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Couple od questions
I have just bought some garlic to grow on my allotment
and was wondering if I could put it in the ground as it is or should I get it sprouting first, if this is the case, how do I encourage it to do so ?? Second question is about peas and beans, when I plant them (especially the peas) the mice dig up a lot of them and I have a much reduced harvest. I have been told by an old gardener that he used to soak then in paraffin over night. Is that still good advice or is there another way of protecting them ?? Thanks for any input. Wally |
Couple od questions
"Wally" wrote I have just bought some garlic to grow on my allotment and was wondering if I could put it in the ground as it is or should I get it sprouting first, if this is the case, how do I encourage it to do so ?? Second question is about peas and beans, when I plant them (especially the peas) the mice dig up a lot of them and I have a much reduced harvest. I have been told by an old gardener that he used to soak then in paraffin over night. Is that still good advice or is there another way of protecting them ?? Garlic should simply be planted in late Sep or Oct so it makes roots and starts into life before the worst of the weather which it will simply shrug off, tough as old boots. Don't bother sprouting it before planting, just break up the head into individual cloves and plant them 9 inches apart, rows 1 ft apart. Rust in the late spring is the only thing to watch out for, besides white rot. Paraffin will have some effect on the mice but we haven't found anything works except planting them in compost in square shaped guttering raised up well away from mice. Once the plants are well into growth you slide the lot into a pre-made drill and away they grow. If you have to buy the guttering it's not cheap but it will last years, decades even, if you are careful. -- Regards Bob Hobden W.of London. UK |
Couple od questions
On 9 Sep, 16:08, "Bob Hobden" wrote:
"Wally" *wrote I have just bought some garlic to grow on my allotment and was wondering if I could put it in the ground as it is or should I get it sprouting first, if this is the case, how do I encourage it to do so ?? Second question is about peas and beans, when I plant them (especially the peas) the mice dig up a lot of them and I have a much reduced harvest. I have been told by an old gardener that he used to soak then in paraffin over night. Is that still good advice or is there another way of protecting them ?? Garlic should simply be planted in late Sep or Oct so it makes roots and starts into life before the worst of the weather which it will simply shrug off, tough as old boots. Don't bother sprouting it before planting, just break up the head into individual cloves and plant them 9 inches apart, rows 1 ft apart. Rust in the late spring is the only thing to watch out for, besides white rot. Paraffin will have some effect on the mice but we haven't found anything works except planting them in compost in square shaped guttering raised up well away from mice. Once the plants are well into growth you slide the lot into a pre-made drill and away they grow. If you have to buy the guttering it's not cheap but it will last years, decades even, if you are careful. -- Regards Bob Hobden W.of London. UK We always used to soak the peas in parafin for a few hours before planting, used to work for us. David |
Couple od questions
"Dave Hill" wrote "Bob Hobden" wrote: "Wally" wrote I have just bought some garlic to grow on my allotment and was wondering if I could put it in the ground as it is or should I get it sprouting first, if this is the case, how do I encourage it to do so ?? Second question is about peas and beans, when I plant them (especially the peas) the mice dig up a lot of them and I have a much reduced harvest. I have been told by an old gardener that he used to soak then in paraffin over night. Is that still good advice or is there another way of protecting them ?? Garlic should simply be planted in late Sep or Oct so it makes roots and starts into life before the worst of the weather which it will simply shrug off, tough as old boots. Don't bother sprouting it before planting, just break up the head into individual cloves and plant them 9 inches apart, rows 1 ft apart. Rust in the late spring is the only thing to watch out for, besides white rot. Paraffin will have some effect on the mice but we haven't found anything works except planting them in compost in square shaped guttering raised up well away from mice. Once the plants are well into growth you slide the lot into a pre-made drill and away they grow. If you have to buy the guttering it's not cheap but it will last years, decades even, if you are careful. We always used to soak the peas in parafin for a few hours before planting, used to work for us. Didn't for us completely the first time and not at all subsequently. Ours seem to be living in the mole tunnels, do they live together? -- Regards Bob Hobden W.of London. UK |
Couple od questions
Thanks Bob and Dave for the replies, so the garlic will
go in next week and I will try the paraffin treatment, even if it doesn't work it won't do any harm. BTW, does that still apply for broad beans as well as peas ?? Sheeessh have you seen the price of paraffin ? the last lot I bought was one and ninepence a gallon, time to shop around methinks. Wally |
Couple od questions
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Couple od questions
Bob Hobden wrote:
Paraffin will have some effect on the mice but we haven't found anything works except planting them in compost in square shaped guttering raised up well away from mice. Once the plants are well into growth you slide the lot into a pre-made drill and away they grow. If you have to buy the guttering it's not cheap but it will last years, decades even, if you are careful. I've found we've lost more to over-paraffining than mice anyhow. We have started the guttering method, and it works well, although it's always a pain to transfer into the ground, as they start growing through the drainage holes! Ours was cheap enough - my uncle was clearing a building site and we got throw-away stuff for free. :-) |
Couple od questions
wrote Bob Hobden wrote: Paraffin will have some effect on the mice but we haven't found anything works except planting them in compost in square shaped guttering raised up well away from mice. Once the plants are well into growth you slide the lot into a pre-made drill and away they grow. If you have to buy the guttering it's not cheap but it will last years, decades even, if you are careful. I've found we've lost more to over-paraffining than mice anyhow. We have started the guttering method, and it works well, although it's always a pain to transfer into the ground, as they start growing through the drainage holes! Ours was cheap enough - my uncle was clearing a building site and we got throw-away stuff for free. :-) I didn't bother with any drainage holes, just kept them at a slight angle so any excess water drained out the lowest end. -- Regards Bob Hobden W.of London. UK |
Couple od questions
Christina Websell wrote:
I always get them deceased on the floor in front of where I have the kettle, so I can step on them when I want a cup of tea just in case I missed admiring the catch. Are you expected to dunk them? |
Couple od questions
wrote in message ... Christina Websell wrote: I always get them deceased on the floor in front of where I have the kettle, so I can step on them when I want a cup of tea just in case I missed admiring the catch. Are you expected to dunk them? No, they are for my next meal ;p He worries that I don't feed myself enough. |
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