Error message

  • User warning: The following module is missing from the file system: addressfield. For information about how to fix this, see the documentation page. in _drupal_trigger_error_with_delayed_logging() (line 1143 of /home/bobflowe/new.bobflowerdew.com/includes/bootstrap.inc).
  • User warning: The following module is missing from the file system: backup_migrate. For information about how to fix this, see the documentation page. in _drupal_trigger_error_with_delayed_logging() (line 1143 of /home/bobflowe/new.bobflowerdew.com/includes/bootstrap.inc).
  • User warning: The following module is missing from the file system: calendar. For information about how to fix this, see the documentation page. in _drupal_trigger_error_with_delayed_logging() (line 1143 of /home/bobflowe/new.bobflowerdew.com/includes/bootstrap.inc).
  • User warning: The following module is missing from the file system: commerce_addressbook. For information about how to fix this, see the documentation page. in _drupal_trigger_error_with_delayed_logging() (line 1143 of /home/bobflowe/new.bobflowerdew.com/includes/bootstrap.inc).
  • User warning: The following module is missing from the file system: commerce_autosku. For information about how to fix this, see the documentation page. in _drupal_trigger_error_with_delayed_logging() (line 1143 of /home/bobflowe/new.bobflowerdew.com/includes/bootstrap.inc).
  • User warning: The following module is missing from the file system: commerce_cart. For information about how to fix this, see the documentation page. in _drupal_trigger_error_with_delayed_logging() (line 1143 of /home/bobflowe/new.bobflowerdew.com/includes/bootstrap.inc).
  • User warning: The following module is missing from the file system: commerce_checkout. For information about how to fix this, see the documentation page. in _drupal_trigger_error_with_delayed_logging() (line 1143 of /home/bobflowe/new.bobflowerdew.com/includes/bootstrap.inc).
  • User warning: The following module is missing from the file system: commerce_customer. For information about how to fix this, see the documentation page. in _drupal_trigger_error_with_delayed_logging() (line 1143 of /home/bobflowe/new.bobflowerdew.com/includes/bootstrap.inc).
  • User warning: The following module is missing from the file system: commerce_customer_ui. For information about how to fix this, see the documentation page. in _drupal_trigger_error_with_delayed_logging() (line 1143 of /home/bobflowe/new.bobflowerdew.com/includes/bootstrap.inc).
  • User warning: The following module is missing from the file system: commerce_custom_product. For information about how to fix this, see the documentation page. in _drupal_trigger_error_with_delayed_logging() (line 1143 of /home/bobflowe/new.bobflowerdew.com/includes/bootstrap.inc).
  • User warning: The following module is missing from the file system: commerce_email. For information about how to fix this, see the documentation page. in _drupal_trigger_error_with_delayed_logging() (line 1143 of /home/bobflowe/new.bobflowerdew.com/includes/bootstrap.inc).
  • User warning: The following module is missing from the file system: commerce_features. For information about how to fix this, see the documentation page. in _drupal_trigger_error_with_delayed_logging() (line 1143 of /home/bobflowe/new.bobflowerdew.com/includes/bootstrap.inc).
  • User warning: The following module is missing from the file system: commerce_flat_rate. For information about how to fix this, see the documentation page. in _drupal_trigger_error_with_delayed_logging() (line 1143 of /home/bobflowe/new.bobflowerdew.com/includes/bootstrap.inc).
  • User warning: The following module is missing from the file system: commerce_giftaid. For information about how to fix this, see the documentation page. in _drupal_trigger_error_with_delayed_logging() (line 1143 of /home/bobflowe/new.bobflowerdew.com/includes/bootstrap.inc).
  • User warning: The following module is missing from the file system: commerce_hide_shipping. For information about how to fix this, see the documentation page. in _drupal_trigger_error_with_delayed_logging() (line 1143 of /home/bobflowe/new.bobflowerdew.com/includes/bootstrap.inc).
  • User warning: The following module is missing from the file system: commerce_line_item. For information about how to fix this, see the documentation page. in _drupal_trigger_error_with_delayed_logging() (line 1143 of /home/bobflowe/new.bobflowerdew.com/includes/bootstrap.inc).
  • User warning: The following module is missing from the file system: commerce_line_item_ui. For information about how to fix this, see the documentation page. in _drupal_trigger_error_with_delayed_logging() (line 1143 of /home/bobflowe/new.bobflowerdew.com/includes/bootstrap.inc).
  • User warning: The following module is missing from the file system: commerce_message. For information about how to fix this, see the documentation page. in _drupal_trigger_error_with_delayed_logging() (line 1143 of /home/bobflowe/new.bobflowerdew.com/includes/bootstrap.inc).
  • User warning: The following module is missing from the file system: commerce_order. For information about how to fix this, see the documentation page. in _drupal_trigger_error_with_delayed_logging() (line 1143 of /home/bobflowe/new.bobflowerdew.com/includes/bootstrap.inc).
  • User warning: The following module is missing from the file system: commerce_order_ui. For information about how to fix this, see the documentation page. in _drupal_trigger_error_with_delayed_logging() (line 1143 of /home/bobflowe/new.bobflowerdew.com/includes/bootstrap.inc).
  • User warning: The following module is missing from the file system: commerce_payment. For information about how to fix this, see the documentation page. in _drupal_trigger_error_with_delayed_logging() (line 1143 of /home/bobflowe/new.bobflowerdew.com/includes/bootstrap.inc).
  • User warning: The following module is missing from the file system: commerce_payment_example. For information about how to fix this, see the documentation page. in _drupal_trigger_error_with_delayed_logging() (line 1143 of /home/bobflowe/new.bobflowerdew.com/includes/bootstrap.inc).
  • User warning: The following module is missing from the file system: commerce_payment_ui. For information about how to fix this, see the documentation page. in _drupal_trigger_error_with_delayed_logging() (line 1143 of /home/bobflowe/new.bobflowerdew.com/includes/bootstrap.inc).
  • User warning: The following module is missing from the file system: commerce_paypal. For information about how to fix this, see the documentation page. in _drupal_trigger_error_with_delayed_logging() (line 1143 of /home/bobflowe/new.bobflowerdew.com/includes/bootstrap.inc).
  • User warning: The following module is missing from the file system: commerce_paypal_wps. For information about how to fix this, see the documentation page. in _drupal_trigger_error_with_delayed_logging() (line 1143 of /home/bobflowe/new.bobflowerdew.com/includes/bootstrap.inc).
  • User warning: The following module is missing from the file system: commerce_price. For information about how to fix this, see the documentation page. in _drupal_trigger_error_with_delayed_logging() (line 1143 of /home/bobflowe/new.bobflowerdew.com/includes/bootstrap.inc).
  • User warning: The following module is missing from the file system: commerce_product. For information about how to fix this, see the documentation page. in _drupal_trigger_error_with_delayed_logging() (line 1143 of /home/bobflowe/new.bobflowerdew.com/includes/bootstrap.inc).
  • User warning: The following module is missing from the file system: commerce_product_pricing. For information about how to fix this, see the documentation page. in _drupal_trigger_error_with_delayed_logging() (line 1143 of /home/bobflowe/new.bobflowerdew.com/includes/bootstrap.inc).
  • User warning: The following module is missing from the file system: commerce_product_pricing_ui. For information about how to fix this, see the documentation page. in _drupal_trigger_error_with_delayed_logging() (line 1143 of /home/bobflowe/new.bobflowerdew.com/includes/bootstrap.inc).
  • User warning: The following module is missing from the file system: commerce_product_reference. For information about how to fix this, see the documentation page. in _drupal_trigger_error_with_delayed_logging() (line 1143 of /home/bobflowe/new.bobflowerdew.com/includes/bootstrap.inc).
  • User warning: The following module is missing from the file system: commerce_product_ui. For information about how to fix this, see the documentation page. in _drupal_trigger_error_with_delayed_logging() (line 1143 of /home/bobflowe/new.bobflowerdew.com/includes/bootstrap.inc).
  • User warning: The following module is missing from the file system: commerce_sdf. For information about how to fix this, see the documentation page. in _drupal_trigger_error_with_delayed_logging() (line 1143 of /home/bobflowe/new.bobflowerdew.com/includes/bootstrap.inc).
  • User warning: The following module is missing from the file system: commerce_shipping. For information about how to fix this, see the documentation page. in _drupal_trigger_error_with_delayed_logging() (line 1143 of /home/bobflowe/new.bobflowerdew.com/includes/bootstrap.inc).
  • User warning: The following module is missing from the file system: commerce_shipping_ui. For information about how to fix this, see the documentation page. in _drupal_trigger_error_with_delayed_logging() (line 1143 of /home/bobflowe/new.bobflowerdew.com/includes/bootstrap.inc).
  • User warning: The following module is missing from the file system: commerce_sp. For information about how to fix this, see the documentation page. in _drupal_trigger_error_with_delayed_logging() (line 1143 of /home/bobflowe/new.bobflowerdew.com/includes/bootstrap.inc).
  • User warning: The following module is missing from the file system: commerce_ss. For information about how to fix this, see the documentation page. in _drupal_trigger_error_with_delayed_logging() (line 1143 of /home/bobflowe/new.bobflowerdew.com/includes/bootstrap.inc).
  • User warning: The following module is missing from the file system: commerce_ssr. For information about how to fix this, see the documentation page. in _drupal_trigger_error_with_delayed_logging() (line 1143 of /home/bobflowe/new.bobflowerdew.com/includes/bootstrap.inc).
  • User warning: The following module is missing from the file system: commerce_stock. For information about how to fix this, see the documentation page. in _drupal_trigger_error_with_delayed_logging() (line 1143 of /home/bobflowe/new.bobflowerdew.com/includes/bootstrap.inc).
  • User warning: The following module is missing from the file system: commerce_stock_ui. For information about how to fix this, see the documentation page. in _drupal_trigger_error_with_delayed_logging() (line 1143 of /home/bobflowe/new.bobflowerdew.com/includes/bootstrap.inc).
  • User warning: The following module is missing from the file system: commerce_ui. For information about how to fix this, see the documentation page. in _drupal_trigger_error_with_delayed_logging() (line 1143 of /home/bobflowe/new.bobflowerdew.com/includes/bootstrap.inc).
  • User warning: The following module is missing from the file system: commerce. For information about how to fix this, see the documentation page. in _drupal_trigger_error_with_delayed_logging() (line 1143 of /home/bobflowe/new.bobflowerdew.com/includes/bootstrap.inc).
  • User warning: The following module is missing from the file system: commerce_fancy_attributes. For information about how to fix this, see the documentation page. in _drupal_trigger_error_with_delayed_logging() (line 1143 of /home/bobflowe/new.bobflowerdew.com/includes/bootstrap.inc).
  • User warning: The following module is missing from the file system: commerce_file. For information about how to fix this, see the documentation page. in _drupal_trigger_error_with_delayed_logging() (line 1143 of /home/bobflowe/new.bobflowerdew.com/includes/bootstrap.inc).

Could we be polluted unknowingly?

I guess one of the commoner reasons many of us grow our own produce is to avoid the pollution and contaminants that we fear may be found in some commercial fare. Of course fresh food tastes better, it is very economical, and we can have a choice of crops and varieties not usually sold in shops. Well versed organic growers will also know that organic food is not just better for you because of it's freedom of deliberately applied pesticides but also because of it's higher levels of scarce nutrients and vitamins.

How long will it last?

Plant lives and how we alter them.In a way a garden is not so much a thing as a process, even the soil changes over years. Meanwhile the plants come and go. In our vegetable and salad beds some last but weeks while top fruit seems permanent though in reality trees are also transient. Few garden fruit trees make a hundred years despite gnarled appearance and spurious measures. Surprisingly your hedge may contain your oldest plants as the continual cutting back confers real longevity far beyond the range of most. In similar manner some crops can be effectively pruned to live a tad longer.

Gleanings from the past -old gardening books

Now I do not wish to put you off buying new gardening books (especially as I have several in print) but there is a problem with them. They are all rather too well finished, rather too well polished, all the anecdotes and unique observations and asides have usually been edited out. I should know; trying to get a book's script past a jobs-worth sub-editor without it being butchered is near impossible. Sub-editors seem to believe their role is to 'make-it-over' not merely to remove inconsistencies and erratum's or translating into the house' style.

To dig or not to dig -all things considerer

It is amazing how many gardeners still believe a regular dig each year is essential. Some may prefer autumn digging, others later, some do deep digging and others just surface forking over. I've been a passionate no-digger for decades and can't see the point of annually digging every vegetable plot from one end to the other. Indeed it may surprise you to learn that all of my forty vegetable beds have never been dug as such over twenty years and that most were never even dug over initially!

There's no evidence...

An argument has been going on in kitchen gardens for over a hundred and fifty years. Ever since gardeners first started using chemicals there has been a fierce debate over which method produced better food; the organic or the chemical. During the last fifty years the chemical approach appeared triumphant seeming to have ousted the competition, it even managed to label organic gardeners as "cranks" practising "muck and magic".

Micro climate enhancement

Whether or not we as a species are responsible for any significant change to our climate for sure we as individuals can do little to correct it and but slowly. As gardeners however we can improve the micro-climate for our plants quite significantly. Here in the colder climates of Northern Europe micro-climate improvement is almost invariably striving to give our plants more shelter, warmth and light. In sunnier climes the converse is often more important and there many of our kitchen garden crops find the intense tropical sunlight too bright to endure.

Making money from your garden?

For many years I have been a consultant to horticultural businesses. Theirs is a very lean and efficient industry on a scale few imagine and which has to work very hard to make money. I have also advised countless private customers, and rather a large proportion have queried how they could make money from their garden. Many times they have been speculating selling surpluses and herb plants by the gate imagining wildly that this might cover running costs or even make a profit. I have had to disillusion them, So can you make any money from your garden?

More magic in the garden

In part one I started writing on this same topic but as I looked into it there was too much to include in one issue. As I said it is not that I am especially credulous or gullible. It is simply that I believe we should investigate everything, no matter how apparently insignificant, that may affect the plants in our care and the crops they yield. The effect of the Earth's gravity on plants is obvious so why should it be unreasonable to ask whether any of them are influenced in any way by the moon's, the sun's, or the mass of the whole universe rotating about them?

Magic in the garden

Organic gardening was once labelled 'all muck and magic' but now as we start to understand the interactions of our soil's ecology it becomes more a matter of 'muck and management'. Practices once considered magic such as companion planting have now been shown to give yield increases of about a fifth in field trials. We now begin to appreciate the value of trace elements, the importance of humus and the role of mycorrhizal fungii; all of which would sound like magic to any gardener from before 1850, and quite a few of 1950 I suspect.

Limiting Factors

A chain is only as strong as it's weakest link. A limiting factor is rather like that link. It is whatever is holding back our crops from fulfilling an even greater yield. It may vary from year to year or even day by day but at any given moment there is always something that is in shortest supply. If we can understand just whatever is in deficit when and increase it's availability then our harvests will become larger.

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