Unique eBay trick from gardening expert to get rid of slugs

NEWS! Elliot Webb, from Urban Farm ITwrote Growing Mushrooms at Home.

Walk into any garden center or garden fair and you will see all sorts of different varieties that you can grow at home.

Unusually they often come with a small log to grow them on – which looks pretty cool too. But you can also grow them in buckets and bags and outdoor beds.

Not only are they great for breaking down dead organic matter for your compost pile, they are also very nutritious – full of vitamins and minerals, so great for a vegetarian diet. Mushroom compost makes a great soil conditioner or mulch.

And according to Elliot’s new book, Reishi mushrooms are said to boost the immune system, Maitake mushrooms are said to regulate blood sugar levels, the trendy Lions Mane mushrooms are said to improve brain power, memory and concentration, Shiitake mushrooms are said to promote heart health, Cordyceps is said to increase energy levels and Turkey Tail is packed with antioxidants.

If you are new to growing mushrooms, home grow kits are probably the easiest.

You can also purchase mushroom spawn to grow in beds or containers filled with compost or manure.

It is best to grow them under cover, such as in a shed, a grow box or even a cellar if you have one.

The optimal growing temperature is around 15oC, so it is important to have some control over this if possible.

Growing Mushrooms At Home is available now for £18.99 and is published by Octopus Books.

NEWS! Did you know there is an orchard in Kent where you can rent your own cherry tree? For just £55 a year you can enjoy everything from the incredible blossom to the beautiful abundance.

During the year you will receive six newsletters by email or post, keeping you informed about what is happening in the orchard and what this year’s cherry harvest looks like. Then there is the opportunity to take a blossom walk and a 7-10 day period in July to go picking. For more information, visit www.rentacherrytree.nl.

NEWS! The RHS is launching a new book in September, Grow Your Own Veg Through The Year, which explores the best vegetables and herbs you can grow today, with practical advice on how to produce a healthy harvest from any plot.

TO RESCUE! Bring a touch of blue to your garden with this beautiful 20cm pot from Woodlodge.co.uk for £14.99, or buy almost the same from B&Q for £6.30.

TO WIN! Primeur pots are offering one lucky reader a £200 voucher to spend on Tierra Verde Planters of their choice. Their pots are made from recycled rubber so are far less likely to crack – and there’s a whole range to choose from!\

To enter and for more information, visit www.thesun.co.uk/PRIMEUR or complete the form. THIS form.

Or write to Sun Primeur Competition, PO Box 3190, Colchester, Essex, CO2 8GP. Please include your name, age, email address or telephone number. Only for UK residents aged 18 and over. Ends 23:59 GMT 10.08.24 Terms and conditions apply.

THIS WEEK’S TASK! Keep deadheading! Harvest garlic when the head starts to yellow and bend over, and train cucumbers upward. Keep picking zucchini to get more.

TOP TIP! If you want to keep your hydrangea blue, give rainwater instead of tap water. And try to water at least twice a week in July, they are thirsty plants.