Vegetable Growing 2024

My sprouts looked good a month ago and I got a couple of harvests but they have gone quite mouldy now, the tops and half remaining sprouts have rotted. I like growing them so will probably grow early ones next year and freeze them after the first couple of frosts.

A rat has been chomping through my coriander and other herbs in the greenhouse. I bought a few rentokill branded traps both rat and mice and they have broken within one use. Not fit for purpose

 

Interesting how different crops have suffered ill effects in different areas.
By contrast, see pics below my sprouts and parsnips are opposite.

 

The rat trap of choice is the Nipper wooden trap. The last thing it does is nip !
GENUINE LITTLE NIPPER WOODEN RAT TRAPS PEST STOP RAT TRAP Easy to use | eBay
You may find these at ironmongers/hardware shops - an almost extinct species I fear

 

I bought all metal versions about 40 years go, less than a £1.00 each.
Available from agricultural merchants and similar.
Apparently they still have 50% of the market for mouse traps. You might want to adjust the latch to increase the sensitivity.

 

Ben jumped out the car one morning last week in the carpark and grabbed a big rat straight away.
I got it off him but it was dead, he's a bit of a killer, just one bite does it.
Saw lots around the carpark again this morning.

 

I use the Big Cheese ones they may be plastic but boy do they work! The smaller mouse ones are really good , very sensitive, but powerful snap. I get at least one mouse a week in my Allotment shed at this time of year.

 

Are you are going to make a waistcoat ! Was done in yesteryear by country boys ,as a means of demonstrating their prowess!
If ever you visit West Grinstead parish church; there is /was a photograph of said parishioners proudly sporting said garments, their Sunday best.

 

No home grown sprouts or parsnips but carrots and leeks and kale harvested today for the meal tomorrow.

 

I have found the same with parsley.
My compost is always full of seeds but last year I had masses of parsley seedlings amongst the flowers. They look quite decorative!