Archive for September, 2009

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Don’t try this at home!

Friday, September 25th, 2009

If you’ve been reading my blog, you’ll know I’ve been growing chillis this year. Four of my plants, are now producing very small red chillis, pointing upwards.

So last night, after feeding my fish in the fish house,  on returning into the house, in the porch I picked one small red chilli off one of the plants and popped it into my mouth like a tomato and ate it!

It looked so tempting!

BIG MISTAKE!

IT WAS VERY HOT!

It took 2 pints of milk over 60 minutes to cool my flaming mouth down.

I should have taken note of the variety I planted

Chili Pepper Demon Red

I’ll not be doing it again!

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10 inches long

Thursday, September 24th, 2009

Lindsey would say, “I wish”, but I’m referring to my chillis!

My chillis are 10 inches long, and have been very successful in my front porch, despite only five germinating.

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Christmas Potatoes

Wednesday, September 23rd, 2009

Sorry to mention Christmas, but it is only 13 weeks and 2 days away!

As the sunsets, I’ve been planting Christmas Potatoes, a bit late, these should have been planted in August if I want potatoes for Christmas Day, but despite looking for them since July, they came into stock and were sold out in days. I managed to get some, pre-chitted ‘Estima’ and ‘Maris Peer’ tubers, I was notified by a supplier that had left overs, and despite only wanting ten tubers of both, I ended up with 40 tubers for the same money! These will sit in the greenhouse protected from frost, and I’ll dig-up on Christmas Day, I’ve got a little problem with my greenhouse at present, it’s split, but if I cannot fix, I know someone nearby with a polytunnel, that may trade space for some spuds on Christmas Day! (with this recent warm spell, and may make up lost time!)

christmas potatoes maris peer

christmas potatoes maris peer

christmas potatoes estima

christmas potatoes estima

These are planted in garden recycling sacks, and old compost bags. Something to occupy the empty greenhouse over the autumn and winter.

christmas potatoes No.1

christmas potatoes No.1

christmas potatoes No.2

christmas potatoes No.2

Since placing an order for my seed potatoes, I’ve seen excess tubers available at garden centres, suitable for planting now, Large pots, compost bags or animal food sacks will do, just make sure you protect from frost, if your lucky you’ll have potatoes for Christmas Day.

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Greenhouse is broke

Wednesday, September 23rd, 2009

My greenhouse is broke, it’s ripped across the top, so I’ve got a tarp, across the top at present to protect the contents from rain and any frost.

My broken greenhouseq

My broken greenhouse

old compost bags for christmas potatoes

old compost bags for christmas potatoes

Left over plastic compost bags, I’ve kept these for my christmas potatoes.

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Keep the vamps at bay

Sunday, September 20th, 2009

We’ve been tidying up the garden before the Autumn starts on Wednesday. Lindsey cut the front lawn, maybe for the last time, and I’ve been clearing up and emptying the potatoe bags and planting my garlic that my friend (thanks Paul) bought from the The Garlic Farm, on The Isle of Wight. (keeps away the vamps!). It’s probably a little early, but I wanted to get it in the ground while it was still warm, and the autumn starts on Wednesday, so it’s probably not that early. I’ve planted Iberian Wight – a soft-neck early white garlic and Elephant Garlic – these cloves are massive. I’ll be planting my potatoes shortly for Christmas, and keeping them in the greenhouse.

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Spotty my 20 year old Large-spot Catfish

Saturday, September 19th, 2009

Spotty my 20 year old Large-spot Catfish, Synodontis ocellifer died today.

I removed him from the large quaratine tank, and moved him into a small 17l tank, and started to treat with Melafix and Primafix, a three day treatment, but it wasn’t working, so I finally switched to anti-biotics last night. He survived the night, and was looking okay this morning, but Lindsey has just found him dead.

I don’t normally name fish, and I don’t know why I named him, but he’s been with me 20 years.  I first purchased him from Blagdon Aquatics in Plymouth, when they first opened their store at the front of the new Hombase Store and multi-storey car park, in the green house dome at the front. (Toy’s r Us are there now, I think).

He will be sadly missed, so I’ve buried him in my front garden under the trees. (most dead fish go in the dustbin but Spotty was special).

Spotty the 20 year old Large-spot Catfish, Synodontis ocellifer

Spotty the 20 year old Large-spot Catfish, Synodontis ocellifer

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Co2 for Aquatic Plants

Thursday, September 17th, 2009
Dupla CO2 Omega Reaktor

Dupla CO2 Omega Reaktor

I’m going to start experimenting with CO2 fertilisation for plants with this simple Dupla Co2 Omega Reactor, it’s just 200g of sugar and yeast, in a bottle with an airline tube into a tank. A DIY version can be made very easily with a pop bottle. I’ve dissolved the sugar in warm water from the kettle, I’m just waiting for the temperature to drop to 25 degrees C before and add the yeast, I don’t want to kill the yeast, if the water is too hot.

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Another disasterous year for tomatoes

Thursday, September 17th, 2009

Cleaning up for the autumn, and here’s a picture of my poorly tomatoe plants with blight. Another year of no tomatoes, next year if I decide to grow any, I think I’m going to have to grow them under glass or shield them from wind or rain.

tomatoe plants with blight

tomatoe plants with blight

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Simply Aquatics Probably the Best Aquatics Shop in Sheffield S35 9WN

Wednesday, September 16th, 2009

If your ever driving northbound or soutbound on the M1 passing Junction 35, you MUST stop at Simply Aquatics – Probably the Best Aquatics Shop in Sheffield.

it’s 2 miles about 4 mins drive from the motorway, so rather than stopping at a service station, why not pop into Simply Aquatics.

Located at

Full-screen

Address for Sat nav

–

84-86 The Common
Ecclesfield, Sheffield, South Yorkshire S35 9WN
simplyaquaitcsdirections
No Sat Nav map above and directions below:-
  1. Exit M1 Motorway at Jnc 35
  2. Take the A629 Cowley Hill heading to Chapeltown
  3. Take the 2nd Left (1st Left is Indstrial Est.), Nether Lane.
  4. Stay on this road until you come to a crossroads
  5. Simply Aquatics is in front of you!
  6. Now time to chill out, relax and talk to the friendly and knowlegable staff, and look at the high quality, tropical, marine and coldwater fish.
  7. and not forget the Corals and Inverts.
  8. A Fishkeepers Heaven!
  9. oh, and if your peckish, there’s a chipp-er opposite (wurzel slang for fish&chip shop!)
  10. Highly recommended, and I’ve been there twice in three days!

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Spotty is poorly

Monday, September 14th, 2009

Spotty my pet Large spot catfish Synodontis Ocellifer is poorly, in the last few days, his character has changed, he normally hides all day, and comes out for feeding, and he’s out at night, but I’ve noticed him out during the day.

I’ve moved him to a quarantine tank on his own, but I fear the worst.

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