[joyfull]

I think tomorrows showing is for Northern Ireland only but it will be on BBC i player soon after that.

[8doubles]

I watched the entire programme for the first time in months and thoroughly enjoyed it and learned a bit. You have to admire the show growers for their dedication.
Joe Swift was knowingly out of his depth competing against the big boys and girls of the growing world even if one of said big boys was supplying  plants and growing them (or as he put it `looking after` ) for him.

I would have preferred to see expert growers presenting the show than `expert` presenters pretending to be show growers.

[Iain@JBA]

The secret 70million year old powder that Joe used in his carrot mix was nutrimate.
They can't mention anything on the BBC can they. The ultimate guide on how to grow for showing and they can't tell you what they use

[Jamie Butterworth]

The secret 70million year old powder that Joe used in his carrot mix was nutrimate.
They can't mention anything on the BBC can they. The ultimate guide on how to grow for showing and they can't tell you what they use

Thanks Ian, was wondering what it was, i take it thats it pretty expensive from what they were saying on the show

[Iain@JBA]

You can google nutrimate and find prices for it.
If it gives you the edge at a show then it is cheap.

[Spana]

You can google nutrimate and find prices for it.

Just done that.

The example photos of using/or not are very similar to the ones used by miracle gro.  Would that  not work just as well   I've never used it on any veg but it works on flowers

[Iain@JBA]

Nutrimate improves the root system which is why things grow better.
It also helps crops survive drought and club root.

[Rampant_Weasel]

£5.50 for 750g - fiver is ok for some experimenting i thought 

[Jamie Butterworth]

its now on iplayer

[Iain@JBA]

For some strange reason after watching the episode on iplayer I have not been able to stop saying Joe. Joe look at that - Look Joe - Joe that is a beauty - Joe Joe Joe.
If you watch the episode you will see what I mean.

[Rampant_Weasel]

another one for you iain - how do u stop common scab on potatoes apart from growing resistant varieties? ive seen sulphur chips but is there anything else?

[Iain@JBA]

Common scab is a strange one at times. I grew exhibition potatoes in polypots in clean peat and some varieties had scab where as other didn't.
Best things to do are - Keep the area that potatoes are growing in moist at tuberisation time ( approx 6 weeks)
That is the critical time for damage to be caused to the tubers.
You could add flour of sulphur to the area you are planting in to make the area more acidic . Grass clippings would also help. We have one field and no matter what we do to it there is always scabby potatoes that come out of it. We will no longer use that field.
Some areas are maybe just incurable.

[Spana]

Grass clippings would also help.

Bob Flowerdew says lining potato trenches with grass clipping helps prevent scab.  Ive never tried  that but did earth some up with thick layers of grass clippings this year.  Had a lot of potatoes form in the grass clippings and they were much bigger and a lot cleaner then the ones earthed up with soil.
Think its well worth a try in a garden/allotment situation

[tosca100]

For some strange reason after watching the episode on iplayer I have not been able to stop saying Joe. Joe look at that - Look Joe - Joe that is a beauty - Joe Joe Joe.
If you watch the episode you will see what I mean.

OH was the same!
Watched it this morning. I suppose if you have the land, enthusiasm and money it's as good a hobby as any, but the faffing would drive me up the wall. 
Makes keeping a horse look easy....and cheap!!!!

[Iain@JBA]

The cost issue would settle down as this was just his first time at it. All of the sand and growing medium he purchased can be reused so you saw everything at its most expensive. If you were to give it a go I think it was a good idea to try 3 different types of veg just to see what you can grow best.