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Archives for October 2010

Gareth Austin on growing winter veg in pots

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Gareth Austin Gareth Austin | 09:05 UK time, Tuesday, 26 October 2010

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Gareth Austin, gardening expert with ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Radio Foyle, answers your questions about growing veg.

Geraldine from Milton Keynes asks: I have a small garden doing all my growing in pots and sacks on the patio or dotted around the garden. This year I've had success with potatoes, beans, tomatoes, peas, and so on. Are there any winter veg I can grow in this way?

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Can you grow carrots in bags?

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Gareth Austin Gareth Austin | 09:05 UK time, Monday, 25 October 2010

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Gareth Austin, gardening expert with ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Radio Foyle, answers your questions about growing veg.

Eileen Johnstone from Dumfries and Galloway asks: Can I grow carrots in small hessian bags (small supermarket ones)?

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What winter crops can I grow now?

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Maria Del Carmen Casarrubios Maria Del Carmen Casarrubios | 08:30 UK time, Friday, 22 October 2010

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Maria del Carmen Casarrubios, who's a tutor at , answers your questions about growing veg.

Edward from Great Yarmouth asks: I have recently purchased my own raised bed and constructed it in my garden so that I can grow my own vegetables. Can I start to grow now or should I wait until next year as most crops are now being harvested?

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Is it better to start plants off in pots or in the ground?

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Gareth Austin Gareth Austin | 09:12 UK time, Thursday, 21 October 2010

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Gareth Austin, gardening expert with ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Radio Foyle, answers your questions about growing veg.

Fred Isaac from Newry, County Down, asks: Some of the advice relating to growing the Dig In vegetables says to start them off in small pots before planting them out. Can the seeds be planted straight into the ground or in pots outside without starting them in the house/greenhouse?

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Is my carrot soil contaminated?

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Maria Del Carmen Casarrubios Maria Del Carmen Casarrubios | 09:56 UK time, Wednesday, 20 October 2010

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Maria del Carmen Casarrubios, who's a tutor and practical instructor at , answers your questions about growing veg.

DI Hughes from Carmarthenshire asks: For many years I have successfully grown carrots. During the last two seasons carrots have been totally destroyed by carrot fly. Is it possible that my soil is now contaminated? Would a dose of  Jeyes fluid this winter help? Is an application of Jeyes fluid good for the garden?

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The secret to sowing basil

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Gareth Austin Gareth Austin | 11:12 UK time, Tuesday, 19 October 2010

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Gareth Austin, gardening expert with ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Radio Foyle, answers your questions about growing veg.

Sandra Morris from Pinkneys Green, Berkshire asks: I never managed to get any of the Dig In basil seeds to germinate despite three attempts. I still have a few seeds left. Can I try to grow the basil indoors at this time of year? Likewise I have carrot seeds leftover. Any advice greatly appreciated.

Answer: Hey Sandra, you're not having the best of luck by the sounds of it! The secret to sowing basil is to sown them thinly on to moist compost and only cover them by an inch with compost, place them in a warm position (hotpress or on a towel on a radiator is ideal) and they should start to grow about a fortnight. With the carrots we regularly sow these as a winter crop here in Northern Ireland - many believe that carrots sown in autumn and harvested in spring are far tastier and sweeter! Sow them now for a tasty crop come the spring, sow these thinly into well prepared soil and they should start to show in about three weeks or so. You can read more advice on basil in the Dig In growing guide. Good luck!

Brendan Little answers your questions on soil and compost

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Brendan Little Brendan Little | 13:13 UK time, Tuesday, 12 October 2010

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Brendan Little, gardening expert for ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Northern Ireland answers your questions about growing veg. Send in your question.

Jane Thompson from Manchester asks: I had some success with courgettes and beans this year, but generally I didn't get great crops. What should I do to improve the soil before next year?

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Brendan Little answers your carrot questions

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Brendan Little Brendan Little | 17:17 UK time, Thursday, 7 October 2010

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Brendan Little, gardening expert for ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Northern Ireland answers your questions about growing veg. Send Brendan a question.

Derek Middleton from Crosby Merseyside asks: I have very sandy soil - good for carrots and my carrots appeared to grow well. However, on harvesting many of them are strange shapes and look deformed. Is there any reason for this?

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Can you compost mildewy courgette leaves?

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Brendan Little Brendan Little | 12:18 UK time, Tuesday, 5 October 2010

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Brendan Little, gardening expert for ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Northern Ireland answers your questions about growing veg. Send Brendan a question.

Synnove from Leeds asks: Thanks to Sally Smith for her advice about mildew on courgette leaves, which I read in the Dig In Q&A section on 23 August. I have been removing lots of my courgette leaves that have mildew on them. Is it OK to put these leaves on my compost heap? Thanks.

Answer: Some people say yes and others say no! I'm in the no camp as I am always afraid that the spores will overwinter and come back to haunt me the following year.

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