Author Topic: DONT LISTEN TO MONTY (Read 12399 times)

plot51A · « **Reply #20 on:** August 28, 2005, 17:04:27 »

Wardy,
You are such a star on tools and equipment and things. Never heard of a lambsfoot knife before - googled it, am definitely going to buy on when I'm back from hols. Am very pleased with my Chillington btw ;D

BAGGY · « **Reply #21 on:** August 28, 2005, 21:30:23 »

I use a serated bread knife on the plot. It cuts everything from lettuce to asparagus and is about the only thing I don't manage to loose as it has a yellow handle. Mind you it has to practically be under my nose as I am not particularly aware of my surroundings at the best of times. (according to OH)

Roy Bham UK · « **Reply #22 on:** August 28, 2005, 21:57:02 »

:o Ooh! Oooh! Ooooh! Baggy :o I dare not carry one of those things in my pocket ;D

undercarriage plan · « **Reply #23 on:** August 28, 2005, 22:53:33 »

Try a scythe! :o :o :o Lottie

redimp · « **Reply #24 on:** August 28, 2005, 23:23:56 »

Just been offered a folding canadian hunting knife - non -serrated with a serrated bit for a fiver - Might have a look at it tomorrow.

Robert_Brenchley · « **Reply #25 on:** August 29, 2005, 02:15:12 »

I have a set of cheap, but sharp, serrated kitchen knives which I got for 50p from my church shop. They've done me for several years and cut everything that doesn't need secateurs.

Derek · « **Reply #26 on:** August 29, 2005, 07:41:23 »

I have a lock knife that I use contantly down the lottie...the reason for using this type is simple really the blade doesn't close up on your fingers (I learnt that lesson the hard way)
Rather than leave in in the shed I pop it in the side compartment of my van door when leaving until the next visit
Now if 'Mr Plod' has cause to stop me I could be in trouble for carrying or being in possession of an offensive weapon.

Derek

redimp · « **Reply #27 on:** August 29, 2005, 11:58:22 »

If stopped you are always 'on the way to the lottie' even if it is just to drop off the knife which is in your car by mistake. Therefore, you will always have a legitimate reason for carrying it. If you are working - you are dropping it off on the way home.

BAGGY · « **Reply #28 on:** August 29, 2005, 13:54:46 »

Tell them you are off to sort the vandalism problem out once and for all (on second thoughts - best not 8)

sandersj89 · « **Reply #29 on:** August 31, 2005, 08:40:03 »

For really cheap and excellent knieves have a look at Opinel. They are french pen knives that come in a range of sizes. I would not be without mine and have owned it for many years.

They blades are not stainless so you can get a very very sharp edge. Also no spring in the blade so easy to open even with frozen fingers.

http://www.surplusandoutdoors.com/ishop/877/shopscr473.html

Jerry

moonbells · « **Reply #30 on:** August 31, 2005, 10:12:54 »

I love my swiss army gardening knife, which I got at Chelsea one year. Last winter when I was in Germany I found a Victorinox stockist and got a spare one! Despite being bright red, they can hide pretty well... Still have both of mine so far. The only complaint I have is that for some reason there is no way of hanging it from a belt so you run the risk of dropping it! (Most SAKs have a keyring loop)

<googles for piccy> - ah - using search terms "victorinox garden knife 39116" finds one!

and amazon also have a link to a UK seller (handy for me to know!)

The whole garden range is
https://ssl.victorinox-shop.de/index.php?cPath=5_37

Highly recommended - has curved and straight blades and a budding knife. (Victorinox code 39116)

moonbells

Roy Bham UK · « **Reply #31 on:** August 31, 2005, 10:24:48 »

;D I didn't realise there was such a thing as a left handed knife, I assume it has a thumb nail slit on tother side? ;D

SpeedyMango · « **Reply #32 on:** August 31, 2005, 10:33:13 »

Back to the subject of potatoes, whether to chit or not, I was interested to read an article in the recent issue of KG magazine written by a chap who seems to do little else but grow spuds. His opinion was that non-chitted seed potatoes produced larger spuds (albeit a few less), whereas chitted seed produced more, smaller spuds. It all depends on what you want, I suppose.

I've only been growing potatoes for two seasons, chitted both times, and I've never had particularly large spuds out of the ground - not that we mind. I might try planting a few non-chitted seed potatoes next year alongside the chitted ones, to see whether we get any "baking" sized potatoes at harvest time!

PS: planted 'Foremost' potatoes this year and they are fabulous - a really nice taste!

moonbells · « **Reply #33 on:** August 31, 2005, 10:48:30 »

I missed the prog concerned (or at least I haven't got to that part yet - still wading through one on the recorder!). I am worried for the same reasons others have mentioned - that to do a trial you must keep all conditions the same. All crops should be counted but also weighed in order to get a quantitative idea of how they performed.
Likewise it should have been ensured that the seed tubers were the same size and that the same number of eyes were on both - easy to do by gouging or rubbing out the spares before any chits got going (and took energy from the tuber). Then and only then can one assess which gives the best result!

I may bring this up at the next HDRA potato day Q&A - and wonder out loud if they should correct Mr Don....

moonbells

postscript 1.9.05 Have now seen programme and there are comments below

jennym · « **Reply #34 on:** September 01, 2005, 00:57:16 »

Quote from: sandersj89 on August 31, 2005, 08:40:03

For really cheap andÂ excellent knieves have a look at Opinel. ....

I like Opinel knives too, but use only the smallest version, which is adequate for my needs. Got it for Â£5 on a market stall.

moonbells · « **Reply #35 on:** September 01, 2005, 08:20:09 »

The GW programme I was working my way through and have now finished watching was the one with the spud trial - didn't realise it was such a difference between the crops! And that Monty had indeed weighed them, and that he did say "Highly unscientific trial" so I can't really call him on those.
I just wished he had used similar dustbins!

moonbells

wardy · « **Reply #36 on:** September 01, 2005, 09:15:35 »

Monty has to use the dustbins he had to hand or we'd all be criticising himÂ ;D

MoonbellsÂ Â my OH found a knife just like that on the field behind our house but gave it to my niece.Â Perhaps for trimming her nailsÂ :(

Periwinkle Glad you like the ChillingtonÂ :)

Obelixx · « **Reply #37 on:** September 01, 2005, 10:02:37 »

If he was just growing veg in what was to hand to prove you can then it would have been fine. As it was, he announced it as a trial between chitted and unchitted the day he planted the spuds so should have taken care to use exactly the smae conditions for his spuds.

I don't actaully grow spuds so don't care either way. I do care however that a programme that sets itself up to show gardeners best practice and what's new and interesting or otherwise, should have the highest standards of care in such trials. The difference in the bins and the resulting unscientific results was flagged up on the BBC boards the same evening the planting programme went out in spring. It would have been very easy to correct things the following week and do a proper trial. As its is, this trial is meaningless and, after this highly visible mistake, how do they retain credibility when telling us other things without showing us proof that it works.

wardy · « **Reply #38 on:** September 01, 2005, 10:10:10 »

I watch GW to enjoy it. I find it relaxing as I unwind on Friday night with a glass of something. The last thing I want is to be bored to death by scientific potato trials - his skimming over the subject was fine by me ;D But then I just like growing veg ;)

moonbells · « **Reply #39 on:** September 01, 2005, 10:50:17 »

Has anyone here got a spare pair of identical dustbins? ;D ;D

Could always test it for ourselves next year...

moonbells

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Author Topic: DONT LISTEN TO MONTY (Read 12399 times)

undercarriage plan