Facebook Questions and Answers for the 29th July 2011

Stephen Parker

Help! My prize lawn is now being scorched with the new puppy peeing on it....starting to look very poor!! Any guidance or tips on what to do to repair or prevent or limit the damage?

Hi Stephen, unfortunately there is no easy solution to this! Female dog urine is high in ammonia and is quite acidic, causing the grass to burn. The best solution is to water the areas your dog urinates in immediately afterwards to dilute and wash away the urine. It may also be worth talking to your vet as there may be a product suitable for your dog which could reduce the effects of the urine on the grass. There are products available such as 'dog rocks' which you place in your dog's water bowl and which reportedly stop the burning effect.

It's best to carry out repairs on your lawn in the autumn as the weather is cooler. You can use either turf or seed. Neatly cut out a square around the area which is damaged and remove the damaged grass with a spade. If you're using turf to repair the lawn then lightly fork over the base of the gap and simply place the new turf over the area, cutting it to size. Make sure you place compost or a sandy lawn dressing into the crevices between the new turf and the existing lawn as this will help make the repair seamless. Water thoroughly and maintain watering if the weather is hot. If you're using seed, make sure you sprinkle some top soil or compost over the existing soil after lightly forking it. Then just follow the sowing instructions on the packet. It can be hard to keep a pristine garden when you have dogs, but hopefully you will find a happy medium! Let us know how you get on Stephen.

Chris Dorsett

I have a Tumbling Tom Red tomato plant in a basket. It has loads of flowers but little fruit. At what point should I stop the flowers so the plant can concentrate on developing the fruit?

Hi Chris, it sounds as though your tomato plant has just started flowering in earnest! The Tumbling Tom tomatoes are a bush or basket variety so don't need pruning as would be normal practice for cordon tomatoes. All branches and flowers on a bush variety can be left to develop. Mine are in the same situation at the moment and are producing lots of flowers but so far only a few green fruits. Tomatoes need a certain amount of warmth to thrive and their growth has probably slowed due to the cooler and darker weather we've had recently. Hopefully we will be getting some more warm and sunny days as we head into August! Good luck Chris, we'd love to see a photo of your Tumbling Toms when they're ready.

Rita Holt

Is there a good way to store beetroots as I have lots ready for picking?

Hi Rita, I find myself in the same situation! Beetroot can stand well if left in the ground - some varieties are better than others for this (I am growing 'Boltardy'which seems to be doing well). Leaving them in the soil can be risky if you have a variety of beetroot prone to bolting (flowering) or a variety which becomes woody if left in the ground for too long. If you're not sure it may be best to harvest them now.

When you harvest your beetroot remove the leaves by twisting them off about an inch above the bulb, rather than cutting, as cutting encourages the beetroot to bleed sap and go soft. Also gently rub off any soil on the beetroot. Beetroot needs to be stored in a dark cool place - refrigerator temperatures are ideal. They store best if placed in a box lined with damp (not wet) sand or sawdust. Lay them over the damp material so they are not touching and place more damp sand or sawdust on top, adding further layers if needed. It's a good idea to keep checking the beetroot every so often in case of rotting. Otherwise they will normally keep all through the winter if stored like this. You can also cook, slice and then freeze or pickle your beetroot. I hope this helps Rita, let us know how you get on.