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Q&A with Jim McColl of Beechgrove

• Message 1. 

  Posted by Jen (U14605575) on Tuesday, 28th May 1985

  Morning all
  
  Jim's going to be answering your questions in his blog post next week.
  
  We thought we'd keep it seasonal...so if you have any questions on or related to the following, do post them below and we'll put them to Jim for his expert opinion and guidance.
  
  Frost management/protection
  General managing cold weather issues
  Questions about creating winter colour or scent
  Keeping your winter garden looking good
  
  You get the idea!
  
  thanks
  Jen
  
  
  

  Link to this forum: Q&A with Jim McColl of Beechgrove

• Message 2

  , in reply to this message.

  Posted by Jen (U14605575) on Wednesday, 29th May 1985

  Or if you prefer, we can keep the questions open.
  
  Jim has amazing knowledge and experience of a very wide range of subjects.
  
  Do post your questions for him to answer.
  
  thanks
  Jen

  Link to this forum: Q&A with Jim McColl of Beechgrove

• Message 3

  , in reply to this message.

  Posted by tellima (U3297814) on Wednesday, 29th May 1985

  Hello Jim and Jennifer - I wonder whether you can help with a query I've been Googling to no avail for a long time this evening. I'm trying to make space in my pantry, which involves throwing out food past its sell by date. But I can't find out how long I should expect the pears and plums I bottled many years ago to keep. I'm thinking about hearing of tins of beans at Captain Scott's arctic camp being eatable after fifty years and hoping it's the same for my Kilner jars. It would be very helpful if you could refer me to any relevant source of information. Thanks so much.

  Link to this forum: Q&A with Jim McColl of Beechgrove

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• Message 4

  , in reply to this message.

  Posted by Obelixx (U2157162) on Wednesday, 29th May 1985

  I'd like to know about keeping winter veggies going. The last two years have been really cold here - -32C and -26C at their worst - and I've lost every single leek, brassica, chard, onion and garlic planted as winter crops. I have a greenhouse which gets stuffed with plants in pots needing protection. I have a few cloches I could use but no polytunnel. Is there anything that will survive or do I give up?
  
  On the other hand, rhubarb and red and blackcurrants seem to produce bumper crops after hard winters. Strawberries, blueberries, raspberies, tayberries and so on also survive well.

  Link to this forum: Q&A with Jim McColl of Beechgrove

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• Message 5

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  Posted by tattiebogle (U11728394) on Thursday, 30th May 1985

  Hello Jennifer and Jim, I would like to know what plants I can grow to help wildlife through the cold weather. I was thinking in particular about flowers, for example I know dandelions are quite important because they provide nectar early in the season, but I don't want a garden full of them! What early flowering garden flowers would provide food for insects?

  Link to this forum: Q&A with Jim McColl of Beechgrove

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• Message 6

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  Posted by tattiebogle (U11728394) on Thursday, 30th May 1985

  PS to last message - Jennifer, this possibly isn't the best place to ask for questions for the blogs, because if anyone has a question or problem, they just need to ask on these boards and they will get helpful replies from all sorts of people, from professionals to amateurs.

  Link to this forum: Q&A with Jim McColl of Beechgrove

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• Message 7

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  Posted by Bluebell_Mel (U7303908) on Thursday, 30th May 1985

  Hi Jim
  
  Jennifer suggested I come to you for advice on this. I bought a raised 1000 x 760 x 800 vegetable planter earlier this year which sits on my front drive and is north facing.
  
  I'd like to make use of it over the winter and grow veg in it but have absolutely no idea what to plant in it as I've never grown winter veg.
  
  Could you give me some suggestions on what to plant in the veg-table that I'll be able to grow and harvest over the winter time. Would like to grow garlic as well if possible.
  
  I have grown swiss chard, carrots & lettuce in the planter this year and still have some swiss chard left.
  
  Many thanks
  
  Mel

  Link to this forum: Q&A with Jim McColl of Beechgrove

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• Message 8

  , in reply to this message.

  Posted by richardbees (U3432591) on Friday, 31st May 1985

  Jennifer, we don't need a mythical "Jim" as the whole point of this forum is that we just post a question and fellow users suggest solutions.
  
  I would guarantee that these replies will usually contain superior information to whatever data base "Jim" is using.
  
  Aren't you being a bit racist as "Jim" is hardly a multi-cultural name? (and brings to mind Jim Crow)

  Link to this forum: Q&A with Jim McColl of Beechgrove

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• Message 9

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  Posted by Obelixx (U2157162) on Friday, 31st May 1985

  Jim is not mythical. You really should try watching Beechgrove when it comes back next spring. If you can't get Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú Scotland you can get it on I-player.

  Link to this forum: Q&A with Jim McColl of Beechgrove

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• Message 10

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  Posted by Matthew Valentine (U6865144) on Friday, 31st May 1985

  hi live in thames valley and have a few astrantia romas that i'm thinking of dividing this weekend to fill a few spaces.
  
  is it too late what with it being end of Oct and us already having frosts?

  Link to this forum: Q&A with Jim McColl of Beechgrove

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• Message 11

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  Posted by Jen (U14605575) on Friday, 31st May 1985

  Obelixx...which part of the country do you live in? -32 deg centigrade?!!!?
  
  According to the Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú Weather site, the lowest temperature recorded was -27.2 deg c. in Scotland.
  
  
  
  Are you in the UK?
  
  Jen

  Link to this forum: Q&A with Jim McColl of Beechgrove

• Message 12

  , in reply to this message.

  Posted by Obelixx (U2157162) on Friday, 31st May 1985

  Hi Jennifer. I've been living in central Belgium since 1993. we're just near the crest of the Meuse and Scheldt basins and there's nothing of substance between us and the Arctic or Siberia. It can get so cold here we actually have a local area called La Sibérie.
  
  Normal winters have two or three weeks of -15C with -20C not unusual. I usually get leeks and kale through the winter and even Swiss chard and rocket but the last two winters have been extreme, to say the least. -32C on 6/1/09 and a -26C in January this year with long periods of snow on the ground. That wipes out winter veggies.
  
  In case you're wondering, I get the Beeb through a channel TV subscription.

  Link to this forum: Q&A with Jim McColl of Beechgrove

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• Message 13

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  Posted by zoomer44 (U14019069) on Monday, 3rd June 1985

  Hi,Jim and Jenifer,
  
  My Q is about sowing flowers-perennials and annuals during the winter months in a GH and how best to care/protect them before planting out in the spring.
  
  I've aquired several packets of free seeds sowing times range from October for cornflowers, which I've sown and now have two leaves on to sowing times in Jan/Feb/Mar for;
  
  Verbascum
  Cosmos
  Swan River Daisy
  Viola
  Gazania
  Scabious
  
  I grew marigolds and I think dwarf asters from seed for the first time this year and was really pleased with the results. The marogolds have flowered all summer and are still in flower!
  
  The distructions on the seed packets give a time to sow outdoors but I don't have flower beds to do this.
  
  The GH is unheated. When should I plant up and how often should I water. Those which do germinate will eventually go into pots/troughs so when would be the best time to plant out.
  
  Any other advise would be most welcome.

  Link to this forum: Q&A with Jim McColl of Beechgrove

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• Message 14

  , in reply to this message.

  Posted by Jen (U14605575) on Tuesday, 4th June 1985

  Hi tellima (msg 3)
  
  I've been meaning to reply to your message for a couple of days - apologies for the delay.
  
  This question might be better answered by Bob Flowerdew who is a master at storing and using every last bit of produce in his garden.
  
  You could post your question on his blog post and I'll make sure he answers!
  
  
  
  Jen :-D

  Link to this forum: Q&A with Jim McColl of Beechgrove

• Message 15

  , in reply to this message.

  Posted by Jen (U14605575) on Wednesday, 5th June 1985

  Hi everyone
  
  Jim's answers can now be found on the blog. Hope you find it useful.
  
  
  
  zoomer, I'm really sorry but your question didn't arrive in time for me to include it in the Q&A this time round but there will be other occasions.
  
  Thanks to everyone who posted a question.
  
  Jen :-D

  Link to this forum: Q&A with Jim McColl of Beechgrove

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