I want to see red rather than green
Q) Most of my glasshouse tomatoes are still hard and green. Which is the best way to ripen them? – Ben Tyler,
A) Adrienne says: If the temperature is too high ripening can be delayed, so keep an eye on ventilation. Later in the season remove excess leaves to allow sun to reach the fruits. Any green fruits at the end of the season can be packed in kitchen paper and put in a dark place to ripen, or hang a banana in the plant’s branches to speed reddening.
Will blinds damage our conservatory?
Q) I’d like to fit some blinds in my conservatory but it has UPVC frames. Is it possible to drill into these kind of frames or do I need to fit special brackets? –
A) Zena says: We asked the experts at Luxaflex. In most conservatories there are aluminium fixings behind the uPVC frames which can be drilled into.
Care has to be taken to make sure you will not be drilling into sealed glass units or rainwater gutters. Normally there is an area in the centre of the glazing bars which is safe to drill.
In some cases the fitter would attach aluminium profiles to the underside of the glazing bars to give a fixing for conservatory roof blinds. If in doubt, contact the conservatory manufacturer.
Prices start at £53 for a 40x40cm Duette blind shown here (www.luxaflex.co.uk, 0800 652 7799).
My poppies with no pep
Q) My poppies looked fantastic while flowering but their tatty foliage is spoiling my border. What do you suggest I do? – Madge Murphy,
A) Adrienne says: Plant asters, Japanese anemones and other late-flowering perennials to hide their foliage. Or severely cut back the untidy foliage and you’ll be rewarded with fresh billowing clumps of grey-green leaves. If you’re growing the opium poppy, Papaver somnifera, leave the large pepper-pot seed heads for winter decoration. Otherwise remove the spent flower heads.
Rubbish run has got me down
Q) I’m fed up – it takes so long to wheelbarrow garden rubbish to my compost heap. Is there an easier method? – Chris Pearson,
A) Adrienne says: Try the small Wheel-Easy wheelbarrow, £49.95, from Harrod Horticultural www.harrodhorticultural.com, 0845 218 5301). It’s a ground-flush loading cart that is robust, with rip-proof handles. It can carry 70kg and is able to cope with virtually any bulky load – grass, leaves, clippings, branches and other materials.
That sinking feeling over kitchen stains
Q) We have a rather expensive double ceramic kitchen sink which has just a couple of light marks on it. You can’t feel these marks so they can’t really be scratches but we don’t seem to be able to get them off. I am afraid to use just anything in case it will be marked further. Could you possibly tell me the best ways to get rid of them without doing any more damage? – Terry Evans, Pontypridd, Glamorgan
A) Zena says: We asked top ceramic sink retailer Carron Phoenix (www.carron.com, 01324 638321) for their advice. They say: “Most deposits can be removed with washing-up liquid and hot water followed by a clean water rinse.
“It is also good practice to then dry the sink with a soft cloth as otherwise limescale can build up on the surface. To get rid of any limescale stains that have built up on your sink, try using a limescale removing product such as Viakal or Limelite.”
Time for a change... any ideas?
Q) I am having my kitchen remodelled and I shall have a blank section of wall about one metre square. I intend to paint it, probably turquoise or blue and I would like something to put on it. I was thinking of a largeish quirky clock, but I am wondering where I could find something suitable. – Gail M. Button, by email
A) Zena says: How about this fabulous wall clock? The Present Time Family photoframe clock is a great eye-catcher in the kitchen with space for your 12 favourite photographs – family portraits or holiday snaps. It’s available for £22.09 at Amazon.co.uk
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