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Crop Rotation | This is a must for all but the smallest of plots, designed to prevent the build up of species (or family) specific pests and encourage good soil structure and nutrition. A very useful article on the subject by Gavin can be found by clicking on the link below:
Crop Rotation
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Cultivar | A genetically stable variety of a species, may be naturally occurring or bred selectively |
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Delphastus | A relative of the ladybird it feeds on whitefly in all stages of their life cycle. |
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Derris | An organic approved insecticide derived from the root of the derris vine, available as a powder (dust) or liquid, the active ingredient is rotenone |
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Dill | Dill (anethum graveolens, umbelliferae)
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Similar in appearance to fennel, a half hardy annual herb that can grow to 1 metre high. The leaves and seeds both have culinay uses |
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Epsom Salts | A corrective for Magnesium deficiency, sometimes an issue with greenhouse tomatoes and chrysathemums. Essentially a soluble source of Magnesium. |
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Ericaceous | An acidic growing medium, usually peat based |
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F1 Hybrid | A cross between varieties that will not breed true, seed saved from F1 varieties will not necessarily produce plants similar to the parents. F1 hybrids are said to have greater vigour (amongst other attributes) than open pollinated varieties. |
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Fennel | Fennel (foeniculum vulgare, umbelliferae)
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A tall half hardy annual herb with feathery foliage, the leaves and seeds have culinary and medicinal uses. |
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Fenugreek | Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum, fabaceae)
Known as methi in India, fenugreek is a small annual the seeds are used as a spice and the leaves are used as a fresh green in Indian cookery, leaves and seeds have a distinctive "curry" aroma. Very easy to grow in the UK. |
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Flatworm | See New Zealand Flatworm |
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Fleece | Also known as horticultural fleece, a finely woven synthetic material used to protect crops from insect pests, strong winds and cold weather, can be used to extend the growing season |
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Garlic | Garlic (allium sativum, alliaceae)
A hardy perennial, although it's usually the bulb that is eaten finely chopped leaves make a useful addition to many dishes. Also has medicinal properties. |
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Ginger | Ginger (Zingiber officinale, zingiberaceae)
A native of tropical countries ginger can be grown quite easily as a house plant in the UK apparently responds well to high potash feeds. |
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Glue Band | See Grease Band |
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GQT | The world's best gardening programme BBC Radio 4's Gardeners Question Time, broadcast on Sundays and repeated Wednesdays. The panellists include; Bob Flowerdew, matthew Biggs, Pippa Greenwood, Bunny Guinness, John Cushnie and Roy Lancaster |
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Grafted | A grafted plant consists of two different plants that have been joined together. The two plants are called the (root)stock and the cion, the cion (a branch from an existing plant) is inserted into a notch cut into the rootstock, the point at which they are joined is called the union. This technique is widely used in fruit trees for clonal propogation, which ensures that the variety will be reliably and quickly reproduced onto a disease free (and vigour controlling) rootsock |
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Grease Band | Paper bands coated with grease, used to protect fruit trees from Mottled Umber Moth (Erannis defoliaria), Winter Moth (Operophtera brumata) and March Moth (Alsophila aescularia) which have wingless females that will climb the trunks of fruit trees.
Normally placed on trunks and tree stakes about 18" above soil level in late October they should be kept in place until April, grease may need to be reapplied from time to time.
Usually bought as pre greased bands, but for trees with cracks in the bark grease should be applied directly to the trunk.
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Gypsum | Gypsum (hydrous calcium sulfate) is a mineral which most of us will be familiar with as the main constituent of plasterboard. It is used in the garden to improve aeration, drainage and workability of heavy clay soils. |
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Hardening Off | After seedlings have been pricked out they should be hardened off to prepare them for life outdoors. This is by gradually acclimatising them to their eventual conditions, the first stage could be moving the plants to an unheated greenhouse or leaving outside during the day. |
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HDRA | The Henry Doubleday Research Association the UK's leading organic gardening organisation. Has gardens at Yalding, Ryton and Audley End an information packed website (www.hdra.org.uk) and magazine are available to members. Also home to the Heritage Seed Library (see HSL) |
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Heirloom | An older variety, also commonly referred to as heritage. These are tried and trusted varieties that are usually open pollinated which means that seed can be saved from them. |
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Heritage | An older variety, also referred to as heirloom |
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HFW | Wherever you see the letters HFW on this site they'll probably be referring to Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall a scruffy ginger bloke who some people here seem to love he also played his part in getting the founders of this site together through the River Cottage Forum, see also RC |
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Horseradish | Horseradish (Armoracia rusticana, brassicaceae)
A herb grown for it's extremely pungent roots with a very long history of cultivation. Very invasive, propogated by root sections called "thongs", grow in a bottomless bucket unless you want it to spread. |
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