Danger signs in the garden

Tiny holes in foliage

If you find holes in your plant that are very small there’s a good chance that you have flea beetles in your garden. They are called this because of their size and they jump like fleas. A Flea beetle won’t kill a whole plant however their larvae feed on the root system of a plant this will make the plant more susceptible to other problems. Mulch your beds to deter the larvae from emerging. Some adventurous gardeners even hoover the little pests off the leaves – but this will have to be repeated numerous times. Continue reading →

Gruner see

Green lake… a popular tourist attraction in Austria, the lake is situated in a village called Tragoss and is surrounded by the Hochschwab mountains and forests. The lake got the name due to the clear emerald green water. The clear green water comes when the snow melts at the end of winter… causing water to flow down the mountain and build up in this particular spot each year. Continue reading →

Watermelon, great for the body

Watermelon is a great fruit, but did you know its made up of 92% water. Turns out watermelon isn’t just refreshing and tasty… it also does your body a world of good. It is a tropical fruit that originated in Africa, there is proof of cultivation dating back to Ancient Egyptian times. In 2016 alone 117 million tones of watermelons were produced… China accounting for 68% of them. Watermelons were used as a source of hydration instead of pure water by early explorers. Continue reading →

Not all plants are herbivores

So, you’ve probably heard of a Venus fly trap, a carnivorous plant that waits for its prey (flies and small insects) to land on them, they then close on the insect like a mouth, the plant then digests the insect and takes the necessary nutrients from them. Continue reading →

A Whole Universe Beneath Our Feet

Plants nurture a whole world of creatures in the soil that in return feed and protect the plants, including and especially trees. It is a subterranean community that includes worms, insects, mites, other arthropods you’ve never heard of, amoebas, and fellow protozoa. The dominant organisms are bacteria and fungi. All these players work together, sometimes by eating one another. Continue reading →

White strawberry...and you'd thought you've seen it all

A Pineberry is a hybrid fruit which means it has been genetically breaded from two other fruits. It has been made up of a Fragaria chiloensis, (the beach strawberry) which originates from South America and the Virginia strawberry which originates from North America. Both are part of the strawberry family. However it is said that they taste closer to a pineapple than a strawberry. Continue reading →

Britain's worst nightmare

Introduced to the UK in 1839, Himalayan balsam is now a naturalised plant, found especially on riverbanks and in waste places where it has become a problem weed. Himalayan balsam tolerates low light levels and shades out other vegetation, so gradually impoverishing habitats by killing off other plants. It is sometimes seen in gardens, either uninvited or grown deliberately, but care must be taken to ensure that it does not escape into the wild. Himalayan balsam is a tall growing annual, 2-3m (6-10ft) in height. Between June and October, it produces clusters of purplish pink (or rarely white) helmet-shaped flowers. The flowers are followed by seed pods that open explosively when ripe. Continue reading →

Crocodile Trading's Marquees and Instant Shelters at Festivals

Crocodile Trading supply nationwide a vast range of heavy duty marquees and Instant Shelters throughout festivals all over the UK. Our Commercial Quality Structures are popular as a base for many activities….Catering, Exhibiting retailing etc. Continue reading →

Tips for growing chillies

Now's the time to sow your Chillies. Sow inside a polytunnel or on a windowsill. There are many varieties of chillies to choose from that vary in heat from the sweet bell pepper to the Carolina reaper.  Sow during January, February and March, Maintain at 21ºC (70ºF) until seedlings germinate, ideally in a heated propagator , as some varieties need high temperatures to germinate reliably When large enough, prick out seedlings into 8 cm (3 inch) pots. Pot-on into 15 cm (6 inch) pots as they grow, before moving them to their final home. Chillies can be grown in the greenhouse/polytunnel border or in growbags or 20–25 cm (8–10 inch) pots. Try to maintain temperatures above 16C. Some varieties grow as high as 90 cm (3 feet). The stems are brittle so the weight of fruits can break the plants if they are not tied to canes.

Taking care of a marquee

We suggest you use hot, soapy water and a clean cloth, alternatively use a specialist cleaner..."Fenwick’s" which is stocked in most DIY chains and caravanning stores. Please ensure your material is completely dry before you store it away. If you pack your marquee covers away whilst still damp, the material may perish and fall apart as mould will attack the fibres.