成人快手

How to deter slugs from a compost bin

Post categories: question,听soil and compost

Gareth Austin | 09:10 UK time, Thursday, 12 August 2010

Gareth Austin, gardening expert with 成人快手 Radio Foyle, answers your questions about how to deter slugs and how to grow salad and veg in a small space. If you have either of these problems,听share your experiences in the comment section below.

Geoff from Hull asks: I have brown slugs in my compost bin is this a good thing or not?

Answer: Geoff, perhaps your compost bin is to wet? Try to layer some scrunched up newspaper at regular intervals to aerate the bin. If it's too wet the decomposition process will slow. Compost bins need a good mix of air, moisture and heat, too much of one thing will slow the process down. A light forking or turning is also beneficial!

Shaun from Swindon asks: I would like to start growing some veg/salad but I live in a town house with a very small garden with just decking and patio. Is there a way of growing veg and salad by using grow bags or is this method not very successful? I am a complete novice but any advice would be welcome.

Answer: Shaun, I run a club where we teach how to create an 'apotment' in your own back garden. You can grow a massive range, almost limitless range, of fruits, salads, herbs and veg in large pots and in hanging baskets (one of the wow's on the Dig In Roadshow is when Chris Collins plants an edible hanging basket with lettuce, strawberries and herbs!) Pick a style of pot that fits the style of your garden. Ty to get them at least 50cm wide and grow as much as you can eat. The bigger the pot the easier it is to maintain.

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About this blog

The Dig In campaign has finished now. Thanks to everyone who took part in the campaign throughout 2009 and 2010. We hope you enjoyed growing the Dig In seeds, especially those of you who are new to growing vegetables. This site is no longer being updated, but it is still packed full of useful information about growing veg.

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Expert authors

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.