Gathering old wives tales

Discussion in 'General Gardening Discussion' started by Doug Harding, Jul 26, 2013.

Page 3 of 3
  1. Sirius

    Sirius Total Gardener

    Joined:
    Jun 26, 2012
    Messages:
    1,438
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Hertfordshire
    Ratings:
    +1,238
    My mother-in-law waters her house plants with the plastic milk container when the milk has finished, but with the dregs still lining the bottle.
    It's supposed to be good for plants. :hate-shocked:
     
    Sirius, Aug 1, 2013
    #31 Quote in Conversation
  2. Jungle Jane

    Jungle Jane Starved Of Technicolor

    Joined:
    Dec 12, 2010
    Messages:
    2,086
    Gender:
    Female
    Occupation:
    Local Nutcase
    Location:
    South Essex
    Ratings:
    +3,264
    I have two thriving and one dying. Does that mean I need to hit the other half a bit harder? :snork:
     
    • Funny Funny x 4
      Jungle Jane, Aug 1, 2013
      #32 Quote in Conversation
    • shiney

      shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

      Joined:
      Jul 3, 2006
      Messages:
      64,871
      Gender:
      Male
      Occupation:
      Retired - Last Century!!!
      Location:
      Herts/Essex border. Zone 8b
      Ratings:
      +127,052
      When we moved in here the back garden was a jungle and, as we gradually, cleared it we found that couch grass had spread through the hedge from the jungle next door. No matter how much time we spent digging it out it still came through as if it was competing in the Olympics.

      An elderly customer of mine said that we should plant turnips all the way along the hedge and couch grass won't cross it. Anything was worth a try so we planted the turnips. No more couch grass! :blue thumb: :hapydancsmil:
       
      • Like Like x 2
      • Informative Informative x 1
        shiney, Aug 1, 2013
        #33 Quote in Conversation
      • clueless1

        clueless1 member... yep, that's what I am:)

        Joined:
        Jan 8, 2008
        Messages:
        17,778
        Gender:
        Male
        Location:
        Here
        Ratings:
        +19,598
        I've just looked up couch grass. That's what keeps invading my borders. Looks like a crop of turnips next year then.
         
        clueless1, Aug 1, 2013
        #34 Quote in Conversation
      • Doug Harding

        Doug Harding South coast mr nice guy

        Joined:
        Jun 9, 2013
        Messages:
        166
        Gender:
        Male
        Occupation:
        Garden centre manager/horticulturalist...
        Location:
        A little town called Bournemouth
        Ratings:
        +121
        See ..... There is a purpose for turnips .......

        Jungle Jane .... You wouldn't hit a poor defenceless bloke would you
         
        Doug Harding, Aug 1, 2013
        #35 Quote in Conversation
      • shiney

        shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

        Joined:
        Jul 3, 2006
        Messages:
        64,871
        Gender:
        Male
        Occupation:
        Retired - Last Century!!!
        Location:
        Herts/Essex border. Zone 8b
        Ratings:
        +127,052
        Baldrick had it right, all along! :lunapic 130165696578242 5:
         
        • Funny Funny x 2
          shiney, Aug 1, 2013
          #36 Quote in Conversation
        • Jungle Jane

          Jungle Jane Starved Of Technicolor

          Joined:
          Dec 12, 2010
          Messages:
          2,086
          Gender:
          Female
          Occupation:
          Local Nutcase
          Location:
          South Essex
          Ratings:
          +3,264
          Indeed I would. Its the only way to ge him to do anything in this house.
           
          • Like Like x 1
            Jungle Jane, Aug 1, 2013
            #37 Quote in Conversation
          • honeybunny

            honeybunny Head Gardener

            Joined:
            Feb 15, 2013
            Messages:
            1,213
            Gender:
            Female
            Location:
            Ireland
            Ratings:
            +1,915
            don't pass a clout 'till may is out! that was one my granny always said :imphrt:

            how about

            red sky at night sailors delight
            red sky at morning, sailors warning
             
            honeybunny, Aug 3, 2013
            #38 Quote in Conversation
          • shiney

            shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

            Joined:
            Jul 3, 2006
            Messages:
            64,871
            Gender:
            Male
            Occupation:
            Retired - Last Century!!!
            Location:
            Herts/Essex border. Zone 8b
            Ratings:
            +127,052
            We didn't harvest the turnips but did harvest the turnip tops (greens) and they made a good veggie. Turnip tops were one of my father's favourite veggies and, when I used to run a veggie stall in the East End of London in the fifties (no, not the 1850's :heehee:), they were a very good seller. :blue thumb:
             
            • Like Like x 1
              shiney, Aug 3, 2013
              #39 Quote in Conversation
            • alana

              alana Super Gardener

              Joined:
              May 5, 2008
              Messages:
              765
              Occupation:
              Head Gardener
              Location:
              Far East of Suffolk
              Ratings:
              +2,632
              I never bring lilac into the house because my gran always told me it meant someone close was going to die.
               
              • Informative Informative x 1
                alana, Aug 4, 2013
                #40 Quote in Conversation
              • clueless1

                clueless1 member... yep, that's what I am:)

                Joined:
                Jan 8, 2008
                Messages:
                17,778
                Gender:
                Male
                Location:
                Here
                Ratings:
                +19,598
                Tree related folklore is my favourite:)

                A pregnant woman should kiss an Elder tree to invoke the protection of the tree spirits to protect the baby.

                Don't burn Elder wood, it will result in a death in the family (while I don't really believe this, it has earned some scientific backing. The smoke from it contains a toxin that can mess with your heart rhythm).
                 
                • Agree Agree x 1
                  clueless1, Aug 4, 2013
                  #41 Quote in Conversation
                Page 3 of 3
                Loading...
                Similar Threads - Gathering old wives
                1. LeadFarmer

                  Gardeners World forum members gathering place

                  LeadFarmer, Mar 13, 2024, in forum: New Members Introduction
                  Replies:
                  603
                  Views:
                  37,891
                  shiney
                  Apr 2, 2024
                2. TheMadHedger

                  Wasps gathering around the base of a tree ..... sap related?

                  TheMadHedger, Aug 11, 2020, in forum: Pests, Diseases and Cures
                  Replies:
                  2
                  Views:
                  4,428
                  TheMadHedger
                  Aug 12, 2020
                3. Sian in Belgium

                  Gathering seeds

                  Sian in Belgium, Jul 14, 2015, in forum: General Gardening Discussion
                  Replies:
                  6
                  Views:
                  644
                  Sheal
                  Jul 15, 2015
                4. HarryS

                  The Great Gathering ( steam trains )

                  HarryS, Jul 4, 2013, in forum: Off-Topic Discussion
                  Replies:
                  2
                  Views:
                  758
                  Phil A
                  Jul 4, 2013
                5. Heather-Whitty

                  Gathering Garden Waste

                  Heather-Whitty, Oct 8, 2009, in forum: General Gardening Discussion
                  Replies:
                  21
                  Views:
                  1,373
                  Selleri
                  Oct 10, 2009

                Share This Page

                1. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
                  By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.
                  Accept Learn More...
                  Dismiss Notice