Non alpines: other types of gardening: growing veg.etc for instance

[Maggi Young]

The latin name of the geranium sawfly is protoemphytus carpini.
Does that mean that the usual host plant is the hornbeam?

That's what I would think on seeing that name John... we need one of the "bug guys" to tell us.....

[David King]

It has been a strange year in the vegetable garden (nothing different there then!) with huge crops of runner and French beans but poor shallots and some other early planted crops.  In the greenhouse I have probably the best crop of peppers I have ever had, around 100, and given the price of them in the supermarket makes a £2 packet of seeds very profitable.  Also had a good crop of tomatoes but many round here seem to have suffered with blight outdoors.  This is part of the pepper crop (Gypsy).

[Maggi Young]

Merciful heavens David, a huge crop -  are you trying to  feed the whole village? 

[Gerry]

Have you grown them as cordons?

[Brian Ellis]

I'll leave David to answer the queries about peppers!  You will see that we are way behind you John, but of course you are far more southerly.  The Helianthus maximiliani is just coming into flower (two out) so here are a couple of photos which I hope will answer your query.  It is now about 7-8' tall and I took the photos of the flowers by holding my camera above my head at arms length.

[David King]

Merciful heavens David, a huge crop -  are you trying to  feed the whole village? 

No, just us!  But they do last for a whole year sliced up and frozen then added to recipes when needed.  This year with so many we will be able to have some grilled too. Yummy!  Just waiting for some to ripen so we have green, red and orange (they face the ones in photos so cannot be seen).

[David King]

Have you grown them as cordons?

Each plant is in an individual pot. I think there are 17.  They are lined up in the greenhouse in front of the tomato plants.  I know 17 seems excessive but I find if I do a few I have a poor season and not enough to last a year.  This year is probably the best I have had although I have slightly changed my growing this year by watering each plant every day with a small amount and feeding twice a week after the first fruit has set.  Seems to have worked!

[Maren]

Your kidding, aren't you ?

[John85]

Thank you Brian.You have more flowers.I guess my soil in too rich in N.I'll add some K next year.

[Stephenb]

Brian: Does your maximiliani form tubers? They were apparently eaten by the Sioux native american people, but smaller yielding than the Jerusalem Artichoke.  I've tried a couple of times but there are no sign of tuber formation, which makes me wonder if I have the correct species.

http://www.pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Helianthus+maximilianii

[Roma]

I grow runner beans mainly for the flowers though I enjoy the beans too.  I was a bit late in sowing them this year and even later in planting them out.  They are growing well now but the weather and the ravages of the local wildlife may mean the flowers are the only thing I will enjoy this year.
The varieties I am growing are
Desiree
Lady Di
Sunset

[Diane Whitehead]

I chose runners that were supposed to be heavy bearers.  St George, Moonlight, Polestar, Wisley Magic.  Maybe the measurement was done by weight as they produce big pods, but too fibrous - Most have ended up in the compost.

 I will have to go to the allotment more frequently so I can pick the pods while they are still small and tender.

[Rick R.]

Brian: Does your maximiliani form tubers?

I grew H. maximiliani for about 8 years before I removed it.  Just not in the right place and too floppy at 3m.  (Wild ones here are around 2m when doing well.)  I didn't know about the tubers, but I am sure I would have noticed when I dug it up.  And I didn't notice any.

[Brian Ellis]

Sorry not to have answered before Stephen, but to be honest I haven't had a look.  We've been away all week so just seen your post.  I shall have to investigate.

[Roma]

Starting to get frosts now so it's unlikely I'll get any runner beans this year.  The local deer population have been enjoying the flowers and leaves.  One got hit on the road last week but her mum will still be around.