成人快手

Guy Barter on cats and seedlings

Post categories: courgette,听question,听salad leaves

Guy Barter | 11:35 UK time, Friday, 30 April 2010

expert Guy Barter answers more of your questions - keep them coming by sending them in using the Q&A form.

Marie Saul asks:聽How safe would it be to plant veg in a small patch that has been frequented by my cat?聽 I am concerned about Toxoplasmosis聽and other nasties associated with my lovely cat using it as a loo!

Answer: I think it unwise to grow anything eaten raw such as salads in plots much used by cats. It is possible perhaps that the cat could be provided with alternative facilities and that the plot be given some protection by covering with fleece or netting?

This is a聽very common problem, so if聽anyone has聽a suggestion for stopping cats using your patch as a toilet聽do let us know it by leaving a comment below.

Emily Witham asks: My seedlings are coming along and all have their first sets of real leaves. I have a small plastic tent like patio greenhouse and my question is what is the minimum temperature聽I can safely leave my little seedlings out overnight in this?

Answer: Most seedlings rub along quite nicely at anything over 6C, but tender plants such as sweet corn or tomatoes need a minimum of 12C. It is well worth investing in a min-max thermometer to help get the right conditions for your precious seedlings.

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Our video expert is Blue Peter gardener Chris Collins. He's a qualified horticulturalist and award-winning gardener, who's presented shows on everything from allotments to Chelsea - . He loves sharing his experience with growers old and new!

Gareth Austin is resident gardening expert with 成人快手 Radio Foyle and lectures in horticulture in Northern Ireland. Gareth has made it a prority to encourage gardeners throughout Northern Ireland to 'reclaim the space' and start growing vegetables in any area they can find.

Maria del Carmen Casarrubios is a tutor and practical instructor at , Regent's Park. She trained at Capel Manor and Writtle College in Amenity Horticulture and has 20 years' experience of working with plants. Sally Smith

Sally Smith is a freelance gardening researcher and lecturer. She headed the advisory team at Garden Organic for many years. Pest and disease control by organic means is her speciality, Sally says: "Managing your soil is key to solving nearly all gardening problems, look after your compost heap, it's your most important asset." Sally Smith

Brendan Little trained at and . Brendan runs organic gardening courses, works as a garden designer and is in the 成人快手 Radio Ulster Gardeners' Corner team." Sally Smith

Karen Kenny is the Eastern Region Rep for the National Society of Allotment & Leisure Gardeners as well as on the management team of Suffolk and Ipswich allotments where she runs a site. Karen is also an accomplished lecturer on most gardening subjects, including allotments.

Peter Horrocks has an allotment in Newcastle. He's the regional rep for the in the North of England & Scotland, the secretary of the Newcastle Allotments Working Group. Plus, Peter is secretary of a ten-acre allotments site in Newcastle, considered by many to be one of the best in the city.

Ben Raskin is an advisor with the , as well as helping to run 22 acres of organic vegetables. With over 16 years of horticultural experience, including running market gardens and working at the Welsh College of Horticulture, he's an expert on organic matters.

Beechgrove Potting Shed is Radio Scotland's top gardening show, giving tips and advice to Scottish gardeners - and the odd Dig In grower - every Sunday.

Zoe tends the Dig In website. When she's not in the office you'll find her gardening on Hampstead Heath and in Regents Park.

Ann "Dig In" Kelly looked after the blog from day to day until May 2010. Bitten by the gardening bug a few years ago, she has progressed from a few growbags to a great big polytunnel. She hates slugs.