Top tip!

I have been told that the Little Owl was introduced in the 19th century to help keep down the population of bullfinches, who eat the flower buds off fruit trees, as they like to nest in orchards. Don't know if it worked.

 

Time for another top tip !

How to keep the birds away from my runner beans ?

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y56/oktarine/08042007006.jpg

The canes are taller than the neighbouring fence, so the slightest breeze rattles the empty bottles, would probably work even better on an allotment i.e. in an open space ?

 

I read an organic tip in a magazine recently, [can't remember which one]- for a non-chemical and cheap rooting compound, soak willow branches in water and then use the water to dip your cuttings in! I have been trying it but can't tell whether it's worked yet.

 

That could well be right. Willow will grow wherever you plant it!

 

:D :D :D

 

Another tip! Those large black containers that the supermarkets sell off cheap now and again- make holes in the bottoms very easily using an old sharpening steel. Heat it in gas [quicker] or electric and then just poke slowly through the bases [if you do it too quickly they sometimes crack]. No drills, no fuss, just nice neat holes. Wipe the steel after with kitchen roll.
Smelly but effective!
Can of course be used on other plastic containers but not expanded polystyrene.

 

Hi liz.........yep i boougt about 150 of the cheap black bucket sized pots, but i drilled them carefully, no smell but lots of black polo's :D

 

I use a cheapo electric soldering iron to make holes - you don't have to keep heating it up then! Holes are a bit smaller, it's true - but you can make more of 'em... You can buy them for not a lotta money and keep one just for that! (Although mine goes back to normal duties afterwards....!)