Preparing our apple trees for the onslaught

Apples are often damaged by codling moth larvae burrowing in and out of the fruit. They are also attacked by winter moth larvae and other crawling and flying insects. So this year we decided to make a concerted effort to control the bugs and hopefully improve the quality of our fruit!

To read about how we intend to try and minimise insect damage click here

Do you have a stack of contaminated manure? DOW will remove it!

Jon, one of the website visitors wishes to share the following information recently sent to him by DOW.

"Dow AgroSciences are organising the free collection and appropriate disposal of manure that contains trace amounts of aminopyralid and would like to know if you would be interested in this service. If this is a service that you would like undertaken, then please reply back with the following information. Please note that we cannot guarantee that we will be able to arrange disposal services in all cases, although we will do our best to help you. To help in this matter, please answer the questions below and reply back to me by 16th October 2009:

1) Approximately how much manure (either bags or estimated weight) do you have that requires collection?

2) Where is the manure located?

3) Please provide precise details of access arrangements for the site where the manure is located including confirmation of whether there is vehicle access. If you are not the owner of the site, please also confirm whether the owner or another person's permission is required to enter the site:

4) Please provide your contact details: full name, address, postcode and particularly a day time telephone number:

If you do not reply it will be assumed that you do not need any further assistance with the removal of any manure.

Following receipt of this information, I will contact you on behalf of Dow AgroSciences to discuss the follow up arrangements.

Please note that any assistance offered is without admission of liability on the part of Dow AgroSciences or Stewardship Ltd in relation to any losses or damage which may have been caused to your crops.

A website has been created to provide further information. Thank you for your assistance in this matter and assuring you of our best intentions."

Please let me know if you manage to have your contaminated heap removed.

Email contact for DOW with regards to aminopyralid matters is: UKHotline@dow.com

Caterpillar invasion?

The caterpillar below was spotted on Pat and Joe's allotment and caused quite a stir as Pat held it at bay with a piece of bamboo whilst calling for help! This didn't help as the caterpillar just made itself look fiercer by rearing up in a defensive posture. It is the caterpillar of the Elephant Hawkmoth.

The caterpillar below was much less fierce. The nearest that I can get to identification is the giant cucumber moth. (Please read more information under the photograph).

For more strange fruit and vegetables (one in particular is X-rated) click here. If you have any photos of strange fruit of vegetables why not send them to add to our collection with a bit of information about where it was grown.