Stripped!

[martini]

Oh happy days - the turf is off - the stripper was the best £50 ever spent. It rained last night and again this morning so it was heavy going and took us 6 hours but it's off (approx 400 sq yds). Found millions of worms - a good sign but also found some creamy coloured 1" long fat caterpillar type things - has anybody got any ideas about what they might be? Picked off all those I could see. I thought they might be chafer grubs but they're weren't curled up like the ones I've seen in books.

[nick the grief]

The Chafers haven't read those books

Well done for that anyway. You may suffer a bit the forst year with the grubs & bugs but they'll soon disappear once the blackbirds & robind find them.

[JennieAtkinson]

Could they be vine weevil grubs? I had alot two years ago, and gave them the old heave ho with the nemotode and not seen anything since.

[martini]

Thanks Nick and Jennie. If I find any more once I start digging I'll get some nematodes.

[dexterdoglancashire]

are you converting the whole of your garden martini? sounds like you've been working really hard this weekend! wonder if my OH would let me dig up the front lawn????mmmm no probably not! having said that, with the number of dog walkers going past, it wouldn't be worth it!......not going into detail! DDL

[martini]

Hi Dexter - yes, the whole back garden apart from 2 two foot wide borders either side for climbers, shrubs etc. So when we sit on the patio we'll just be looking mainly at veg (hopefully)

[dexterdoglancashire]

nice one martini! after all my hard work, it was nice to sit on the paved bit (well, its a bit of a driveway!) and admire all my efforts! DDL

[martini]

I must admit I can't see me sitting for long - I'd have to get up to patrol and have a fiddle

[nick the grief]

Hi Dexter - yes, the whole back garden apart from 2 two foot wide borders either side for climbers, shrubs etc. So when we sit on the patio we'll just be looking mainly at veg (hopefully)

They don't have to look boring Marini. GO to your local library & see if they have a copy of

The ornamental Kitchen Garden by Geoff Hamilton ISBN: 0563360178

Or if you're feeling rich

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Ornamental-K...e=UTF8&s=books

[JennieAtkinson]

I picked up two ornamental kale plants today - one white, one bright pink. No idea what to do with them, but they looked kinda different.

Anybody know if they will be hardy through the winter?

[martini]

They don't have to look boring Marini......

Who said anything about boring I'm sure I won't get bored of looking at loads (fingers crossed!) of veg growing. I admit it does need to be a bit more easy on the eye than the average allotment because it's our back garden but I've left space in the plans to divide it into two with an arch and trellis so I can grow clematis, roses and honeysuckle. Thanks for the tip though I will go and have a look for Geoff's book

[Snadger]

I picked up two ornamental kale plants today - one white, one bright pink. No idea what to do with them, but they looked kinda different.

Anybody know if they will be hardy through the winter?

Often wondered whether you can eat ornamental kale or cabbage, make for an interesting Sunday lunch!

[Earthbabe]

I picked up two ornamental kale plants today - one white, one bright pink. No idea what to do with them, but they looked kinda different.

Anybody know if they will be hardy through the winter?

Can't really help with the hardiness question. I noticed however that Lidl will be having some ornamental cabbage in next week. I presume they are hardy to a degree or I can't see the point in having them to sell at this time of year. I have generally resisted but the garden was so green and grey last year with no splashes of anything bar a few pansies that I may succumb for a bit of purple.

There I go again!!

[nick the grief]

Most of them are Hardy JA, but I don't think they are edible. Only thig to watch is that you don't spread clubroot into the veggie patch but I guess they are grown in MP compost so will be OK.

[JennieAtkinson]

Thanks for the advice. I've planted them in pots today with some pansies, so will just be keeping them out on gooddays, otherwise they will be in the greenhouse. A little splash of colour! (I'm beginning to sound like one of my (many) water colour painting books)