Pippi’s pulling up her stripey-socks for the final sprint towards the Good-Life……………

Kittikins

Whatever they're called, they're yuk in my book, one of the very few veggies I won't eat!

Karmacat

And thats a southerner comment! Love Z's detailed analysis

One of my best friends is from Northern Ireland, and as a scouser I'm forever getting ribbed by her because Liverpool is south of BallyX where she grew up - me pointing out that its in a different *country* doesn't cut it And other friends have tried to pretend that Liverpool is in the Midlands, which gets them crossed off my Christmas list immediately :rotfl:

Cheery, I'd forgotten you grew up on Merseyside, where were you again?

Keiss_21

troglodyte wrote: »

Morning all (it is still morning isn't it? Time keeps creeping up on me this week).

Just in case anyone doon sooth is thinking of keeping a few chickies of their own, I wondered if you'd seen this

Pippi I hope things are getting better.
Also I need your gardening advice. I thought I was good at growing things from seed, but I seem to be getting worse! I've sown various seeds in trays of general purpose compost, and covered them with those clear plastic lids - and they've grown fluffy grew mould on the surface. Even on the ones I didn't water. And if I take the lids off they get really dry. What am I doing wrong? Or is it just that our house is so cold?

Oooh, what a tragedy the farm is going out of business....those hens look lovely!! We have been vaguely thinking about getting hens, but are in no way ready to get some before the end of March...a shame though!!

As for your compost going mouldy...was it new fresh compost? Older compost always seems to grow moulds and mosses more easily as the spores have had more time to get established in the compost. I always get fresh seed compost each year, and as a result tend not to get many problems. Seed compost has less fertilisers in it, as the seeds have their own fuel supply for the first few weeks of growth...then you need to pot on into richer multipurpose compost (preferrably peat-free). I tend to use John Innes seed, followed by JI no 2 mixed half & half with (peat-free) multipurpose. I have tried to use all peat- free several times for sowing seed and potting on, but never seem to get a very good result. The John Innes composts are soil-based, so do have less peat in them. It is best to soak the compost before sowing the seed and allowing the trays to drain a bit, so the compost isn't too water-logged.

Also it is rather cold atm, do you have any form of propagator generating heat underneath the trays of compost to keep it cozy? What are you sowing by the way? Things like peas and beans don't need heat, whereas tomatoes and peppers do.

I hope this helps you, thought I would add my penny-worth while Pippi isn't posting so regularly. Hope no-one minds!

elantan

just posted that link on my facebook Keiss thanks

ZTD

Karmacat wrote: »

And thats a southerner comment!

A southerner in denial...

Karmacat wrote: »

Cheery, I'd forgotten you grew up on Merseyside, where were you again?

The bit with all the southerners in...

ZTD

vl2588 wrote: »

It is probably worse to be in my position...I am a Southerner without a clue

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

Well if you want to go hunting for clues, you can go back, quote my message, and see the url for the picture uses the dreaded word "turnip" in it...

Pippilongstocking

Just in from teaching (roots and fruits) woo we are on practical classes from now on

I took my spare !!!!(eral) to work as he's found a new home

Compost issues....well done keiss -who's far more efficient than me

The other thing I was going to say aside old compost/too early/too wet - is old pots trays which aren't sterile (or nearly) damp environment -or to cold for your seeds and fungus growing as their sugar is released through cold soaking seeds which are breaking down and can't germinate.

Or it might be something really nasty......like compost gone off. Dodgy tap water.

When I do my seeds I use boiled water (cold) - throw back to a season with difficult collected hard to germinate seeds (from posh foreign parts primula and mecanopsis seeds) I'm by no means advocating boiled water - but it's one less dodgy factor if your water is sterile......


Ps swedes have a neck, turnips don't.

Tbh could be any combo of lots things - none of which are your fault.

Pippilongstocking

Ps I'm a compost tart - i use whatever ive got to hand whenever I need it, keiss I feel humbled by you attention to detail!!well done you, I wish I had your diligence!

Trog don't give up!

I've not started anything but chillis -but I'm further north. It's been a cold winter. Let things dry a little and keep them uncovered - see how the go then.....

Keiss_21

Ooh forgot to say...cheque written, but not posted ...yet...will post it tomorrow!! Had to check out the full address, got it now!! :D

Thanks again Pippi...not sown anything more yet...still cleaning pots and trying to put foil inserts into the channels of my conservatory roof (very frustrating and time consuming :mad:!!), should be worth all the hassle in the long run!

Just had a look at my windowsill propagator..and some of my chillies have come up! I only sowed them last Wednesday...quite impressed. Just hope I can find the room to house them all before they get too leggy!

Right, off to get some x-stiching done...not done any for ages!!

Night, night x

Cheery_Daff

Hi Pippi! <waves madly>

Well done on your class :T :T

I should probably make more of an effort this year - to be honest I never wash my pots, and only use one type of (peat free) compost for everything, and often forget to water things at all. Survival of the fittest in my garden - don't want no namby pamby plants that need looking after all the time :rotfl: I prefer the kind that I just sort of throw at the soil and they grow all by themselves And preferably do the same thing next year too :rotfl:

Ellesmere Port KC Home of Vauxhall, ICI, Shell, and apparently the worst air in the country :rotfl: