Garden And Gardener

Everything for the Gardener and their Garden

Archive for May, 2014

Potato blight

Thursday, May 29th, 2014

Add plenty of well rotted manure to the soil to ensure you have a healthy soil. This is a good tip for almost everything you want to grow. Feed the soil, not the plants!

Only use proper potatoes sold as seed potatoes. Whilst ones from the supermarket will grow and you can get a good crop they are not guaranteed to be free from disease.
Try blight resistant varieties.
Attend and buy potatoes at potato days organised by good local garden centres. We go to the one in Hulme, Manchester. It is a great place to buy potatoes offering a good choice and value.

Plant where there is good ventilation. Don’t squeeze them into a tiny corner hidden behind fences. Let the air flow.
Plant them early (But protect against frost) so they get more growing time before blight becomes a risk.
Try seaweed solution as a spray for health.
Earth them up. It’ll help get you a better crop too!
Remove affected foliage from plants as soon as it appears.
Compost it – the spores can only live on living tissue, so bury it deep in your heap so it rots down quickly and completely.
Sign up to blightwatch.co.uk for news about blight.
If you are badly affected then remove all the foliage. The potatoes can stay in the ground for a couple more weeks but without the tops won’t really grow much more.
Throw away rotten potatoes from your stored supply. Go through every couple of weeks. A bad smell is a sign of soft mushy potatoes.

Price reductions at Harrod Horticultural

Thursday, May 29th, 2014

Price cut on this item at Harrod Horticultural

Wall & Fence Fruit Tree Protector

Wall & Fence Fruit Tree Protector was £132.00 now £80.00
The Wall Fence Fruit Tree Protector Is Supplied Complete With 18mm X 18mm Heavy Duty Anti-bird Netting To Keep The Birds From Your Fruit And A Clear Heavy-duty Pvc Cover. In The Winter Months The Pvc Cover Will Reduce The Threat Of The Highly-damaging Peach Leaf Curl Fungus, Spread By Raindrops In Cold, Wet Winter And Spring Conditions.these Covers – Complete With Heavy-duty Zip System – Are Supported By An Ultra-tough, Heavy-duty 25mm/1″ Square X 1.5mm Thick, Galvanised And Powder-coated Black Steel Framework Which Carries A Reassuring 10 Year Guarantee. The Wall/fence Fruit Tree Protector Can Be Fitted To Any 1.8m/6ft+ High Wall/fence And Is 1.94m Long. Full Instructions And Fittings Included.researched And Designed In-house With Input From The Fruit Department At Rhs Wisleymount Against Any 6ft/1.8m+ High Wall Or Fencefixings And Full Instructions Includedsturdy, Galvanised, 25mm/1″ Square, Black, Powder-coated Steel Frameworksteelwork Guaranteed For 10 Yearspvc Cover Prevents Peach Leaf Curl And Has A Year Guarantee supplied With 18mm X 18mm Mesh Heavy-duty Anti-bird Nettingthe Frame Measures 45cm/18″ Depth And 1.8m/6ft High And Is Supplied In 1.94m Length (length Is External) through Draft Ventilation Is Provided By A 20cm/8″ Gap At Bottom Of Frame And Via Open Sidessteel Framework Fitted To Wall Or Fence With Pressure Treated Battensextra-tough Press Studs Secure Pvc Covers To Framethis Product Is Supplied As A Kit For Self Assembly

New products at Harrod Horticultural

Thursday, May 29th, 2014

Harrod Horticultural just added these new products

Duo Grow Planter

Duo Grow Planter £32.00
Much More Responsive To A Plants Needs Than Hand Or Dripper Watering, The Duo Grow Features An Easy Access 25 Litre Reservoir Making It Simple To Refill Without Any Risk Of Over Or Underwatering.each Of The Duogrow Pots Has A Feedermat Which Pulls Water Up From The Smartreservoir Into The Soil Around The Roots, Exactly When And Where The Plants Need It. The Feedermats Ensure The Soil Is Never Water-logged, The Plants Are Never Too Thirsty And The Roots Have Better Access To Oxygen, Which Fuels Faster And More Productive Growth.you Will Be Picking Twice As Much Veg Using The Duogrow Compared With Growbags Or Pots And There Is No Risk Of Erratic Watering – The Dreaded Cause Of Root Rot, Split Fruit And Blossom End Rot.the Pots Are 30cms Wide And Hold 12litres Of Compost Each, Giving Roots Plenty Of Room For Healthy Growth. Perfect For Growing All The Plants You Would Usually Grow In A Pot Or Growbag Tomatoes, Beans, Cucumbers, Aubergines, Peppers And Any Tall Cropping Plants.innovative Duogrow Planter – Perfect Replacement For Growbagsstylish Designeach Pot Is 30cms Wide Holds 12 Litres Of Compostsmartreservoir Holds 25 Litresperfect For Holiday Wateringhealthier Plants, Reduce Blossom End Rotprevent Erratic Wateringoverall Dimensions 67cm L X 32cm W X 56cm H

Read the rest of this entry »

Price reductions at John Lewis

Thursday, May 29th, 2014

Price cut on this item at John Lewis

John Lewis Potato Thermometers, Set of 2

John Lewis Potato Thermometers, Set of 2 was £12.00 now £6.00
 Ensure your potatoes are cooked to perfection everytime with this set of thermometers

New products at John Lewis

Thursday, May 29th, 2014

New products at John Lewis

John Lewis Botanist Salad Bowl

John Lewis Botanist Salad Bowl £1.00
Serve up fresh summer salads in this easy-to-clean melamine salad bowl.

Read the rest of this entry »

Price reductions at MowDirect

Thursday, May 29th, 2014

MowDirect has cut the price of these products

Einhell BG-HM 30 Hand Cylinder Lawn Mower

Einhell BG-HM 30 Hand Cylinder Lawn Mower was £99.95 now £69.95
This German engineered hand-cylinder mower from Einhell offers superior build quality and comes with an extended two year warranty. It has been designed and built for ease of use. The large-sized side wheels (218 mm diameter) reduce the amount of effort required to push the mower and its lightweight construction make it particularly easy to manoeuvre. The Einhell BG-HM 30 Hand Cylinder Lawn Mower has five blades for superior cutting performance and a four stage height of cut adjustment between 15-42 mm. The mower can be used on grass as high as 100 mm however it is advised that lawn areas should be mown regularly and allowed to grow no more than 25 mm for best results. A spacious 20 litre grass collector is supplied with this model and its lightweight fabric design adds to the mobility of the machine. A roller is also fitted allowing you to achieve the perfect striped finish to your lawn. The Einhell BG-HM 30 Hand Mower is an ideal alternative for environmentally orientated consumers who need a quality machine, but who want to work without motor power. It is also suitable for anyone with small areas of lawn to maintain or for maintaining patches of grass away from a mains supply.

Read the rest of this entry »

New products at MowDirect

Thursday, May 29th, 2014

MowDirect has this new item today

Mountfield HP180 Petrol Rotary Hand Propelled Lawnmower (Ex Demo 30 Mins Use - Slight Scratches)

Mountfield HP180 Petrol Rotary Hand Propelled Lawnmower (Ex Demo 30 Mins Use – Slight Scratches) £199.00
Representing exceptional value, with great specifications and a quality build, this hand propelled lawnmower delivers the kind of great cutting power, durability and robust construction that you would normally expect to find way up in another price bracket.The deck is tough, sturdy pressed steel, for durability and a fine-looking finish.The engine is a 148cc Briggs & Stratton 450 Series offering reliable operation and lots of power. The mower is a great starter, with an easy, smooth and dependable recoil pull. There is also a throttle control enabling you to up the revs for more demanding conditions.The 45 centimetre (18

Price reductions at Gardens and Homes Direct

Thursday, May 29th, 2014

Reduced price on items today at Gardens and Homes Direct

Set of 3 Metal Cat Scarers

Set of 3 Metal Cat Scarers was £19.99 now £14.99
A decorative and harmless, yet very effective way to deter cats from your garden, without the need for electronic devices or chemicals. Supplied as a set of three, the cat silhouettes have piercing green marble eyes and will keep cats away as they naturally avoid confrontation. Perfect near flowerbeds vegetable patches, and fishponds or in shrubs, trees and on fences. The cats are made from weatherproof metal and come complete with ground stakes and hanging hooks.Features: • Simple, decorative and harmless way to deter cats.• Perfect on garden boundaries or near beds and ponds.• Weatherproof metal construction.• Complete with ground spikes and hooks.Dimensions: Sitting cat: Height 31cm/12in  Width 18cm/7in. Scared cat: Height 21cm/8in  Width 30cm/12in.Stalking…

Read the rest of this entry »

New products at Gardens and Homes Direct

Thursday, May 29th, 2014

Gardens and Homes Direct has these new items today

Havana Bronze Twin Seat Glider

Havana Bronze Twin Seat Glider £119.99
Our Bronze Twin Seat Glider is freely suspended in a sturdy steel frame and has a gentle, smooth and relaxing rocking action. The seats are made from aluminium and hard-wearing, weather-resistant* Textilene. The all-metal elegantly contoured frame, is finished in a complementary matt brown powder coating with galvanized fixings. Features:• Perfect in the garden, on the terrace or at the poolside.• Sturdy weather-resistant construction*.• Stylish bronze and brown colour combination.• Relaxing rocking action. Dimensions:Width 113cm/43.5in Depth 47cm/18.5in Height 103cm/40.5in*We advise that all garden furniture should be kept under cover during the winter months and in particularly adverse weather conditions.

Read the rest of this entry »

Price reductions at GreenFingers

Thursday, May 29th, 2014

Price reduction on this product at GreenFingers

Gardman Nature Obelisk

Gardman Nature Obelisk was £29.99 now £24.99
Preserve the serene setting in your garden with the Gardman Nature Obelisk. This nature themed rustic iron obelisk with an artistic bird and leaf design benefits from spiked feet to ensure secure fitting. Can be used on a patio decking area or in the garden in conjunction with climbing plants and will easily fit in with any smartly decorated environment as either a prominent focal or auxiliary point. Dimensions – 1.6m

Plus another 0 great reductions