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Post by Deleted on Nov 1, 2015 23:15:17 GMT
Hello Derek, question about runner beans. My Benchmaster runners and Hawksbury wonder dwarf French beans were good so want to take seed off them. I normally wait till the pods are dry and brown on the plants before taking the beans for next years plants. The pods are mostly still green. Can I take them off now and dry them indoors or are they better left on the plants outdoors till absolutely dry? Selection wise should I be looking purely for length or straightness? cheers
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Post by derekbrooks on Nov 3, 2015 21:37:45 GMT
Hi David Went out last night and came home too late to go on my computer so I have only just seen your question. I take them off the plants while they are still green and dry them on top of a cupboard in the kitchen. You can feel the seeds in the pods and can tell when they are big enough. If any plants have done better than the others take the pods off these . I never have to do this though as they usually all perform the same. You can select the longest pods if you wish but I normally take them all off and when I take out the beans just use the largest ones.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 31, 2016 16:20:46 GMT
Hi Derek, I was interested to read on your diary about pricking out your Kelsae onion seedlings. I know opinion is mixed about transplanting onions with the root disturbance involved. Do you transplant them into individual modules? How big are they at this stage? My 'Globo' germinated well, I did about 48 in a deep ice cream container, they're now beyond the crook stage and looking a bit crowded, fighting for light .I've I've also tried some onion seed in 24 pack modules to see if they turn out better than the mass sown ones. .
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Post by roofgardener on Jan 31, 2016 17:50:53 GMT
Wierd !! Same vegetable, same question. I transplanted my Kelsae seedlings into pots, and 14 out of 15 just died. One remains.
What @davidv said above ^^^^^^
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Post by derekbrooks on Jan 31, 2016 20:46:11 GMT
Hi David and Roofie. I have always pricked out my onions at the crook stage . I transferred them to small yoghurt pots using Clover multipurpose compost. If yours look overcrowded David I would do them as soon as you can .Can't understand why most of yours have died , Roofie assuming you have kept them watered. It is not too late to sow some more, though so that's what I would do. I'll try to take a picture of mine tomorrow to show you what they are like. I am out all day but I will take one before I go if I've time.
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Post by roofgardener on Feb 1, 2016 12:55:55 GMT
I'm going to do that Derek; SueA suggested they may have suffered from Damp Off, and I suspect that may indeed be the culprit. They where transplanted into their 3" pots during a period when the Polytunnel was suffering from severe leaks + condensation, so they may have got TOO wet, with the Vermiculite trapping the water inside the pot and preventing evaporation etc. I'm going to start again, now that the 'tunnel is nice n' dry (see Alliums Aloft for more).
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Post by roofgardener on Feb 1, 2016 13:08:06 GMT
"Ask Derek".
Really ? OK then....
Derek, when transplanting Dahlia tubers, how do you reconcile the quantum mechanics Standard Model with the Lorentz Transformations of General Relativity at the Event Horizon ?
And do you approve of dusting with sulphur powder ? (in both cases).
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Post by derekbrooks on Feb 1, 2016 22:25:43 GMT
Hi Roofie I don't understand the first part of your dahlia question. Is it supposed to be a joke? It's double Dutch to me. Yes I do dust my dahlia tubers with sulphur . I don't know if it is officially approved but I have never read that it isn't. With regard to your onions , what Sue says is probably correct. I didn't know they were in a polytunnel. It is probably too cold in there as well as being damp . Have you any heat in there? They do need a bit of warmth to keep them growing. Mine are on propagators or warming benches.
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Post by derekbrooks on Feb 1, 2016 22:32:13 GMT
This is the picture of my onion seedlings that I told you I would try to take this morning.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 23, 2016 19:14:17 GMT
Hello Derek, you mentioned ordering manure. Where do you get it? I had a delivery a few years back which I think was from Clifton farm, the bloke came with a red tractor and 5 ton tipper trailer. I've rung him a few times to get more and he seems unwilling to come here. So looking for a new source. I used to take my 1/2 ton trailer to a stables near the airfield at Barton, free but took forever to build up any stock plus I cant tow anything with that small Fiat I'm driving at the moment!
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Post by derekbrooks on Feb 23, 2016 23:11:06 GMT
Hi David We get our manure from a man called Ian (don't know his surname ). He lives at Tyldesley but I don't know how far he would deliver. It is £30 for a trailer load. If you want to contact him his number is 01942 884189 and his mobile is 07817 204906. Tell him that I have given you his number Derek
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Post by roofgardener on Feb 24, 2016 14:35:43 GMT
I'd never thought of saving my yoghurn pots to use as plantpots... good idea.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 6, 2016 17:05:01 GMT
Derek, I think there's early blight about on our plots, (on the potatoes) peoples plants turning yellow. It was widespread on there last year but it could be something else if you have any clues? The potatoes in most cases were unaffected. If I spray with Dithane do you reckon it will prevent mine being infected? Bordeaux mixture is supposed to be good. Any ideas appreciated.
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Post by derekbrooks on Jul 6, 2016 18:57:54 GMT
Hi David If yours are not affected , spraying with either Dithane or Bordeaux will help to prevent it. Blight starts with brown patches on the leaves so you need to keep looking for them. If you do see any you need to cut down the foliage and destroy it ( don't put it on the compost). This prevents the spores being washed down into the soil. You can dig up the potatoes then because they won't grow any more.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 20, 2016 22:03:35 GMT
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