Genuisscuffy's Outbox

Leather Jackets are the larvae of the daddy long legs you see during the summer. If you water the area and then cover with black plastic they come to the top and the birds eat them. Or when you dig in the boarders you will see what looks like caterpillar larvae and then you can kill them (or dispose of!!!)

I also have the white version - great to fill a space but you can cut it back needs some support though and the bees love it.

Some herbs - the guy that grows them seems to really know his stuff and they have all survived!! - a lovely Lemon Verbena which smells like those sweets that are lemon with sherbert in the middle? My kids just like to sniff the plant and its the first one they take to their friends to try!! Also some Valarian, Basil, a cue (only need one) and a aubergine (again one is enough for us and it seems silly growing lots of seeds - always sow too many!!)
My friend brought lots of penstomens to fill her borders. Overall a good day!

B & Q were selling them off last year for £6.00 which I thought that was quite reasonable.

Me and my son were having a competition this year to see who grew the strawberries on either side of our veggie plot - well we finally had enough for a bowlful and although he said they tasted "seedier" than the shop ones he was most impressed (and he won!!) I even grew some little alpine ones just to show him the difference in taste but like all men he thought the bigger the better!!!

Hi, vasaline works just as well in quite a thick band round the trunk - will last the summer. They used to run up into the cherry tree and then all the aphids caused a real problem if you wanted to sit underneath it with sticky sap.

wow, great shot!!!

I live on a housing estate - do you think they would give me an ASBO if I tried it - no just the thought of it...maybe it would scare the cats off the veggies - no dont go there..

What a sense of achievement when you've done something you've been putting off for a while! Well done!

Mine are going out in the day and coming in during the night - again I'm on the South Coast and hoping to plant out next week but will be keeping fleece handy. Good luck hope you have lots of runners!!

Ivy has litte roots which cling on to anything and everything -that is why its so good at climbing up walls and fences - I dont think you will have a problem with it climbing - just be patient while it gets going and before long you will be asking how to stop it!!!

I've brought one this year again mainly for hedging cuttings - I looked all around and was amazed at the cost - the most reasonable was one from Wickes £59 where as even Argos was into the £139... range. It seems to work fine with thick rose stems.

You could put a drop of washing up liquid/water in a sprayer and spray them - seems to work on the first few at the beginning of the season.

Have a look at Mel Bartholomews site - Square Foot Gardening he has built some raised (on tables) container garden for disabled people and has grown all sorts of vegetables. Hope it helps.

Hi I've done Choisya - make sure they are in a gritty compost and any time they seem to take - dont make them too big though.

My friend has gerbils and she gives me her shavings which as Clarice says is great for adding in between if you've got lots of grass clippings.

Ohh! very posh!!! The plants are coming on a treat - you've beaten me I havent planted up my hanging baskets yet (hopefully this weekend).

I dont know what variety you use but I have used Grandpa Otis to great success every year. Lovely purple colour. It is a tender plant and should be planted out after the frosts but you could even put the seeds in when the weather warms up.

Hi, I dont know if its meant to grow but I have a Choiysia sundance (the yellow one) which has grown to about 8ft and its in shade constantly. Being yellow it really brightens up the area and the flowers are so delicate and pretty.

The problem with sitting in the garden is you always spot something to do and so you get up to pull that weed or move that pot and before you know it your kids, animals or whoever are complaining its been hours and could they please have something to eat!!! I know the feeling I only went out the other morning to potter and before I knew it, it was 12.30 (I went out at 8.00!!!)

Green Gardener - is that on the web? or garden centre?

They are so lovely - sticking their heads up when there is not much else around!! Lovely colour.

Much better -the rocks make all the difference - certainly looks like its been there ages.

Well done, dont you love this time of the year when things start to get planted - a real sense of achievement.

Or a Jigsaw - lovely - makes you smile just looking at all the flowers.

Wow - glad I dont have to trim that each year - wonder how long it takes?

Hi, yes the white things are out of an old fridge - they are great because the cats cant getto the soil and because they are covered in white plastic they dont rot or rust. Recycling I guess but they've done for several years so far.

I like Fuchsias they just make me smile with their little ballerina dresses!!

WOW!! Love the Strelitzia - I'm growing one from seed and although its 3 years old just have leaves so far.

Thanks it is hard when they eat your plants.