We scoured the GYO forum for your questions - here are our answers!
As well as all of the brilliant elements of gardening year-round, each month of the calendar does bring its own set of challenges, too – be it weather, pests or diseases. In January, for example, you might be wondering when the first and last frost dates are, and in July, the question at large might be ‘what can I do to protect my plot from the heat?’ When we need to ask other growers for advice, the internet is often the first place we go. We’ve therefore scoured the Grow Your Own forum (growfruitandveg.co.uk/grapevine) for the most searched for advice each month, and we’ll do our best to get to the bottom on the top questions on these pages throughout the year.
The worry with worms...
Worms play an important part in keeping our gardens healthy. These insects improve the drainage of the soil as well as fertilising and tilling it, creating the perfect conditions for growth. But what you want to know is... what is the difference between garden worms and compost worms?
Garden worms, also known as earthworms and lobworms (Lumbricus terrestris), make deep burrows in the soil. The worms act like mini-mowers, helping to aerate, drain and enrich the earth, improving the conditions from the ground up. Garden worms take plant material into their burrows deep underground and this is where they are most active. The creatures do sometimes, however, re-surface at night in order to feed on whatever has been left on the soil surface.
Compost worms, like garden worms, also break down plant material. But, the main difference between the two is that compost worms live and work in the top two inches of the soil – often found in manure heaps and on the forest floor. Compost worms are also much larger, averaging 2-3 inches, whereas garden worms average a modest quarter inch. Owing to their larger size, compost worms have much larger appetites, longer life spans and are vigorous breeders, making them well-suited to compost heaps as they’re better and faster at breaking down organic matter. Garden worms, on the hand, are better at improving a garden’s overall soil structure over time. Introduce them to nutrient-lacking or clay-based soils.
Aubergines gone awry...
Aubergines have a reputation for unsatisfactory results owing to their demand for sunshine and warm growing conditions, which can be unpredictable in the UK. Besides from deciding whether to grow these fruits at all, the most searched for aubergine advice is for pr
