TV and Radio permalink
GW Friday 23-07-2010
This discussion has been closed.
-
Message 1.Â
Posted by Stressed out (U11163734) on Friday, 23rd July 2010
Not a bad program
No Alys
I hope I am that good at 92 -
Message 2
Posted by Paul N (U6451125) on Friday, 23rd July 2010
Yes, it was quite a nice programme, wasn't it? The elderly lady and her rooftop garden was delightful. Toby, PLEASE, when planting stuff from pots onto the border, PLEASE soak the pot with water first. It's obvious, intit? Those poor Welsh Onions were dust dry.
-
Message 3
Posted by Pete-Free (U7363826) on Friday, 23rd July 2010
Did anyone else hear the link announcement between the Tatton show at 8 pm and GW at 8.30 referred to as "Back to BERRYFIELDS?? My heart lifted momentarily thinking that a surprise might be in store, but to no avail. Do the Beeb not know they are at Greenacres these days?
More mess-ups when geraniums were screened as "Crane's-bills". In my day it was always cranesbill. Basic No No's like this add even more to the programme's lack of credibility. To say nothing of not soaking your pots "Tobe".
The herb spiral project was ghastly. Alys was missed. The garden needs a feminine touch. The delightful lady with the beautiful garden in Fife saved the day. 3/10. -
Message 4
Posted by groundelder (U11750698) on Friday, 23rd July 2010
What a lovely elderly lady and what a great idea to have the electric blanket on ready for an afternoon siesta looking out on the garden.
I'd love to be there with friends on a chilly day - huddled under blankets, sipping wine.
Bliss!
The rest of the programme was watchable but not riveting. -
Message 5
Posted by Ken Smart (U1158196) on Saturday, 24th July 2010
GW lacks sparkle. Toby tries hard to overcome this by striding around the garden talking excitedly in that curious 'panting' style of his. He spent of fair bit of time last night talking 'passionately' (the in-word if you wish to be taken seriously by the target audience) about this and that, but he just lacks that special quality that most of his predecessors had.
I was in a garden centre yesterday, and spied a book by Joe Swift (Joe's Allotment) on sale at £17.99. I could scarsely believe that anyone would have the temerity to release a book about such a disastrous piece of TV gardening. I caught the last 2 minutes of the 'Tatton' programme when switching on for GW, and there was Joe, Carol and Toby once again fronting a Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú gardening programme. It would seem that there are huge rewards for failure at the Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú.
We were spared Alys's squawking last night, but slow-Joe continues to pretend he's a gardener. I enjoyed Carol's segment from her own garden, though she was starting to gargle again towards the end. Enjoyed the piece from St Monans (my part of the world), and feel a bit ashamed that I'm already starting to think about a less labour-intensive garden (and I'm still many decades behind this lady). I try hard not to be too Scottish in my views, but the Beechgrove really is currently miles ahead of GW as far as relevant gardening is concerned - and the presenters are seemingly not good enough to even warrant a guest stint at the likes of Tatton. It would seem that such 'gigs' are reserved exclusively for second-raters. -
Message 6
Posted by David K (U14115317) on Saturday, 24th July 2010
but slow-Joe continues to pretend he's a gardener.Â
Followed later by his dad (Roy) in 'The Old Guys'. That's it...comedy is in the blood!
-
Message 7
Posted by nooj (U13729031) on Saturday, 24th July 2010
Just watched - and enjoyed!
I miss Alys though
lovely elderly lady - I do hope she gets some help to stay in her garden for as long as possible - she does such a good job.
I liked the herb wheel as well, but if you cook seriously you would need lots of back up herb space - still looks good though..
I could nearly taste the potaoes....... -
Message 8
Posted by ArtemisH (U14261033) on Saturday, 24th July 2010
geraniums were screened as "Crane's-bills". In my day it was always cranesbill.Â
I have to admit that I didn't notice whether Carol pronounced the name as "cranes' bills" or "crane's bill", but, surely, either is totally correct, using the plural or the singular respectively.
I agree with Paul, though, that the onions needed watering; but, Carol was magnificent, as always. -
Message 9
Posted by Obelixx (U2157162) on Saturday, 24th July 2010
I loved Carol's piece on the geranium family and find she speaks with authority and without patronising her audience but find myself increasingly sceptical and doubting of any advice given by TB and Joe.
TB remains, for me, deeply disrespectful of plants and lacks respect for his audience. I didn't like his herb spiral - pretty to start with but would soon be a mess and I can't see it doing well in another bad winter or a severe drought such as we are having here now. I also wish he'd get some voice training and lose that endless breathlessness. It's not as if he does enough to be out of breath, just has bad phrasing.
As for Joe, he's fine on design but not a plantsman or a gardener who knows about tending plants so I feel he's sadly misused on GW.
The lady in Fife is indeed admirable and inspiring. I hope she gets help and can keep her garden and enjoy it for a good wee while longer. I've never seen the point of a summer house in the average sized garden but hers was clearly an asset to be enjoyed. Wonderful garden and gardener. -
Message 10
Posted by welshcol (U2301689) on Saturday, 24th July 2010
Lovely, contented lady from Scotland who obviously loves her garden and from the situation must have been a major labour of love over the years but a source of much enjoyment. I do hope she enjoys it for a long, long time.
On a separate GW topic Toby was planting Welsh onions in his herb spiral. How do other people use these? snip the tops off like chives or try and separate root and tops from the "clump" to use like spring onions?. Have tried the latter and invariable disturb the whole root clump. I now resort to frequent splitting and replanting!!!.
-
Message 11
Posted by Trillium (U2170869) on Saturday, 24th July 2010
I can't quite figure out why Toby isn't capturing hearts and minds on GW. Face to face he is consistently warm, approachable, looks relaxed and doesn't breathe every few seconds. I can see clearly why he was chosen.
Of course much of GW is scripted and perhaps this leads to a more forced style - these guys are presenters not actors after all. But something doesn't feel quite right - and the ongoing clippiness between Joe and 'Tobe' isn't helping either. -
Message 12
Posted by Palaisglide (U3102587) on Sunday, 25th July 2010
What turned me off Toby was his mishandling of his tools from the very first programme.
My father a keen gardener all his life taught me from being knee high you did not throw tools down after use. Apart from the risk of damage it was the danger and this was long before "elf an safety". He filled the barrow with tools and took them to the job, each would be replaced before using the next tool.
All the tools had a place on the garage wall and were cleaned then oiled before going into that place.
Fair enough you can get a spade for a few pounds today but my spade is over fifty years old and as keen as it ever was, some of Dads tools are still on my garage wall, they become part of you like an extension to your arms you know them and their foibles, it may sound daft to some but it definitely eases the work load.
As to the rather stupid mistakes, there must be helpers on set making everything ready for the filming so why do those people not drop the pots into a tray of water beforehand.
Toby will be busy with script and director, he cannot do it all alone.
On the other hand Toby is a bit lackadaisical when it comes to gardening, Joe is out of it and Alys knows her stuff but somehow grates in the telling. If it was not for Carol I would probably switch off.
Frank. -
Message 13
Posted by Pete-Free (U7363826) on Sunday, 25th July 2010
I have to admit that I didn't notice whether Carol pronounced the name as "cranes' bills" or "crane's bill", but, surely, either is totally correct, using the plural or the singular respectively.Â
Hello ArtemisH. Thanks for your comment but my point wasn't about Carol's pronunciation but the sub-titles on the GW programme.
It's helpful to have plant names written on the tv screen in sub-titles, but not when they are incorrect. The cranesbill sub-title, writ large upon the screen during Carol's piece from Glebe Cottage on Friday was shown as:
"Geraniaceae
The Crane's-bill Family".
Cranesbill is not complicated by apostrophes. It is either singular Cranesbill or plural Cranesbills. "Crane's-bill" is a wrong construct and doesn't exist.
As a national horticultural tv show GW should know better.
Have a look on iPlayer!
Cheers, Pete
-
Message 14
Posted by David K (U14115317) on Sunday, 25th July 2010
Frank, we are as one when it comes to care of garden tools...my spade & fork are around fifty years old too - Perhaps it's a generation thing!
For me, Toby blotted his copy book at a very early stage of appearing on GW, by offering very dubious & inaccurate advice.
Probably he's a great guy who I would be happy to share a pint with in RL, but he does (IMHO) nothing for GW.
I think replacements for Toby, Joe & Alys should be found, or scrap the show altogether. -
Message 15
Posted by welshcol (U2301689) on Sunday, 25th July 2010
.....I think replacements for Toby, Joe & Alys should be found........Â
Disagree about Alys, partly agree about Joe and Toby although are better than they were, but please include Carol or Carol's OTT director.
-
Message 16
Posted by David K (U14115317) on Sunday, 25th July 2010
Welshcol - I'm not a fan of Alys, but I will say to her credit that her advice is usually accurate and that is very important.
Carol fits into the mould of Geoff Hamilton with most gardeners, i.e. beyond criticism. -
Message 17
Posted by Obelixx (U2157162) on Monday, 26th July 2010
I most certainly do hop that Toby's contract is not renewed and they find a replacement with both horticultural and presenting skills and the integrity not to allow duff information, bad projects and poor practice to be shown again on GW. Toby is a serial offender on all counts.
Joe is fine if restricted to commenting on other people's designs. I certainly haven't seen him do anything on GW that I'd want in my garden.
Alys is fine on veggies and coul dgrow into a decent presenter given time and a decent lead from someone more profesional than TB.
Carol is good but frankly, they'd all be surplus to requirements if a decent lead presenter was found. As it's usually only a half hour show, why do we need 3 presenters?
CB, for example, has a broad depth of knowledge and experience in garden history, design, plant knowledge, general gardening and presenting. I'd trust him to give relevant info at the correct point in the season and to show how to do things properly.
He can't be the only all rounder in the UK and for variety but not time fillers, there could be guest spots for visits to gardens and nurseries of interest and regular RHS slots from their gardens and gardeners. -
Message 18
Posted by Ken Smart (U1158196) on Monday, 26th July 2010
As it's usually only a half hour show, why do we need 3 presenters?Â
I'm sure it's largely because they all have so many other enterprises on the go. There is also the possibility that it is thought that the viewer may switch off if they didn't like the chosen presenter - whereas with 2 or 3 presenters, there is always the certainty of the viewer seeing his/her favourite for a little while. The programme has at least returned to 'watchable' status, and we should all be grateful that at least the viewers were eventually listened to (even if Toby and the Producer couldn't bring themselves to admit they had boobed). It would be wonderful if we got off to a fresh start next year - new garden, new experienced presenters, and a production team who can provide the quality we seemed to enjoy years ago. -
Message 19
Posted by Pumpkin_Patch_Paul (U14565900) on Monday, 26th July 2010
Well sorry to be different but I enjoyed the entire 30 minutes of the show the 92 old lady Lady in Fife was a star,loved seeing the meadow planting and the bee home also liked the herb spiral garden though I imagine it would cost a bit to make,anyway welcome back GW.....Looking forward to Beechgrove for my next fix.
-
Message 20
Posted by dirtyrob (U14395261) on Monday, 26th July 2010
Ballbreaker, you must be someone who is easily pleased then. First time that i have watched GW in months, the only fix needed is for Gardeners World to be fixed. Maybe Jim could help, oh wait he's retired.
-
Message 21
Posted by Pumpkin_Patch_Paul (U14565900) on Monday, 26th July 2010
Pheraps all you moaners could stop attacking the presenters and tell the rest of us what you want from the program apart from watching Toby and Joe cleaning and oiling garden tools and hanging them up in a shed for 30 minutes.
-
Message 22
Posted by Ken Smart (U1158196) on Monday, 26th July 2010
Perhaps all you moaners could stop attacking the presenters and tell the rest of us what you want from the programÂ
It's difficult not to attack the presenters when some of us think that this is one of the main problem areas. All 'the rest of us' have to do to gauge general feelings relating to improvements, is to look through the various past postings - a range of views have been stated ad nauseam over a lengthy period. The producers of GW could do worse than ponder the appeal of the current 'Beechgrove' series, which has now become the 'must-see' gardening programme on Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú. -
Message 23
Posted by Stressed out (U11163734) on Monday, 26th July 2010
Ballbreaker
Perhaps all you moaners could stop attacking the presenters and tell the rest of us what you want from the program apart from watching Toby and Joe cleaning and oiling garden tools and hanging them up in a shed for 30 minutes.Â
Its been done to death on here a long time before Toby started.(have a look at some of the posts from a year ago+) Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú take no notice of what's on here apart from killing all discussion, and slowly killing this board.
As for Toby throwing tools about it shows a real lack of respect for the tools of his trade.
I would still like a review of new plants once a month/quarter and new equipment/tools, not much to ask for -
Message 24
Posted by Paul N (U6451125) on Tuesday, 27th July 2010
BB
I see that you are a newcomer to this forum with a total of three posts. You could have couched your last post more carefully, especially as some of the contributors here are very experienced gardeners, some professionals and some gifted amateurs. Many of us have been enthusiastic GW viewers since the days of Percy Thrower, Arthur Billet, Geoff Hamilton, Alan Titchmarsh and Monty Don, and we've seen the programme in it's hey day. Since Monty left, and a few will say before although I'd strongly dispute that, the standard of the programme has hit rock bottom. During the last few months, a previous producer has returned and the programme has turned the corner and is now much more watchable although it has still to reach the heights it once attained. Millions of viewers have stopped watching. Have the patence to plough through the earlier posts and you will begin to understand why so many of us have been so dejected at the programme's quality or lack of it. And that is not 'moaning' but reflecting on how a once superb favourite has just about fallen by the wayside. -
Message 25
Posted by Trillium (U2170869) on Tuesday, 27th July 2010
Data from the BARB site shows that viewing figures for GW were back over the 2 million mark when the show restarted in March/April. This steadily declined through the season and when the programme went off air in June it was at 1.4million.
I expect that some of this is normal seasonal variation and somewhat follows the pattern of garden centre trade, although a true match would be a rise into May, then to start tapering away, rather than to start falling from the second programme in.
Coverage for the Chelsea programmes averaged at 2.75 million per programme - astonishing given the total amount of airtime (15 hours). I know some people watch the Chelsea coverage for a bit of celebrity and bling, but I think it shows the potential audience for gardening. It would seem that about a million Chelsea viewers don't watch Gardener's World. -
Message 26
Posted by Palaisglide (U3102587) on Tuesday, 27th July 2010
Pheraps all you moaners could stop attacking the presenters and tell the rest of us what you want from the program apart from watching Toby and Joe cleaning and oiling garden tools and hanging them up in a shed for 30 minutes.Â
This may not be such a bad idea, the how to maintain your tools bit I mean.
A gardeners tools need maintenance and it needs to be done properly.
A programme on how to clean oil sharpen, shears cutters spades Dutch hoes, edgers and the many electrical and engine driven machines some gardeners have both safely and in the correct manner may not go adrift.
As to hanging them on the wall, every tool has its place in my garage and why not? it means I know where they are do not have to search for them then clean them after they have been dropped wet dirty and left to rust (you would be surprised at how quickly this can happen) so what is wrong with being what some may call overly tidy if it saves you hours of work?
Gardening as with all jobs worth doing means looking after all parts of that work including maintaining the tools to do the work. It also goes with the pride in doing a worthwhile job which you can only really do with tools in good condition, so yes why not part of a gardening programme on maintenance of tools and I hope Toby sits in and watches very carefully.
Frank. -
Message 27
Posted by nooj (U13729031) on Tuesday, 27th July 2010
Surely we don't need to see someone cleaning and putting their tools away.
A very brief mention about it every so often might be ok?
Be realistic
It would be like watching someone dusting - not excactly riveting...... -
Message 28
Posted by Trillium (U2170869) on Tuesday, 27th July 2010
That's it!
'How neat is your garden shed?' An hour long programme devoted to methods of cleaning and de-cluttering sheds. Includes advice on blending your own citrus scented tool-cleaning oils and some obligatory ritual humiliation on discovering last years unplanted tulip bulbs sprouting behind a half-used ten year old bottle of paraquat.
Splash in a dollop of advice on selecting the perfect paint colour for your hand-made wooden seed trays. Credits role over image of perplexed shed owner grinning insanely in front of newly preened pumpkin coloured shed with sunflowers painted on the side.
Nah - who'd want to watch something like that? It'll never catch on.... -
Message 29
Posted by chopperman (U14561830) on Tuesday, 27th July 2010
First of all be gentle - I'm new to the boards - but an avid watcher of GW for many years ( I can just remember Percy so that gives you an idea of how long)
For years I've been reading you guys on these boards and have now plucked up courage to dive into the shark infested waters.
For what it's worth...
GW is back on air and Fridays in our house are all the better for it. OK, the herb spiral isn't for everyone, but I'm going to give it a go. Toby wasn't forking out £££'s and clearly loves his plants. So he throws the odd trowel down occasionally - give him a break. It must be a tough job presenting and he does it so well. And the others muck in and most viewers learn loads. And the 92 year old gardener was an absolute treasure. An amazing woman and film - thanks Gardeners' World for giving us top telly and stop going off air for proms, snooker and the like. We need you every Friday. Although the amount of gorgeous flowers at the garden (is it Greenacres?) makes me jealous.
There - first one done and now I'd better get back to chopping wood for the winter ( and watering my spuds and celery) Roll on Friday and a full hour of top telly gardening. -
Message 30
Posted by Palaisglide (U3102587) on Tuesday, 27th July 2010
"Whoa up there lass" says he as he reins in tauld oss, "who mentioned a full programme"????
so yes why not part of a gardening programme on maintenance of tools and I hope Toby sits in and watches very carefully.Â
That does not look like a request for anything but the usual thirty second sound bite people seem to think we are capable off, goodness knows how we managed to concentrate on the old gardeners world programmes where they actually talked you through a full process!!!!!
If you had requests to look at a Hover grass cutter that would not cut only to find the plastic blades had long vanished, owner had not a clue, a pair of shears that would not shear, I tightened the centre nut and bolt the owner thought I had worked a miracle and those are only some of many.
They see this "auld gadgy" poodling round his garden and think he will know what to do, because they do not know.
By some of the questions asked on the board we cannot assume people will know the basics of anything, in fact we should assume they know very little and talk them through the process as once upon a time did happen on GW. For me that would include safety tips on the maintenance and care of tools which can be highly dangerous things when mishandled.
I have an electric hedge cutter with about one foot of wire left because I lent it to a chap I assumed knew had to handle it, he proceeded to reduce the cable to shreds not once but he repaired it and did it again. I lend him my battery hedge trimmer now and hope he will buy one for himself.
If you remember we had a long discussion on double digging something we old hands take for granted only the questions that came in assured us a lot of people out there did not know what it was or why we did it.
If a gardening programme sets out to educate people then it must have all the facets needed including handling and care of tools, I am afraid most will not learn from the misuse as shown by some of the presenters.
I rest my case.
Frank. -
Message 31
Posted by Pumpkin_Patch_Paul (U14565900) on Tuesday, 27th July 2010
I think Toby would love to do a show about garden tools mainly in the hope of finding one that can remove the large millstone placed around his neck(the one with Jeoff Hamilton engraved on it) by people who find a few dried onions a well designed herb garden and a particular red heads voice a problem.
-
Message 32
Posted by welshcol (U2301689) on Tuesday, 27th July 2010
For years I've been reading you guys on these boards and have now plucked up courage to dive into the shark infested waters.Â
Warm welcome and as in all walks of life there are the extreme left and right and the "non shark infested" reasonably friendly, live and let live, majority in the middle. I think this middle, silent, majority are more than willing to help and assist if we can. In saying that since GW is the only gardening programme accessible to most, this rarity value often generates strong feelings when it is believed/perceived standards have declined. As a comparison, and if you can access, suggest you tune into BB1 or 2 TV Scotland on a Wednesday night and watch Beechgrove Garden. I think most people on the "board" think this is a reasonably informative, well directed gardening programme which outshines GW. Anyway your voice is a valid as anyone so would welcome your thoughts on what you think 
.
Have a good swim.......
-
Message 33
Posted by chopperman (U14561830) on Tuesday, 27th July 2010
Speedos on and the water seems fine!
I'll try and get hold of Beechgrove ( iplayer should do the trick) and compare.
Still looking forward to Friday's hour long feast.I love it. -
Message 34
Posted by David K (U14115317) on Tuesday, 27th July 2010
Sad someone who advocates taking care of garden tools should be subjected to ridicule and sarcasm.
Sadly, we are the 'throw away society' and to hell with the planet!
Today's cheap garden tools are of such inferior quality they barely deserve looking after anyway....just throw em away and buy new!
Like Frank, many of my own garden tools have been with me throughout my gardening life and are cared for accordingly. -
Message 35
Posted by Trillium (U2170869) on Tuesday, 27th July 2010
David - surely you've heard of 'How clean is your house? That made it to several years of national TV, so 'How neat is your shed' is simply a logical follow on. No sarcasm intended about sheds and tools, but most certainly about the improbable topics that make it onto the small screen.
-
Message 36
Posted by David K (U14115317) on Tuesday, 27th July 2010
Trillium - I'm sure we're both grown up enough not to engage silly exchanges. I will say that I'm sorry to say that I've never watched 'How clean is your house', shed, or anything similar.
If I did I could probably relate to 'how clean is your shed', as my tools are immaculate (as I suspect are Frank's). For my generation it was part of basic gardening knowledge to learn how to look after a wide range of gardening tools....I know who my daughter comes to when her shears need sharpening.
However, unlike Frank I have no wish to be told by Toby B (or Joe S) how to care for tools or anything else for that matter.
Btw, judging by the tone of Frank's post, I suspect he was offended and I did feel sorry for him.
Water under the bridge, eh?
-
Message 37
Posted by Trillium (U2170869) on Tuesday, 27th July 2010
indeed.
My Dad used to run a hardware shop. Every Wednesday Reg the Grind used to come to the workshop and sharpen all the lawnmowers and shears brought in by customers. Wish there was somewhere like that here - I can sharpen things alright, but seem to mess up the blade line over time. P.S. any idea where I can buy a fine enough stone to sharpen my Victorinox grafting knife? -
Message 38
Posted by David K (U14115317) on Tuesday, 27th July 2010
P.S. any idea where I can buy a fine enough stone to sharpen my Victorinox grafting knife?Â
Please don't hate me for saying this,
but it comes under the very skills already mentioned.
By virtue of the fact that you have a Victorinox grafting knife, leads me to guess that you appreciate quality steel...it's almost impossible to get a keen edge on cheap steel.
Anyway, I would suggest you buy an 'oil stone’; these should be available from any good ironmonger. These stones are usually used placed on a bench and have a course & smooth side. You'll need to smear with oil before use.
Sorry if you already knew this, but it's the way I do these things. -
Message 39
Posted by David K (U14115317) on Tuesday, 27th July 2010
PS - Just googled this:
-
Message 40
Posted by Stressed out (U11163734) on Tuesday, 27th July 2010
Trillium
P.S. any idea where I can buy a fine enough stone to sharpen my Victorinox grafting knife?Â
Trillium
I wouldn't use a stone.
Best thing I have ever come across is one of these
These fold so you can keep it on your keyring
All you do is put a spot of water on the surface and away you go.(I was not convinced until I tried one, you use a circular motion and no pressure)
Quite expensive but possible one of the best tools I have ever bought
They do various grades if you do a search from very fine to very course
They work really well on stainless steel tools -
Message 41
Posted by Trillium (U2170869) on Tuesday, 27th July 2010
Thanks RC - I might try that, but this knife has a completely straight blade edge - wouldn't I just end up making it curved over time with a circular motion?
DK - I've got a double sided oilstone, but neither side seems as fine as the ones they had at college. Maybe there are different grades. I used to just take mine to college and ask Harry Delaney to sharpen it for me every now and then, which was a pleasure and an education to watch, but I've finished there now!
And sorry to potentially shock you both, but at £9.00 a go, I do just tend to buy another every couple of years or so, usually because I misplace it. I know, you've probably had yours for years and I'm just another example of our casually careless throwaway society.
-
Message 42
Posted by Trillium (U2170869) on Tuesday, 27th July 2010
RC - I should have checked your links before posting - they are flat so should be fine. There's a set of these in the potting shed left by previous owner - hadn't tried them because they didn't look fine enough. Will check them out though.
You see - I thought I'd asked a stupid question, but as I should know by now there is no such thing. And I think the shed programme would be a nailed on success with David, Frank and RC at the helm! -
Message 43
Posted by Palaisglide (U3102587) on Tuesday, 27th July 2010
Btw, judging by the tone of Frank's post, I suspect he was offended and I did feel sorry for him.Â
Thank you David for your kind thoughts, unfortunately as a long serving soldier my hide is crusty and hard, in fact when I cut myself on my gardening knife sharpened on my oil stone it takes three weeks before I scream.
As to the huge "mill stone" I was under the impression it had been removed broken up and built into a herb spiral??? I could be wrong.
Having been insulted by the best the happenings on these boards cannot in any way stop me saying things the way I wish to say them.
I do think that some short but needed tutoring on the care and maintenance of tools would be a good thing for some people and lets face it we all pick and choose what we take away from GW, or dont as the case may be.
Frank. -
Message 44
Posted by David K (U14115317) on Wednesday, 28th July 2010
And I think the shed programme would be a nailed on success with David, Frank and RC at the helmÂ
I'm the one who wasn't bovered.
Re Victorinox knives, I have found them to be of acceptable quality (compared with made in China rubbish) but not outstanding.
I think the going rate for yours, Trillium, would be around £12 so you did ok at £9.
My own grafting knife has a Lamfoot Sheffield steel blade and (you guessed) is very old. With the aforementioned oilstone, it is possible to achieve a razor sharp edge.
The quality of grafting knife I've often seen Carol Klein & AT use, would be expected to retail at around £50. -
Message 45
Posted by Palaisglide (U3102587) on Wednesday, 28th July 2010
I'm the one who wasn't bovered. Â
True David though it is surprising some of the tips we do pick up from various gardening programmes, never to old to learn.
We would presume most who post on here have a varying degree of knowledge about the subject but a lot more who do not write on here watch the gardening programmes.
As I walk through a new build area to get my paper it appears a lot of the ladies do the gardening. I was horrified to see one lady using a beautiful new and expensive spade with open toe sandals on.
The new build was denuded of lovely topsoil down to brick clay then six inches put back and lawn rolled out on that, they flood in the wet and look like a desert in the heat.
The lady was trying to make a Vegetable plot, showing her how to use the spade, cut left, cut right, cut behind, use the heel of the spade as a fulcrum, lever with the full extent of the handle, twist and turn then chop. She said she had not realised there was an art to it and trying she found it so much easier than had been the case. Then I asked her to put some shoes on as losing a toe would have been the end of her digging.
She did take my advice, slightly raised the bed and has some nice looking Veg in there.
My point being there are so many new gardeners out there who did not have the benefit of watching fathers provide food for the family, they do not have the basics so a few tips on basics including how to sharpen your knife would not come amiss.
Frank. -
Message 46
Posted by Trillium (U2170869) on Wednesday, 28th July 2010
Much as I would love to use a £50 grafting knife, I think I'd be too scared to use it - I'd put it down somewhere and lose it within a few days, I'm sure! And I don't graft with it, it's for cuttings etc. so I think I'll stick with the Victorinox - it's good enough for me.
-
Message 47
Posted by Ken Smart (U1158196) on Wednesday, 28th July 2010
My point being there are so many new gardeners out there who did not have the benefit of watching fathers provide food for the family, they do not have the basics so a few tips on basics including how to sharpen your knife would not come amiss.Â
Hi Frank - just a quick comment on the above. I think we have to accept that the world has moved on a wee bit since our young days. I've had a succession of 'good' knives in the last few years, and there's not one of them which has stood the test of time. I'm sure that manufacturers take the view that if they made a real quality product, it would cost so much that few people would buy them. Far better to have a product that will require to be replaced on a regular basis. I've lost count of the number of spades I've gone through in the last few years, but I still retain a fork that belonged to my father. In these more affluent times, people like to treat themselves to something new on a regular basis, and as such they don't form 'love affairs' with their tools in the way that perhaps we did. Nevertheless, I agree with you that we should always treat our tools with respect (says he who, like Toby, tends to use his handtools like spears when 'laying' them to the side). -
Message 48
Posted by Palaisglide (U3102587) on Wednesday, 28th July 2010
Hello Ken,
Could not agree more, saying that I tend to use a Stanley knife for most things, a quick blade change and you are away again. The super knife is mainly for cuttings and such, probably some sentiment in that.
My main tools are quite old and still good for use, you tend to feel the balance and temper of the tool making them easy to handle and use properly.
One of the best is Dad's old Dutch hoe with an extra long handle, it is still going strong and has never been re-handled to my knowledge, I do oil the handle now and then which is why it is still not split or too dried out, the blade never seems to wear.
The lady mentioned above had bought a really nice spade, well balanced, long stock and good handle nice to use, it was the open toed sandals worried me, one glance off a stone or tough sod and it would have been bye bye toes.
Showing a chap how to get a straight cut with a hedge trimmer, he watched then asked why do you go from the bottom up?? Well the natural droop of the branch plus the weight of the cutter means you get uneven cuts, did you read the instructions? Answer never read them.
With gardening becoming more mechanical, although I fail to see the use of some of those tools for jobs simply done with the tools we have had for years, it strikes me there is a need to educate by showing which is what GW supposedly does.
Frank. -
Message 49
Posted by happytobyfan (U13663471) on Wednesday, 28th July 2010
Much as I would love to use a £50 grafting knife, I think I'd be too scared to use it - I'd put it down somewhere and lose it within a few days,Â
Although the 'names' on these boards don't, in most cases, give any indication as to the sex of the writer, I've come to the conclusion that the majority must be men. As a femail, the idea of spending a lot of time on 'tool maintenance' would be the biggest turn-off for me - and I suspect most other women.
I've managed to create a garden that's getting an awful lot of compliments, without all the time spent worrying about tools. I don't buy new because I'm part of the 'throw-away' society, I buy new because, like Trillium, the biggest problem I have is finding trowels, secateurs, etc when I put them down in the garden. This is the reason I buy new.
My OH built me a large greenhouse, and put 'things'in to hang spades,etc on, but I have to be nagged to put them back where they belong.
I also agree with Ball Breaker's comments - I enjoy most of Gardeners' World with Toby. I think what Trillium saw in person, in him, comes across on the TV.
PS Trillium, your Tatton Garden was lovely, you were away from it when we visited. -
Message 50
Posted by nooj (U13729031) on Wednesday, 28th July 2010
Trillium - brilliant
How neat is your garden shed is a sure fire winner - and the copywrite is all yours!
You will be so rich.
Picture 2 teams, each facing challenges against the clock
1. Find that bag of daffodil bulbs you know are in there!
2.You know there there is a length of netting just the right size to cover your brassicas, double the time allowed for that as its very very difficult!
etc
Or is that just my life.
Bonus points for not getting wobbly when frogs jump out at you (My weak point I'm afraid)
About this Board
Welcome to the new Gardening Board. If this is your first time, then make sure you check out the
or  to take part in a discussion.
The message board is currently closed for posting.
Weekdays 09:00-00:00
Weekends 10:00-00:00
This messageboard is .
Find out more about this board's
Search this Board
Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú iD
Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú navigation
Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú links
Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú © 2014 The Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read more.
This page is best viewed in an up-to-date web browser with style sheets (CSS) enabled. While you will be able to view the content of this page in your current browser, you will not be able to get the full visual experience. Please consider upgrading your browser software or enabling style sheets (CSS) if you are able to do so.