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Post by roofgardener on Sept 19, 2015 11:28:16 GMT
Good point dianthus !! Well, on to more cheery news: 
Capsicum News
I did my first harvest of Capsicums today. I've grown them before, but only one plant survived. It produced precisely three TINY capsicums, and then exploded. This year, I've got THREE plants on the go, and - despite one of them having its leaves eaten - they've produced LOTS of capsicums. (probably around 15 between them, although some are still quite small). The ones in the picture are around 4-5 inches long.Not huge, but emminantly useful for the kitchen. So I'm WELL happy. I've also learned something. To my delight, two of the capsicums started to turn red (take note, tomatoes !!), but they suffered from what looks like Blossom-End Rot (ignore THAT bit, tomatoes). Apparantly, this is caused by a calcium deficiency, which in turn can be caused by inadequate watering. So I've learned my lesson, and will be more diligent from now on. (click to view larger versions)
 | Looking good huh ? Lets turn them over ... |
| BAH !  |
Hey... daitheplant ... how cool is this ? I have identified my very first plant disease !!  |
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Post by dianthus on Sept 19, 2015 19:38:56 GMT
Quite so, Roofy. Book reading is so useful, and I noticed you had found a Hessayan in your book search.
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Post by roofgardener on Sept 19, 2015 20:02:27 GMT
Indeed Dianthus. I wouldn't leave the house without my Hessayan.  Panics: what on EARTH is a Hessayan....? Googles.... Ahhh..... the "Vegetable Expert" book ? I like that series. I dunno what the more experienced gardeners think... but I find them very helpful ! |
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Post by dianthus on Sept 19, 2015 20:08:06 GMT
It was mentioned in this thread last Spring and I remember several others thought those books would be helpful to you. My copy is nearly 30yrs old |
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Post by roofgardener on Sept 19, 2015 20:27:13 GMT
They are laid out really well. They are easy to read, and the information is organised in a way that makes it both readable, and easy to find again afterwards. Apparantly, Spielberg has already bought the film rights ? (1)Hey... theres a thought... we've got a "gadgets and gizmos" section... how about a "book review" section, for the more experienced members to recommend (or otherwise) different books ? Truly.. 30 years old ? Wow ! I didn't notice the original refference... I'll have to go back to the early blog entries. Everything was so new then, and there was so much going on, I obviously overlooked it. Strange how I ended up with two of them anyway ? Perhaps I DID remember the post subconciously at the point when I bought them ?
Notes:
(1) Rumour has it that Mark Hammel has been cast as Luke Dahliawalker, Alec Guiness as Obi Wan Runnerbean, and Harrison Ford in a cameo role as the voice of Jabba the Cauliflower.
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Post by roofgardener on Sept 25, 2015 15:05:23 GMT
 ]. Latest Gadget News Well, the inventory of daft gadgets is now almost complete (1) . My temperature logger has finally arrived. Now I'll be able to test my greenhouse thermostat/timer over the weekend, and monitor how well (or otherwise) it does at maintaining germination temperature. Opposite is a sample of what it does. This is showing the temperature of my desk at work during the afternoon. (click for a larger picture). Cool, or what ? (answer... No .. it is NOT cool... it is a bit warm and stuffy... ha ha ha ha ).
Notes
(1) = All that remains is the electricity monitoring gadget. Oh.. and some grow-lights, and an timed optical switch. (to turn the lights on when it is overcast, or at dawn and dusk for a bit)
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Post by roofgardener on Sept 27, 2015 19:44:37 GMT
OooooKAY....
Heater interlock ON ...(check)
ThermoTimer to hybrid mode.. (check)
Residual Current Circuit Breaker to 'live' .. (check)
Temperature set to 15 degrees ... (check)
Datalogger running ... (check)
Pattern of alternate black and white squares installed ... (check)
Monetary promisary note signed ... (cheque)
Opponents King threatened ... (check)
Eastern-European installed ... (Czech)
Thats it... the Polytunnel is on fully-automatic overnight temperature control.
Lets see if it can stabalise the temperature overnight at 13 degrees ! (and turn off at 06:00)
Preferably without either blowing my electricity meter, or burning down.
Fingers crossed...
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Post by daitheplant on Sept 27, 2015 19:52:22 GMT
What happens if it snows overnight?   |
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Post by roofgardener on Sept 27, 2015 19:54:44 GMT
Perimeter Alert....Perimeter Alert... Perimeter Alert...
Daitheplant... put your hands in the air, and step AWAY from the Snow Machine....
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Post by dianthus on Sept 27, 2015 21:46:33 GMT
I think it will be 'cucumbers at dawn' don't you, SueA ? he he  |
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Post by Moonlight on Sept 27, 2015 23:38:35 GMT
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Post by SueA on Sept 28, 2015 7:15:36 GMT
I think it will be 'cucumbers at dawn' don't you, SueA ? he he Or one of Roofy's daleks will get him! |
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Post by roofgardener on Sept 28, 2015 8:40:33 GMT
Yeah.... ummm... we had a slight problem with the dalek. It couldn't get up the stairs to the roofgarden  |
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Post by Moonlight on Sept 28, 2015 9:28:26 GMT
Yeah.... ummm... we had a slight problem with the dalek. It couldn't get up the stairs to the roofgarden
Daleks can get up stairs.
but I guess if you had a drunk Dalek they might find it difficult. Maybe you both need to leave off of the fermented potato and onion juice.
Maybe keeping the family in onions is a ruse.
Confess now, you are trying to open an onion juice brewery.
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Post by roofgardener on Sept 28, 2015 11:58:46 GMT
MODERN Daleks can get up stairs by levitating. I couldn't afford one of those. I had to settle for a second hand 1982 "Peter Davison" model. Not only has the clock been wound back (and it can't levitate), but I've just discovered that the ray-gun barrel has been replaced with an egg whisk. |
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