Tony Flanagan
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Leggy tomato seedlings?
Oops. Wasn’t expecting that. Sowed some tomato seeds last Sunday, by Wednesday they were shooting upwards thanks to the heated propagator. Forgot to put the grow lights on so consequently they were looking a bit leggy. Not a problem if…
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Who needs a seed tray?
Within reason you can grow anything in just about anything. I tend to keep the plastic cartons that come with tomatoes and use them instead of seed trays – they have ready-made holes for a start and, as the seeds…
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Mudketeers Diary – Feb 12th 2017
Sowing chillies Spent Sunday morning sowing chillies, surely one of the best plants to grow. I love the shape of the leaves, the flowers and, of course, the fruit. And they come in such amazing varieties – grow for heat,…
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ANTONY WOODLAND GARDEN REOPENS FOR 2017
One of Cornwall’s most beautiful gardens, Antony Woodland Garden, reopens to the public on 1st March. Renowned as a haven of peace and tranquillity, the gardens are just a short ferry ride away from the hustle and bustle of Plymouth.…
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Growing broad beans under cover
If you have a greenhouse or polytunnel you can guarantee yourself a very early crop of broad beans in May Not only are broad beans delicious if picked young, they are easy to grow too. I usually grow a crop…
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Pollinating indoor strawberries
If you’ve been growing strawberries under cover, don’t forget you can help with their pollination It’s April and the strawberries in my polytunnel are starting to flower, which is great! However, although strawberries are self-fertile (which means they are self-pollinating)…
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Sowing Carrots
Here are a few tips you might find useful for sowing carrots The main sowing period is March through to June, though I have sown in July too with good results Don’t sow in soil that has been freshly manured…
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Carolina Reaper’: too hot to handle?
So why grow the world’s hottest chilli? Well, a bit like climbing Mount Everest, ‘cos it’s there! Well here’s a chilli that needs some careful handling…literally. The ‘Carolina Reaper’ is the hottest chilli in the world. Chillies are one of…
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The Millipede: Friend or Foe?
Here’s a little creature you’re bound to come across as you work the soil, so what should you do when you find one? You will often find these little beauties in the soil. They are thinnish (compared to grubs), brown,…
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What’s in a hoe?
In addition to Dutch hoes, there are plenty of other types on the market but which one is best for you? SpeedhoePersonally, I think it’s hard to beat a Dutch hoe for weeding, especially between rows. A lot depends on…
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Recycle your compost bags
Don’t throw your compost bags away, you can use them for container growing, especially early potatoes…. Compost bags are ideal as containers for growing early potatoes. So here’s how to do it: Roll the sides of each bag down half…
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Why chives?
Chives are not only great in the kitchen but they’re a truly beautiful herb when left to flower I do get impatient waiting for spring onions to mature so I tend to use chives in salads instead. They’re easy to…
