Bobby's Page

"For your delectation and delight on a cold day, here is a wikilink to Pollen studies, which is easily forgotten as "palyn-ology" and not pollen-ology. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palynology Literally the study of dust! It is a very big…"

"But there is wind pollination as well as insect pollination don't forget!I am not sure that temperature matters that much, provided the flowers have "set".(I think that is a good word to use for what happens)  If they have been…"

"The big problem with this cold weather is the almost complete lack of pollinating insects. My pear blossom survived well below zero temps last year but I still got no pears as the cold spell came just at the wrong time. Thankfully none of my tree…"

"Well Legionnaires is contracted by inhalation, so if you are very careful not to inhale even the tiniest bit I would have thought it would be ok?"

"Ooooh, Jade, how exciting!  I'm planning to get an allotment if I can when my girls are both at school."

"My soil is still far too cold for germination, here in the Midlands.  I've sown some salads, tomatoes and planted some spuds in pots in my unheated conservatory but there's no point sowing anything outside yet.  I think I'll…"

"In the first instance seed production - but also for our Tomato Tasting Day... http://www.victoriananursery.co.uk/Forthcoming_Events/ But no fruit's go to waste - even the flesh from the fruits used for seed are made into sauces and…"

"Ehhm hardly worth mentioning my two varieties; Marmande and Cherry Noire after Stephen's list. I haven't had that much success yet with toms but WHEN we ever get the polytunnel up I am hoping this will all change.  "

"Ok Stephen, you win!  What on earth do you do with all those tomatoes?!  Glad to see my small selection are included in your list too."

"Actually, there are a couple more varieties that I have sown 'by mistake' - I'll get shot for it one day! Shirley is nothing to do with us (sadly as it is such a great variety) - but Shirleys' Pixie is - it is one of the…"

"Is that all?  :-)  BTW: Are "Shirley" and "Shirley's Pixie" anything to do with your family?"

"Have just started potting up mine for the year - am growing... 'Abraham Lincoln''Ackers West Virginian''Ailsa Craig''Amateur''Amish Paste''Amy's Sugar Gem''Austin's Red…"

"Gosh, Colin that's impressive!  I restricted myself to just 4 varieties as I haven't got the room for masses of plants unfortunately.  I love the names of some of your varieties - bloody butcher sounds a bit fierce!"

"Like most folks I have overcrowded window sills full of tomato seedlings. I always sow far too many and end up giving them away and this year is no exception as I'm trying: Pink Oxheart, Black Russian, Patio Orange, Mega Bite, Ananas Noire,…"

"Good for you, Colin! My compost was pretty good too once I'd picked out the mango stones etc!  I wish I could say the same for the bags of leaf mould I was trying to make - I think they will probably have turned into leaf mould…"