Snowy1066
member
Reged: 08/07/2008
Posts: 4181
Loc: Southeast
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The maltesers are there for all to enjoy Ashbee! Help yourselves.
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Twiddledout
member
Reged: 17/11/2008
Posts: 1053
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Ahhh boozy birds Thimble, that would be fun! It's just good to see you here, no need for thanks. xx
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www.mrstwiddle.wordpress.com
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suzie88
member
Reged: 02/09/2008
Posts: 811
Loc: Essex
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I have half an allotment, a whole one was too big. I grew loads of veg last year, I stuck everything in to see what would work, we are still eating runner beans and cougette out of the freezer.
I have ordered all my seed for next year, I am planting Mangetout for the first time.
Everyone must grow new potatoes, they taste fabulous fresh from the garden. I will tell you when to buy seed potatoes from the garden centre and we all start chitting.
I always add a few flowers as well, I have planted tulip bulbs already, I grow sunflowers, foxgloves, cornflowers and dahlias for the house.
Glad to have found some gardening buddies.
suzie88
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Twiddledout
member
Reged: 17/11/2008
Posts: 1053
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Great suzie, I want to grow flowers for cutting too.
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www.mrstwiddle.wordpress.com
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Ashbee
member
Reged: 13/06/2008
Posts: 1160
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Me too - my most recent attempts at dahlia's was a disaster thanks to slugs and the rain. But the rest sound lovely...
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Thimble
member
Reged: 04/12/2008
Posts: 4320
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I have tried countless times to freeze runner beans but no success they always come out nasty. I have tried picking, peeling and freezing them straight away and also blancing them but nothing seems to work. How do you all get them to freeze and be edible. I give lbs of them away as I can't get them to freeze.
Please enlightenn me.
Mrs T - I just felt that I had to say thanks.
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redpoppy
member
Reged: 21/01/2008
Posts: 417
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Suzie88, that's great, we can all chit together!
I like mixing veg and flowers together in the beds too..nasturtium, sweet pea and marigold are favourites.
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citygirl
member
Reged: 18/07/2008
Posts: 676
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I bought an electric propogator last year but its never been out of the box, so maybe I should use it this year & start some seedlings off. I did manage to grow lavender from seed this year, I go a bit mad on lavender in the garden.
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Ashbee
member
Reged: 13/06/2008
Posts: 1160
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I don't know why but it never occurred to me to grow lavendar from seed - I love it and plan to use lots of it around my new garden...Citygirl, get that electric propogator out of the box!!!
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Mayday
member
Reged: 19/01/2008
Posts: 2046
Loc: Gloucestershire/cotswolds
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Tip from My OH......he is the veg grower in our house. He usually grows great runner beans. Last year he listened to Joe Swift(TV) and sowed the beans stright in the soil. Result.......all got eaten off by slugs. This year he plans to start the beans in seed trays as usual BUT putting each bean inside a Loo roll tube. This means the bean grows to planting out stage but keeps the roots contained so there is no disturbance when the transplanting takes place. He iused to sow each bean in a 'thumb pot'(Plastic) The loo roll idea means you can plant the loo roll tube with the bean as it will rot down as the bean grows. Best of Luck!
Freezing Thimble? I usually do a few. I trim and slice them and blanche briefly and cool quickly and then freeze on trays and decant into bags whenfrozen....couple of hours.
I find them acceptable as something green in winter and also uses the surplus crop but never as nice as fresh beans.
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I may not be rich or famous but my Grandchildren ARE Priceless !!
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MangeTout
member
Reged: 08/07/2007
Posts: 4123
Loc: Oxfordshire
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Mayday, if you plant the bean in the loo roll tube, will it get any light? Or am I imagining it wrong. Like the idea of no root disturbance.
I never blanch my beans but I do pick and freeze them young and they have never been tough.
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Willows Forum www.phpbbplanet.com/willowskitchen/
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Mayday
member
Reged: 19/01/2008
Posts: 2046
Loc: Gloucestershire/cotswolds
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Hi MT,
OH Says......! Fill the loo rolls with compost and then stand them all in a tray upright. Push one bean in each tube and by the time they 'sprout' they will reach the light. He tells me you can't sow them until late April /May as they are frost tender.
I do the flower stuff and leave all the veg to him. I just noticed that we were suddenly collecting loo roll tubes....hence the 'tips' for gardeners!!
Interesting that you freeze without blanching.I might try it this year as blanching is such a hassle.!!
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I may not be rich or famous but my Grandchildren ARE Priceless !!
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MangeTout
member
Reged: 08/07/2007
Posts: 4123
Loc: Oxfordshire
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Thanks to your OH, Mayday. I'm going to try that one. When do we put them in the loo roll and are they okay in an unheated greenhouse? I usually buy them from the Garden Ctr but would like to do them myself. Does he have a favourite variety?
I'l start collecting loo rolls now.
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Willows Forum www.phpbbplanet.com/willowskitchen/
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Twiddledout
member
Reged: 17/11/2008
Posts: 1053
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Good tip Mayday's OH, thanks! There will be loads of lurkers watching this thread - me included 
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www.mrstwiddle.wordpress.com
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Mayday
member
Reged: 19/01/2008
Posts: 2046
Loc: Gloucestershire/cotswolds
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Right! I am learning a lot!!! Answers to M.Tout's questions:_ He buys his seeds from Thompson and Morgan and then does what it says on the packet!!!!i.e. Sow mid.April to Mid May in cold greenhouse or late May/ June if sowing outdoors. Variety.....He reads what the catalogue says and then goes with his fancy!!! This year it is one called 'Lady Di'...(sounds to me as if they are doomed already!!?lol) It is said to be stringless.. Maybe I should put him on here to become the 'Bean King'? On second thoughts he might move onto the other forums and see what we get up to!!! We will have to have a bean measuring competition next Sept!
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I may not be rich or famous but my Grandchildren ARE Priceless !!
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Ashbee
member
Reged: 13/06/2008
Posts: 1160
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Two years ago I started runner beans and tomato seeds in toilet roll tubes and they worked well. My problem came later but I am tempted to try it that way again this year...
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MangeTout
member
Reged: 08/07/2007
Posts: 4123
Loc: Oxfordshire
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Must remember to put laxatives on the shopping list. I like to plant lots of beans!
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Willows Forum www.phpbbplanet.com/willowskitchen/
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Ashbee
member
Reged: 13/06/2008
Posts: 1160
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I read somewhere about using rolls of newspaper in the same way - once the seed is big enough you can plant the whole lot into the soil as the tube just breaks down...clever, eh?
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MangeTout
member
Reged: 08/07/2007
Posts: 4123
Loc: Oxfordshire
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Quickly cross exlax of the shopping list then, eh, Ash!
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Willows Forum www.phpbbplanet.com/willowskitchen/
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Ashbee
member
Reged: 13/06/2008
Posts: 1160
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Yes, I think so, eh? Much nicer to play with newspaper than suffer for your garden...
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