hope this helps.
Leo

16 Feb 2006

Quote by Italeo
grapes yummy especially in wine
reminds me of a song
Red red wine........
OOh I am bad on this thread!!!

ah now I'm glad you mentioned that.
I'm sure your all sick of hearing it, but for those that haven't we have a large patio where we like to have parties n stuff in the summer, half of it is surrounded and roofed with trellising. I would love to grow a nice grape vine over it, but am worried about how long it takes to fruit, can anyone suggest a quick growing variety that doesn't take years to fruit?
Here we go.......lol
Well instead of me waffling on about it check this out

There is always a problem with growing vines "fast" in the UK - it's a tad cold you know. :lol:
However, the above article gives sound advice. I have tried the Blauer Portugese and it fruited, but was a tad bitter - I don't think the grapes fully matured - it was a "tester" in a pot so I put it down to that.
Personally I use the Sangiovese (then again I would...lol) but they are greenhoused with no problems, but always have to buy more when it comes to brewing time... :cheers:
Hope this helps.
Leo
Thanks Leo
just what I was looking for. I haven't 'brewed' for ages and was thinking more of lazing on the patio after a good barbie picking grapes from overhead and noshing them for afters,(very decadent i know :lol: ) also like to use vine leaves in some of my cooking so best of both worlds wink

thanks again.

16 Feb 2006

I have an allotment so I was busy when it wasn't raining. Digging, clearing, tidyng etc.
I have orderd my plants from a company. I'll whop them in when they arrive.
Seed spuds are carefully grown and hand selected by knowing professionals.
How's your compost?