Ask Derek

[Deleted]

Thanks Derek, I'll get some off you when I renew my membership on the first Saturday back. I reckon if the members know you've got it, they'll buy a bag when they get their seed potatoes off you. The seed catalogues charge a mint for it but I've bought it loose for very little. Any of the members on here should search out their nearest Horticultural Huts and get their supplies for a fraction of the shop prices. Cost a couple of pounds membership but you get that back first time you buy anything!

[Deleted]

Hi Derek, when is Culcheth show this year? I don't have the schedule as yet and think I lost their newsletter. Edenfield is on 23rd Sept I believe, hoping they don't clash again. Theres a show in Ramsbottom on 8th Oct by the way.

[derekbrooks]

Hi David
I haven't had a schedule for Culcheth yet but they have asked me to judge again and it is on Sept 23rd. They are only having the one show this year ,not two as they had last year. I haven't had Edenfield either but I will be very upset if that is one the same date again after I had asked them to keep to the third Saturday. If the dates clash it affects Chris Nightingale as well as you and me. I have never been to Ramsbottom so they never send me a schedule.

[Deleted]

Hello Derek, I asked the Ramsbottom secretary to send you a schedule. hope she reads her emails! Got your address off the Worsley schedule.
Not sure what I'll do concerning Culcheth/Edenield as I wanted to enter both.

[derekbrooks]

If Edenfield haven't done what I asked them to and keep to the third Saturday they will have a much poorer show and I don't know why they can't see that. Apart from Ken Ridalgh who doesn't go to Culcheth, you and me and Chris Nightingale are the ones who put most of the entries in.

[diggie]

Hi Derek,

I am researching growing shallots for showing next year and am totally confused with which varieties to grow. Could you please advise on what to buy for both large and under 30mm sizes. Many thanks.

[derekbrooks]

Hi Diggie
The best known , and the most tried and tested shallot for showing is Hative de Niort, and this is the one I use. It was in Robinsons catalogue this year but I'm not sure who else sells it. This variety is supplied as bulbs but there are varieties that are grown from seeds. I haven't tried any of them though. I restrict the clumps to three to get them large enough for showing. I don't grow the smaller pickling shallots but if you want these I can't see anything wrong with leaving more bulbs in each clump. I don't see why you need to grow a different variety for them.
Hope this helps.
Derek

[Cat]

Good evening Derek, I hope you and all your family are well during this difficult time.

When you wash your plant pots do you wipe with a dish cloth or brush with a bottle brush? And do you use a specific cleaning product or just mild soapy water?

I have just dug some new veg beds at home and I have decided to follow your 4 plot rotation to include potato and bean space. I have enjoyed revisiting your books and keep them to hand for easy referral particularly for varieties and how to

[derekbrooks]

Hi Cat
It's nice to hear from you again after all this time. In answer to your first question, neither Rosemary or myself are very well at present. We have been isolating ourselves about 10 days. We are both off our food . Rosemary lost here sense of taste and smell but they have come back a bit now.I just keep feeling tired and don't feel like doing much. I hope you are O.K.
I wash plant pots at the kitchen sink just using washing up liquid . I don't wipe them afrer, just leave them to drain.

[SueA]

Stay safe at home Derek, hope you both feel better soon.

[derekbrooks]

Thanks, Sue

[Cat]

Apr 6, 2020 20:46:02 GMT derekbrooks said:

Hi Cat
It's nice to hear from you again after all this time. In answer to your first question, neither Rosemary or myself are very well at present. We have been isolating ourselves about 10 days. We are both off our food . Rosemary lost here sense of taste and smell but they have come back a bit now.I just keep feeling tired and don't feel like doing much. I hope you are O.K.
I wash plant pots at the kitchen sink just using washing up liquid . I don't wipe them afrer, just leave them to drain.

REALLY SORRY YOU ARE BOTH FEELING ROUGH. I HOPE YOU HAVE PEOPLE SUPPORTING YOU AT THIS TRICKY TIME. LOOK AFTER EACH OTHER AND TAKE THINGS SLOWLY.

[derekbrooks]

Thanks, Cat .Martyn , our son is doing our shopping and Heather, our daughter from Wales keeps phoning