Mark's Page

"I hope you are not organic as the apple tree aphid is a real pest as could be the attacks on the others- mildest control is greenfly and blackfly killer - fatty acids - or you may have to resort to something stronger on the apple as the aphids…"

"Try Tuckers www.edwintucker.com Very good value for money with minimal packaging and a large range of organic alternatives (If that floats your boat). Seeds come in proper "allotmenteer" quanities rather than the pitiful packets…"

"You can often get them on freegle (nee freecycle) as they involve a lot of work. Don't bother to buy worms though if you have existing compost bins with active compost ie full of worms. The worms in a compost bin trad or "dalek"…"

"Pee is good but when adding grass clippings try mixing with shredded paper/documents to avoid the slime/mould/smell/matted layer. Never had any problems with spuds growing from peelings but then I use one of those swivel peelers. Horse manure should…"

"Brushcutter, then a really strong weedkiller (if you can track down some sodium chlorate this works well or otherwise v expensive max strength glyphosphate) then cover with several layers of old carpet and/or heavy duty black plastic leave for at…"

"Garlic does need frost otherwise it won't form bulbs as it won't have grown much I'd be temped to move it and get the pak choi and kale under cover. Radishes leave to their own devices."

"It's only when you store them to eat that this becomes apparent. Affected beans will normally still germinate and as their life-cycle means they only come out when beans have been in store for several months if you are eating fresh beans…"

"Sorry but Bruchid beetle – Bruchus rufimanus Images Bruchid beetles belong to a group of insects originating in Africa and the Mediterranean area. They were probably bought to the U.K. in imported seed where they pupate. Adults appear in…"

"When storing any dried bean for culinary use make sure you freeze them and then re-dry them if you don't you'll end up with a jar crawling with dried bean beetles - not so much of a problem with beans kept for sowing but not too nice if…"

"Basically the answer is - depends on your soil. If it's heavy clay then raised beds otherwise just beds. Mark out prospective beds and then remove the turves and stack them in a pile "grass to grass" and leave to rot down for a year,…"