James Wong - your thoughts

[WendyC]

I am saving up for her coffee table book on wildflowers. It will be a long time
Seen her new seeds collection? More than eight to a packet too

Had a leaflet of some of her range. 25 mixed lettuce plug plants are £15.95!!!!! Three courgettes £4.50. Won't be ordering.
Off to hear Monty Don on Weds. Will be interesting to see how he comes across, I know he's not a favourite with some.

[marchogaeth]

Had a leaflet of some of her range. 25 mixed lettuce plug plants are £15.95!!!!! Three courgettes £4.50. Won't be ordering.

Iesu mawr! Are they gold leafed?

[veggiechicken]

They'll be carefully colour coordinated to tone with your necklace

[WendyC]

Iesu mawr! Are they gold leafed?

Mix of colours but no gold mentioned. Slug and snail proof at the very least I'd have thought!

[out in the cold]

Geoffrey Smith
Mr Smiths Fruit Garden - YouTube

[SarzWix]

John's book is still available through his family . I treated myself to a copy recently, it's still an interesting read and the idealism comes through. It is feels a little quaint, too which I like.

I have one of the original copies from 1976, which came from my granddad, bless him - he lived in a 4 room bungalow with a back yard, no hope of being anything like self-sufficient. I also have the updated version, and a similar but modern one called The Self Sufficiency Handbook by A & G Bridgewater. I guess I'm as much of a dreamer as granddad was really

[salome2001]

I do like Wong for his enthusiasm and the info on unusual crops. I don't entirely agree with him that the bog standards like potatoes aren't worth growing (umm, why was he at a spud day )
his book is nice to browse through and has enough info (I also like that he includes recipes)
however buy it through the book people for £7 (online, currently free delivery for over £5)
I can't comment on the seed problems as I've not bought any of his branded range, but surely the blame there lies with Suttons rather than JW himself.
I did however try to grow stevia after seeing him speak last year and had absolutely NONE of the seeds germinate (they were Suffolk herbs)
I did grow oca and am growing saffron.

[chris]

HFW for me, but more so for the cooking side (I love cooking - and using great ingredients, etc). I'm in the same stance as zaz though, wrt to seeds. I bought some cucamelons - they were indeed a rip off!

i'm not expecting any crops off them, but decided to give them a go anyway..

[bearded bloke]

Sarah Raven's Great Vegetable Plot, love that one too

Reserved for me at local library

[Mikey]

I have never watched him, and doubt I will. I'm more fascinated by learning old techniques to gardening than messing with new fangled veg and fruit. The likes of Harry Dodson interest me far more.

[SarzWix]

She's quite concerned with aesthetics BB, but I like that, no reason why a plot can't be productive and look nice as well

[bearded bloke]

That's cool Sarz,just wish I had room for a potager with a summer house & bits,but hey ho we all make do with what we have but there's no harm in dreaming

[Aberdeenplotter]

She's quite concerned with aesthetics BB, but I like that, no reason why a plot can't be productive and look nice as well

Sarz. that was the late Geoff Hamiltons point of view as well and I do like the idea myself

[ancee]

Well I like Alys Fowler and wish she was back on tv as she was really interesting and knew loads about stuff that I didn't know - but now I do - thanks to her!
I've bought a load of Mr Wong's fabulous-sounding seeds, my back garden is going to resemble Willy Wonka's Factory by the look of all the exotica I've purchased! If anyone wants any weirdo-seedsio just ask me I've got loads and I'm a good sharer x

[veggiechicken]

Ancee, have you checked that you have the right number of seeds in your packets? http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...eds_70201.html