i have recently began growing my own organic veg, pots did well and parsnips also runner beans so i was very disappointed when my beetroot failed. do some veg or salad plants like less fussy soil or do you think the seeds out of date as they were only size of golf balls, not what pkt led me to believe. and i thought i'd grow carrots this year do i need to have mixed soil for them as someone suggested to add sand why?. also my rhubarb failed last year it had leaves which looked orange and rede speckled is that some sort of blight?, if so will i need to get rid of the whole plant and start again?.
Beetroot may have been out of date, but they can be funny - some years great, others not so great. They appreciate regular watering and firm soil and I always harvest at golf ball stage anyway as I find they are sweeter! Sand will help carrots because they tend to fork if in a heavy soil but I don't bother. For long unblemished roots, I grow mine in large pots of multipurpose compost, raised off the ground a little to avoid carrot fly :0). The rhubarb thing sounds like rust - best to dig up and burn, though you could cut right back and try again. If you go for new, plant new crown in a different spot with plenty of compost and don't water the leaves or crowd in with other plants. Hope this helps!
Carol Klein is fab, I am still hopeful she will front Gardeners World one day.... In the mean time, the cottage garden episode was really interesting - my style of gardening. I went out as soon as possible after watching,it was amazing to see the amount of bulbs coming through, hidden under all the debris. Gardening is ageless by the way, I was watching Geoff Hamilton at 21 and now in my late 30's like to watch Carol, Monty & Alan as well as Alys, can't bear this trendy, modern stuff. :0)
Inspirational! As Adam points out, so much covered in such a short time and so naturally and effortlessly by Carol. Real gardening in real time in a garden the presenter loves is the way forward for gardening programmes. Did worry about her up that ladder though....come on the older women!!!
Carol's enthusiasm is infectious. She is by far the best presenter currently. I loved her garden, and was heartened to see its winter state is just as messy as mine. Agree with Chris, no worries about ageism on this programme. I had to wait till Saturday to watch - rugby on BBC Wales on Friday - but it was well worth the wait. Look forward to the next episode.
What a wonderful programme, Carol Klein has just brightened up the miserable winter. I can't wait until Friday nights now. More of Carol, please, a true gardener and a down to earth lady - sorry about that.
A brilliant programme I learnt so much and enjoyed it all! As I was discussing with someone else, it's like being taken round her garden as a friend; not being taught or lectured to! Well done Carol...I could happily watch similar programmes all year instead of Gardener's World! Looking forward to tomorrow night.
Thought this was fab! got me motivated too, have been out there today with the kids, and up to the local garden centre to buy bird feeders and seed. Feel much better for it.
I think Carol is very inspiring. I saw her at the GW show in Birmingham & she was just the same as on t.v. I must add that Toby & Joe Swift were very friendly too - I was surprised & pleased at everyone's informality & approachability. I was feeling rather low last Friday but spent Saturday & Sunday afternoons in my garden & felt immensely cheered as a result. On Sunday I also went to the church garden where my late husband's ashes are scattered & planted a climbing rose - Compassion. Even that activity made me content because of the peace & serenity I feel when I'm in a garden - whatever I'm doing. I hope Carol's programmes inspire many more people.
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Real gardening in real time in a garden the presenter loves is the way forward for gardening programmes.
Did worry about her up that ladder though....come on the older women!!!
More of Carol, please, a true gardener and a down to earth lady - sorry about that.
As I was discussing with someone else, it's like being taken round her garden as a friend; not being taught or lectured to!
Well done Carol...I could happily watch similar programmes all year instead of Gardener's World!
Looking forward to tomorrow night.
I must add that Toby & Joe Swift were very friendly too - I was surprised & pleased at everyone's informality & approachability.
I was feeling rather low last Friday but spent Saturday & Sunday afternoons in my garden & felt immensely cheered as a result.
On Sunday I also went to the church garden where my late husband's ashes are scattered & planted a climbing rose - Compassion.
Even that activity made me content because of the peace & serenity I feel when I'm in a garden - whatever I'm doing.
I hope Carol's programmes inspire many more people.