Rusty Hinge wrote:
Mike Lyle wrote:
wrote:
Rusty Hinge wrote:
[...]
I could be tempted to use (Shhhh! EC spies might be listening!) the
juice from boiled rhubarb leaves to spray the aphids with.
A-ha, I was discussing this with someone yesterday! We both had
vague ideas that there was /something/ I could do with the rhubarb
leaves (other than remembering not to feed it to the chickens!!)!

While we're on the subject, note that EC regs now make it a criminal
offence to water garden plants if one's tap water tests between pH
3.57 and pH 7.92; the potential penalty is a fine of up to 7,000
euro or up to eighteen months' imprisonment. House plants are exempt
pending a decision of the European Court of Human Rights. The
collection of rainwater is to be banned altogether from 1 July 2010.

This is April 1st in the Lylian calendar, yes?

You started it...but I admit it seems to me that almost every day is
April 1st.

--
Mike.

Mike Lyle wrote:
Rusty Hinge wrote:
Mike Lyle wrote:
wrote:
Rusty Hinge wrote:
[...]
I could be tempted to use (Shhhh! EC spies might be listening!) the
juice from boiled rhubarb leaves to spray the aphids with.
A-ha, I was discussing this with someone yesterday! We both had
vague ideas that there was /something/ I could do with the rhubarb
leaves (other than remembering not to feed it to the chickens!!)!
While we're on the subject, note that EC regs now make it a criminal
offence to water garden plants if one's tap water tests between pH
3.57 and pH 7.92; the potential penalty is a fine of up to 7,000
euro or up to eighteen months' imprisonment. House plants are exempt
pending a decision of the European Court of Human Rights. The
collection of rainwater is to be banned altogether from 1 July 2010.
This is April 1st in the Lylian calendar, yes?

You started it...but I admit it seems to me that almost every day is
April 1st.

Just happens to be true - you are not permitted to use unapproved
remedies in the garden.

Like washing-up liquid for washing-off aphids, mixing with herbicide or
insecticide to 'wet' the surfaces, and many old, tried and trusted
preparations just because someone hasn't paid a king's ransom to have
them officiously 'tested'.

You are not permitted to use the wort from boiled rhubarb leaves as an
insecicide.

It is probably illegal to use steeped (and smelly) nettlejuice as a
fertiliser.

And fahsands of other old practices.

I'm just going out to spread the ashes of an incinerated eurocrat...

--
Rusty

Rusty Hinge wrote:
Glad you said 'almost' - you shouldn't transplant cauliflowers or you'll
only get tiny curds.
That may explain a lot. Are you meant to plant seeds in their final growing
spot, then? That sounds ... tricky. I have a tray of caulis waiting to go
out from the greenhouse as soon as I get the chance, but they decided to
coat themselves in greenfly. :-(

A) Yes, that is the preferred method.

B) you can plant them into pots and when large enough, knock them out
and plant the lot, rooted compost...

Digging them out of a tray 'checks' them, and that's it. Very pleasant
gobbets of cauli result innit.

Just curious how they plant fields of cauli seedlings round here and
produce decent caulis. Or is it different for spring cauli?

Probably a white variety of broccoli.
Looks like cauli, tastes like cauli, but...

Googling spring cauliflower doesn't seem to indicate that. I've always
grown, and transplanted, spring cauli - it rarely has resident
caterpillars! And the longer growing season seems to give better heads.
While I've not grown summer/autumn caulis for a few years, when I did they
were decent heads from transplanted seedlings - just lots of caterpillars!

Rusty Hinge wrote:
Mike Lyle wrote:
Rusty Hinge wrote:
Mike Lyle wrote:
wrote:
Rusty Hinge wrote:
[...]
I could be tempted to use (Shhhh! EC spies might be listening!)
the juice from boiled rhubarb leaves to spray the aphids with.
A-ha, I was discussing this with someone yesterday! We both had
vague ideas that there was /something/ I could do with the rhubarb
leaves (other than remembering not to feed it to the chickens!!)!
While we're on the subject, note that EC regs now make it a
criminal offence to water garden plants if one's tap water tests
between pH 3.57 and pH 7.92; the potential penalty is a fine of up
to 7,000
euro or up to eighteen months' imprisonment. House plants are
exempt pending a decision of the European Court of Human Rights.
The collection of rainwater is to be banned altogether from 1 July
2010.
This is April 1st in the Lylian calendar, yes?

You started it...but I admit it seems to me that almost every day is
April 1st.

Just happens to be true - you are not permitted to use unapproved
remedies in the garden.

Like washing-up liquid for washing-off aphids, mixing with herbicide
or insecticide to 'wet' the surfaces, and many old, tried and trusted
preparations just because someone hasn't paid a king's ransom to have
them officiously 'tested'.

You are not permitted to use the wort from boiled rhubarb leaves as an
insecicide.

It is probably illegal to use steeped (and smelly) nettlejuice as a
fertiliser.

And fahsands of other old practices.

I'm just going out to spread the ashes of an incinerated eurocrat...

This sounds so much like a "Lesbian Muslim Mayor bans OAPs' Christmas
party" story, that I'd enjoy it a lot if you'd share your c. and v. I'm
becoming a connoisseur of these things.

My Mum's friend's auntie works dahn the Social, and this Government has
ordered them to give all illegal immigrants BMWs.

--
Mike.