no I gave up as never had much success between the compost keep drying out and the birds beating me to them - felt my time was more fruitful with other things...

The pot looks big enough for now but wouldn't read too much into the catalogue photos. Don't like the look of the leaves, even the green ones are drooping lifelessly. Looks like it dried out after the leaf buds had opened but could be something else. Wish I could share your confidence, it might be worth asking Parkers to replace it.

I don't know is this is of any use to anyone but at present Sainsbury's are offering three living pot herbs for the price of two (the cheapest one is free).

They're well grown things - and may be suitable to plant outside, if you so wish.
Good value.

Here's the collection available:

http://tinyurl.com/op4zjk4

they look good TT

By the way, you can find them under the fresh vegetable tab: 'fresh and pot herbs' on Sainsbury's online pages.
I suppose they'll be somewhere near to the veg in store.

FAO Foinavon: Excited by your purchase of new Shropshire potatoes yesterday I went to town today to see if there were any available here.
No such luck I'm afraid - but there were new Cheshires on the open-air market stall.
Whoop!

This is what they look like. Note, they always look like this: Very dark soil covering with bits of 'papery skin' showing through:

http://i57.tinypic.com/16gij2s.jpg

Washed:

http://i60.tinypic.com/v457k2.jpg


I haven't had any yet but when when washing a few under the tap for the photo if I'd have rubbed them a bit harder with my fingers all of the skin would have come off  - that's how light the skin is on them.

They cost just £1 for 4lbs.
What a bargain!

Tommy,

There are some Shropshire Maris Peer in my local ASDA supermarket.
They are labelled Organic, the farmer is stated to be Nick Taylor.
http://www.taylororganicfarms.co.uk/

Obviously don't want to send you on a wild goose chase as they might not be in every store but as they are in Shirley it's possible they are also in Stoke which is not a million miles away.

9p per punnet by the way - but it really is massively cheaper buying from the stalls than the supermarkets.

Plus, it's the old saying: "Use them or lose them" isn't it. It would be terrible if there was nowhere else to buy from other than the supermarkets.

There's only 2 fruit and veg stalls left in Hanley now - and no greengrocers shops at all, nor a single butcher's shop.

Unbelievable for a town centre in a City.

Just looked at my receipt - and (surprise surprise) it was the wrong number!

60p a punnet.

I've just checked something else. I bought some tomatoes from Tesco last week as I had to have my delivery of fish from them (they do the best fish) and as I was out of tomatoes I had to buy some (I can't survive without tomatoes!).

I bought 2 packs of 6 - of which Tesco are proudly boasting their 'only 69p' ads at you at the moment.
Well, they weigh 300g - and they're flaming Spanish!

No competition for the English toms at 60p for 500g from the market.

Ants have set up camp in and around my rosemary plant. Is this a good or bad thing or neither? I do wonder if they are stunting the growth to it though - hasn't grown much recently.

Agree with you, they do more good than harm. They eat many insect larvae and aerate the soil. The main downside is the nurture of aphids but those are easily squidged  between finger and thumb. If you turn a nest over when digging, some of the exposed eggs make a treat for the ever vigilant robin before the ants can take them underground again.

Thought the whole "Food Unwrapped" series entertaining and informative Tommy.

Growing watercress is best left to the professionals as a source of clean running water is required. A related plant, land cress, is however easy and safe to grow and can be grown all year round in the smallest patch of ground even if shaded.
here is more information
www.quickcrop.co.uk/plantdetail.php?id=land_cress

Many people may not know that the popular flowering plant nasturtium is also good to eat in salads and grows profusely in almost any soil. The leaves are delicious and slightly peppery and the flowers make an edible decoration to any salad. The seeds too can be eaten and have been used as a flavouring for pickled onions or pickled red cabbage.

Apple and blackberry is a great combination Screaming. This year though, the blackberries around here are not at all sweet yet.
have just started picking James Grieve apples which are exceptionally juicy and tasty. Pity they are not seen in the shops as they are better than what's usually on offer.
The apples on my other two trees are not ready yet but looks like it will be a good crop this year.

Hi Blackbarn,you seem to be enjoying your gardening.
As well as James Grieve I have Jonagold which I'm training as an espalier and a third apple tree where I have forgotten the name. One of the old guys on the allotment site was into conservation of endangered Worcestershire varieties and had a choice of dessert or cider varieties. I chose a dessert type on a dwarfing stock and it's covered in fruit this year. Nowhere near ripe though and they look as if they will keep well.
Apart from apples, I grow quince, plums (Victoria) and damsons, the latter having already been converted into jam already. Used to have a pear tree in the back garden but it grew too big and had to cut it down. Which other varieties have you planted?

Haven't tried Blue Lake and am growing Cobra climbing bean this year. Also grow dwarf Borlotti and Impero Bianco (cannellino bean)from the Taste of Italy range. These will be grown on for shelling to eat both fresh and dried for winter use in stews.
Like you, I give most of the green French beans and runner beans to neighbours as they are best eaten fresh and only a few plants still produce a glut in August.

About a third of my allotment space is taken up by winter squash at the moment. There are 24 plants, half are Crown Prince and half Marina di Chioggia. I grew these last year and photos are still on my site if you click on Foinavon.

Lets hope that the night frosts keep away for another 6 weeks at least.

I like your economical style screaming, I have to buy my seed potatoes. Had to dig them in July as they were hit by early blight. Managed to save most of them and the yield was good this year. I grew Ratte as a salad potato and the flavour and texture is excellent. Have made a note of Tommy's suggestion, Maris Peer and will grow a row or two of those next year.
If you are in Brum next July Tommy,you can have a bagful with my compliments.
Outdoor tomatoes were ravaged by blight yet again and are a total write off. Maybe next year, we live in hope.

I grow Desiree for baking potatoes as they bulk up early and are tolerant of dry conditions more than most. Good flavour too.
Where do you live BnB? Anywhere South of the Humber should be fine for pumpkins.
Are you growing for eating or for Halloween carving?

Would refer you to Crown Prince and Marina di Chioggia mentioned in an earlier post if you are looking for flavour and good keeping qualities. They taste similar to butternut squash but are much more reliable in the British climate and have a higher yield.

Yes, would probably been fine to eat in that situation Tommy.

The main danger is growing it in water which may contain liver flukes such as unfiltered water that has passed through fields where sheep graze. Also you wouldn't want to eat raw cress grown in stagnant water or water containing fecal matter.
Commercial growers are aware of the pitfalls and go to great lengths to maintain hygienic conditions.

You could still eat it, washed then cooked like spinach, Tommy.

Cheers Foinavon. It's all 'after timing' now anyway. We live and learn though don't we?