george asks… – gardenerscardiff.co.uk

Your Questions About Gardening

GardenersCardiff — Tue, 06 Jan 2015 20:05:02 +0000

William asks…

What kind of paint do I use for a ceramic garden gnome?

I have a ceramic bisque garden gnome I would like to paint and put in my yard. I’m clueless about how to paint/seal it so it can be outside.

GardenersCardiff answers:

If this is a ceramic bisque piece, then it is probably low fire clay and meant to be painted with underglazes (they come in all different colors) and then clear glazed and fired in a kiln. You can do this at a “paint your own pottery” place. Then the colors and glaze will last without pealing.

If you can’t do this, then you can paint it with most any paint. Some may last longer than others. You can use a commercial sealant on top also.

George asks…

Was it right from Gary the Golden Garden Gnome to give the growing potion to Goliath?

It is common knowledge that on the eve of the battle of Goliath and David, Gary the Golden Garden Gnome, who had a small bar in Palestine at that time, slipped Goliath a growing potion, which would cause the imbiber to become immensely strong and nearly invulnerable gaining him a +5 to his Strength, Size and Constitution, but give him a -5 weakness to projectiles. Should Gary have kept it fair, or has the battle happened the way it should’ve happened ?

GardenersCardiff answers:

This question would be better directed to the section set-up for questions on Gaming and Roleplaying.

Thomas asks…

What if Gary the Golden Garden Gnome DIDN’T hand David the sling with a +5 enchantment against giants on it ?

We all know that the supposedly fight of David against Goliath was a set-up. What would’ve happened if Gary the Golden Garden Gnome didn’t give David his magical sling ?

GardenersCardiff answers:

+5 enchantment?

I thought it was +3 accuracy, +10 damage magical sling….

Your Questions About Gardening

GardenersCardiff — Sun, 29 Sep 2013 13:05:03 +0000

Nancy asks…

Will growing my own tobacco be less harmful for me?

I know that smoking is bad. So please do not preach to me. I want you to respect my decision as I respect yours.

So, if I grow my own tobacco, and dry it to make my own cigarettes, will it be safer for me? It will not contain any harmful chemicals except for nicotine. Could I still get cancer? Will it make it less likely that I will get caner? scientific research and studies would be great.

GardenersCardiff answers:

You will STILL get cancer, Bubba.
When nicotine mixes with your saliva & enters your bloodstream, it increases your chances of getting mouth, tongue, gum, throat, lung or pancreatic cancer.
It can also interrupt blood flow to your penis resulting in diminished sex drive & cause erectile dysfunction or impotence. – but – I forgot – you already KNEW that! Right?

George asks…

Is it illegal to grow tobacco in the Republic Of Ireland?

My friend smokes and she doesnt really have the money so i was wondering is it illegal for her to grow her own tobacco
What about a liscence, do you need one to grow it legally?

GardenersCardiff answers:

NO,it isn’t!
Don’t be ridiculous.

Helen asks…

Is hydrogen peroxide naturally found in tobacco or is it added?

I am curious to learn if hydrogen peroxide is found naturally in tobacco or if it is added by tobacco producing companies. Also what other oxides are found in tobacco and are they found naturally in it or are they added? Will growing ones own tobacco eliminate these oxides which are the main causes of cancer, emphysema and other illnesses caused by cigarettes? Please don’t advise me to quit as I am already in the process of doing so and am just curious. Thanks for all the help.

GardenersCardiff answers:

It isn’t found naturally, and it isn’t added by tobacco companies. Burning the tobacco creates OH free radicals by homolytically breaking C-O bonds in the sugars and sugar polymers (cellulose, for example) that give the leaves their structure. Two OH radicals can combine to form hydrogen peroxide, but the real damage is caused by the OH radicals themselves – the danger of peroxide is that the O-O bond is easily cleaved to form two OH radicals which can do a lot of oxidative damage.

Growing your own baccy won’t change a thing. If you’re a cigarette smoker you might want to start rolling your own, though. Tobacco companies do add nitrates and nitrites to tobacco and to cigarette paper so that the cigarette burns evenly (and of course burns away without going out if you set it down, so you’ll have to light another one.) These are also carcinogens, which you won’t find in rolling tobacco or in retail cigarette papers.

Your Questions About Gardening

GardenersCardiff — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 12:05:02 +0000

George asks…

Gardening according to the phases of the moon, has anyone any experience?

I saw something about it on tv the other day and have read a little about it before.

Does anyone have any experience, does it make a difference or is it coincidence?

From my own experience, I find most things are reluctant to grow after June, when the days start getting shorter. I’ve never tried gardening by moon phases, I tend to go by the phases of the sun rather than the moon, but thought of trying it out this year just for fun.

GardenersCardiff answers:

I tried it a few years back – but you really do have to be quite methodical about it!
My main problem with it was that it wanted me to sow/grow/harvest etc. At times I wasn’t ready to!
The idea is that you should expect bigger & better, pest free crops if whatever you grow.
My mum also did it a few years back, she is retired and was able to fit her schedule around the suggested times etc. More easily than I could and she reckoned she did see a difference – not sure if that was just wishful thinking though!

Lisa asks…

How to get savvy with gardening?

Every time I buy a houseplant or look something up that’s related to any kind of gardening I get completely lost in all the terminology, latin names, etc.

I’d like to get better at gardening and growing things without having to get my degree in horticulture. Are there any sources (websites/books) for beginners who don’t understand all the “big words” ?

GardenersCardiff answers:

What I did was to go to the local library, and grab a large stack of books on gardening. Ones with pictures are more inspiring. Out of a stack of 10 or so, there would be at least a couple that seemed to “speak” to me. Reading was not over my head, good visuals, and I actually learned things, or at least got ideas.

It’s a great way to spend a winter, when there’s not much going on outside.

Linda asks…

Gardening vegetarians and vegans: what sort of fertilizer do you use?

I’m new to gardening and I’m using liquid seaweed for my tomatoes.

People at the gardening centers have been telling me I won’t get awesome tomatoes without using blood meal/bone meal.

Have you used seaweed? What do you use?
I would really love to be composting, but I live in a one-room apartment that’s smaller than my childhood bedroom. I’m trying to garden on my huge, south-facing windowsill. We’ll see how it goes.

GardenersCardiff answers:

I’m Vegan. I grow cabbages, peas, carrots, corn, tomatoes and butternut squash and I use NO fertillizer what so ever.