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Q – What easy-to-grow edibles can you recommend that will reflect the multicultural nature of our allotments?

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Pippa – Okra (Ladies’ Fingers) – grow them outside in a cloche. Chillis. Sweet potatoes.

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Matt – Mooli.Ìý Herbs: mint.Ìý Borlotti beans.Ìý

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Chris – Try a white carrot

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Q – What can we do about the Thrip infestation on Pyracantha?

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Pippa – They do like warmer weather and protected environments – as do Leafhoppers.ÌýÌý On the whole they don’t do too much damage so I’d say something else is getting at them too.

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Chris – Companion planting can help dissuade pests from hanging around – things like Helichrysum and Tanacetum are natural insecticides

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Q – What plants can you suggest that are capable of absorbing pollutants – particularly outdoor plants?

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Chris – Dust is the biggest pollutant outside.Ìý ‘London Plane’ tree is great.Ìý You want a broad, waxy leaf base.Ìý You want something that regularly jettisons its leaves.Ìý

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Matt – Spathiphyllum are good for absorbing indoor pollutants that get out

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Chris – Mother in Law’s tongue (Sansevieria trifasciata) is what NASA use. Apparently it’s the best!

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Pippa – Boston ferns

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Q – Honey fungus has killed a small tree on a drive and is now attacking an Acer. Is there anything I can plant in that plot once the Acer is gone?

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Pippa – If it’s not woody it’s less likely to succumb.Ìý Dig out the Acer rather than waiting for it to die!

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Q – Why is it that the same plant has different successes when planted in different parts of the garden?Ìý I’ve had problems with Pyrocantha and a Ceanothus

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Pippa – It could be animals getting to certain parts of the garden

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Matt – It shouldn’t be a problem with soil type.Ìý

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Q – We don’t have access to outdoor space so we’re interested in growing a vertical wall indoors – how best to do this?Ìý Hoping to grow herbs and edibles.

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Pippa – I would protect the wall so it doesn’t get damp

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Chris – Don’t try to be too clever.Ìý Try and structure a series of growing bags across the support and then water each one individually to ensure good watering.Ìý Like an old-fashioned show rack.Ìý

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Q – There’s no space on our allotment for rotting down manure so we spread it on the beds at the end of the growing season and cover with cardboard. Is this ok?

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Chris – That’s fine.Ìý If you can dig a trench, put the manure at the bottom, and then the soil on top that’s another good method.Ìý

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Matt – If you’re growing brassicas they like a firm bed so maybe don’t do it on those beds

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Eric – You need to keep an eye on the pH too

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Q – We have an informal growing competition and we’re looking for ideas of what to grow competitively in 2017?

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Pippa – Try a small, fruiting sweet pepper.Ìý Or squash.

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Matt – Giant tomatoes, biggest beetroot

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Chris – Grow what you are good at growing to make sure you win!Ìý Try the Datura or the Brugmansia – the ‘Angels Trumpets’.

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