A Members' Posts

Free: Hormone rooting powder for plants (Hatfield AL10) It's an artificial version of a natural plants hormone they make themselves. You dip the root-end of cut stems in when taking cuttings and it's supposed to make them root much faster/more easily. I use it sometimes, but I have another pot - this one was acquired from my Gran's house. For rooting plants in compost or soil not water - because the powder would just wash off the stem. It's quite old, but I assume it lasts indefinitely.

11h

Free: Foxglove plants (Hatfield AL10) Digitalis purpurea. I love foxgloves, but I've planted as many as I can find space for and some have seeded themselves in unwanted places and will need to go. I also have some less strong foxgloves in pots - ask for details if you're more interested in those. I believe I also have a huge packet of home-collected see too if you'd like to try that way. Established strong rosettes that should push up a strong flower stem this summer, flower and then set masses of seed. The pictures in flower are from previous year. The picture showing only leaves is now. Very good for wildlife - you will always find bumble bees disappearing up the trumpets. Strong upright stems need no support and can reach 8ft in ideal conditions. Not fussy about soil type (they're fine on my heavy clay) and cope with a bit of shade or sun. Once established they are fine in dry soil and will not need watering.

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6d

Free: Small houseplant tools (Hatfield AL10) Gifted Probably meant for doing fiddly houseplant thing like tidying inside a terrarium or top dressing pots with grit - salvaged from my Gran's house. You could probably also use them for potting on seedlings. Mostly stainless steel, but one double ended one has a bamboo handle. The "trowel" end has come out because the bamboo is slightly cracked. I believe it could easily be fixed by putting PVA wood glue on the shaft and clamping tightly until it's dry. I will do that for you if it's a deal breaker. All washed in warm soapy water for your convenience. I assume I would give all four to one person, but will consider splitting between two if there is enough demand.

6d

Free: Gardener's plastic trug (Hatfield AL10) Gifted Convenient for picking fruit/veg/cut flowers or carrying around tools. Plastic, so easy to keep clean if it gets wet/muddy. I washed it in warm soapy water for your convenience. Quite old and has a slight crack, but it doesn't really make any difference to how you'd use it.

6d

Free: Verbascum/mullein plants (Hatfield AL10) Great mullein aka verbascum thapsus is a large native biennial producing strong, long lasting impressive spikes of yellow flowers in the summer, beloved of insects as you can see. It also has velvety soft downy leaves. Self seeds, but not a problem. The flower spike is very strong and doesn't need staking. Wants full sun and sharp draining stony ground, but I have wet sticky clay and it does fine. These photos in flower are from previous years - what you would get is healthy young plants growing as rosettes - as in the last photo, which is from today. They should make a flower spike this summer. I have at least 4 youngish plants to be given away and I will count if there is demand. I believe they transplant well at this time of year. Ideally they will be dug from the ground on the day you collect - by arrangement - they're not in pots.

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7d

Free: Verbena bonariensis (Hatfield AL10) (Pictures are from previous summers - these are cut back to their base and not in flower in January. They will flower this summer.) Lots of established verbena bonariensis plants available. Will be dug straight from the ground by arrangement on the day of collection - bare root or with as much soil as will stick, not potted up so you will have to plant within a few days. We will need to arrange a dry-ish day when I have time. Good in containers and quick to grow, these plants will establish quickly and will flower for you this summer. Leave the flower heads next autumn and they will seed for you too if you're lucky. Verbena bonariensis is a beautiful hardy perennial with purple flowers on tall wiry stems over a long flowering season. Comes back from the base stronger every year and will self seed around if it's happy. Flowers beloved of bees and butterflies. Watch goldfinches try to balance on the seed heads next winter. It wants sharp drainage and full sun to be truly happy, but I have sticky clay and a fair amount of shade and it does fine.

14d

Free: Used washing up drainer (Hatfield AL10) Works fine and undamanged, but would need a clean as you can see in the photo - I put it off for years and eventually bought a new one. Will have to landfill this unless someone claims it.

14d

Free: Small plant sprayer/mister (Hatfield AL10) Gifted For spraying water on plants to keep humidity up. I can't stop you putting nasty chemicals in it if you must. Hand operated. I cleaned it inside and out with warm soapy water so there is no residue of whatever was in it before (I assume nothing nasty, but it was my Gran's so I don't really know). Visually it didn't come quite as clean as I hoped.

18d

Free: Bird nestboxes (Hatfield AL10) Gifted Three old nest boxes ready for you to put up before National Nestbox week on February 14th (). Have sat in my garage for a while, so hoping someone here would have more likelihood of putting them up than me. Dusty and some could do with a bit of TLC, but serviceable. The top right one was occupied by bluetits and/or greattits in the past (probably both, but I can't remember which). It could do with better waterproofing/fixing on the lid, but I think it's the best of the three. I would say that because I made it. The string/rope one is probably meant for wrens who like to be hidden away in shrubby undergrowth. The internet will tell you about how to site a nest box.

18d

Free: Very old Marmite and Bovril (Hatfield AL10) Anybody want these jars of vile brown paste before I dispose of them as a biohazard? They are *very* old: years past their best before date, but it is "best before" not "use by" so should not be a food safety issue. You decide. I also can't imagine any sensible microbes choosing to grow in such vile filth :)

20d

Free: Round metal biscuit tins (Hatfield AL10) Gifted Clean round metal biscuit tins. The two taller ones and the silver one are relatively new and I say are food safe. The white one has been in a garage for years holding plant labels, so better for that kind of thing rather than food. It's not commercially branded, but rather it has pictures of Leicester Square. It's much older. The silver one was for posh hot cholocate not biscuits, but I won't complain whatever you put in them. All are clean and dry - washed in warm soapy water.

20d

Free: Kenwood food chopper (Hatfield AL10) Gifted Kenwood Gourmet food cutter/chopper FC100. Electric with various drums to shred/cut/slice food - fruit and veg - in various ways. Old but unused: as new. I washed all the bits and assembled to check it's working. Blades sharp and clean. In original box with all original parts and manual. Sat in my Gran's house for years but it seems she never used it. (electric tin opener also still available at time of posting)

28d

Free: Electric tin opener (Russel Hobbs) (Hatfield AL10) Withdrawn Working Russel Hobbs electric tin opener. Intended for people with dexterity issues I think. From my Gran's house. You clip the can to the cog/blade and then press down on the lever on the top (very easy). There's a small magnet intended to catch the top when it comes off. I checked the motor works and I cleaned it up nicely.

34d

Free: Raspberry canes (Hatfield AL10) Gifted Rooted summer-fruiting raspberry canes. These were pulled today (Sunday) with roots attached because they were running into other fruit bushes nearby. You can see from the photo they have nice healthy fibrous roots. I'm storing them in a bucket of damp spent compost until collection. Thornless variety "Glen ample", which does well for me. I cut them back a little to help them survive being moved, but I left as many buds as I dare, which qualifies them as "long cane" plants - with any luck you will get fruit in the first year. Raspberries like moist fertile soil and at least some sun, but they can take a little bit of shade. There's a fair number of canes, so - within reason - I will share between several people if there is demand.

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132d

Free: Basil plants (Hatfield AL10) Expired My last batch this year, these are the most common sweet basil, probably the best to try keeping alive as the year slips away. Basil doesn't like it as it gets cold and dark, you should bring these inside now we have chilly nights. Give them your brightest windowsill or conservatory.

132d

Free: Forget-me-nots (Hatfield AL10) Expired Forget-me-nots: young plants dug straight from the ground. Not in flower now. Will overwinter and flower in April-May-June. I have to clear this bed to plant other things over winter. If not given away, I would need to compost the forget-me-not plants that are currently there. It is the perfect time of year to move plants because there is still warmth in the soil, but the autumn rains have begun. They should not notice being moved if you water them in well. There are small foxglove seedlings mixed in there too, and you can plant them together or weed them out. Foxgloves also transplant well now, and should flower next summer, but I find them less reliable, especially since these ones are on the small side. Forget-me-not are beautiful clear blue-flowered, easy going biennials, beloved of pollinating insects. Once you have them you should let them seed at least once, and then you will have them forever: they will seed around freely. They are not a problematic weed because they are very easy to pull up and have distinctive soft hairy leaved seedlings. I weed them out during the summer and start moving them to where I want them in autumn or spring. Very tolerant, of garden soil and aspect.

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135d

Free: Young basil plants (Hatfield AL10) Expired My last batch this year, these are the most common sweet basil, probably the best to try keeping alive as the year slips away. Basil doesn't like it as it gets cold and dark, you should bring these inside soon, if not now, and give them maximum light. Collection by arrangement to give me a chance to pot them up individually. You will get individual small pots, not the whole set of plants in the photo.

147d

Free: Foxgloves (Hatfield AL10) Expired Been working on my foxglove soil seedbank for years and maybe I finally have enough to give away this year. Get your orders in now. If there is interest I will pot up some young plants (see last picture) or possibly by arrangement, you can have a clump straight from the ground. These are the native biennial: young plants this year will establish over autumn/winter and should flower next sping, produce masses of seed and then, usually, die. Digitalis purpurea. Very good for wildlife - you will always find bumble bees disappearing up the trumpets. Strong upright stems need no support and can reach 8ft in ideal conditions. Not fussy about soil type (they're fine on my heavy clay) and cope with a bit of shade or sun. Once established they are fine in dry soil and will not need watering.

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152d

Free: Apples (Hatfield AL10) Expired Windfall dessert/eating apples. Seems like a great year for tree fruit and everybody has excess. These are windfalls, so they may be a bit bruised/pecked and may have grubs inside. But they are delicious and perfectly good to eat within a week or so. I am eating and giving them away as much as I can, but so many are left to rot. Windfall cooking apples may also be available - ask.

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152d

Free: Young lettuce plants (Hatfield AL10) Gifted Variety "All the Year Round". Just potted up some excess seedlings into individual pots to give away. Probably I will split amongst people if there is demand. Quoting Kings Seeds: Lettuce "All The Year Round" is a superb variety for spring, summer and autumn sowing in succession. Its a traditional favourite butterhead. They produce medium sized vegetables with a good flavour and nice crisp texture. Lettuce is one of the staple ingredients in a crispy, fresh summer salad. So what could be better than growing your very own lettuce to add to your tasty salads.

154d

Free: Kalanchoe: succulent house plant (Hatfield AL10) Expired This is a white flowered variety of Kalanchoe. May be a named variety, but I assume something like this in flower: / It's an easy going succulent that likes hot sun and copes very well with neglect: as with all succulents its thick fleshy leaves and stem store water in case of hard times. You could put it outside for a summer holiday in your garden and it will love this hot summer we seem to be having, but you'd need to take it in for the winter or it would be killed by the cold weather. Most people keep them inside all year round. These are propagated from cuttings from a plant I grew from a tiny cutting given to me last year by another kind freecycler. So these are 3rd generation descendents.

160d

Free: White & green small-leaved ivy (Hatfield AL10) Expired This is a small-leaved variegated white & green variety of ivy. Presumably a named variety, but the original plant was given to me some years ago and I've used it as part of winter pot displays. Dug up the clump a few days ago and found it split into several separate plants already rooted (ivy is very easy to propagate). Not my most appealing photo I suppose, but this variety is more interesting than the wild green one - being a bit white it will shine out in shady places which is where it would normally be grown. Also not as vigorous as the wild version, so it won't take over your house and shouldn't be too invasive in flower beds. Probably grow it up a shady fence, or trailing down the edge of a pot display (which is how I've been using it). Extremely tough and very tolerant of drought, ivy is virtually impossible to kill (accidentally*) once it's rooted in the ground - won't need watering in the hottest of summers. *doesn't have deep roots, so not actually that hard to dig out in my experience if you do want to get rid or keep it under control.

170d

Free: Summer savoury (herb plants) (Hatfield AL10) Gifted Some young summer savoury plants. I sowed seed in spring and as ever, I ended up with far too many plants. It's one of my favourite herbs - a good substitute for thyme, but (for me) much easier to grow and maybe even better flavour. Incredibly savoury and goes very well with other savoury things like meat and fish - I suppose the clue's in the name. Ideally wants the same sort of hot well drained conditions that woody Mediterannean herbs like thyme want, but for me survives much better when it doesn't get it (i.e. in miserable cold wet winters in my sticky clay). There is "summer savoury" and "winter savoury", and this is summer savoury which supposedly does not survive the winter, but I am confused because mine has lasted for years. You have been warned. At any rate, it these will definitely be fine for the rest of the year. Plant or keep in pots. As a bonus, it has masses of small pretty white flowers right now, which are very good for bees and other pollinators.

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170d

Free: Tomatoes: Sungold, Black Beauty, + (Hatfield AL10) Gifted Several varieties of strongly growing plants taken from side shoots rooted in water: - Sungold - Black Beauty - Amir Tiger - (maybe) Gardener's Delight Variety "Sungold" is my absolute favourite - produces orange/yellow cherry tomato fruits freely and is really really sweet. Always very reliable for me outside (no greenhouse or polytunnel) and never fails to give me a good crop. Black Beauty is a larger "heritage" tomato which the internet says goes really black. (Some "black" varieties are really just a muddy purplish brown, but I have high hopes for this one - never grown it before.) You can see it starting to colour up in the photo, but mine are not ripe yet, so it should go a better colour than that. Amir Tiger is a stripy variety. No photo. Gardener's Delight is a very well known typical red-fruited cherry tomatoe with a pretty good flavour and easy to grow. These are from side shoots from established plants, which I rooted in water about a month ago and potted up once the made roots - and since they've established in their pots. More plants available than those in the photo, so don't be shy, but not necessarily enough of each variety to satisfy everybody, so if you have a particular interest tell me and I'll try to satisfy everybody. It's said that cuttings fruit much quicker than plants from seeds - about the same time as their parent plant - so these should be absolutely fine [it is too late to start from seed, so don't bother]. Some of them already have flowers. They should grow away fast if you keep them in a sunny place, water and pot them into bigger pots as they grow. Tomatoes are not really troubled by any pests (slugs, squirrels, birds, aphids). They love a nice hot summer like we seem to have this year.

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210d

Free: Tradescantia/purpleheart houseplant (Hatfield AL10) Gifted One for the inside gardeners. Tradescantia has other names including "purple hearts" (probably because of the pretty purple back to the leaves) and "wandering dude" because it grows on long trailing stems. They are perennial houseplants, very easy to grow and root very easily from cuttings. They have interesting variegated leaves, almost sparkly in the sun and contrasting purple backs. I think they cope quite well with relatively low light and for me they don't get any pests. Theses individual plants are from stems rooted in compost earlier this spring. People grow them as houseplants. You could probably put them outside in the summer, but they would definitely not survive the winter, so you would take them back inside in autumn. Or just keep them inside all year round. I also have a few copies of a cute tiny-leaved version, which if anything is even easier to propagate. Similar pretty backs to the leaves. (Not as many to spare and no photo, sorry.) I may limit to one (each) per person if there is demand, but honestly you don't need more than one - if you want more, just chop off a bit and put it in a jar of water.

214d

Free: Used washing up drainer (Hatfield AL10) Expired Works fine and undamanged, but would need a clean as you can see in the photo - I put it off for years and eventually bought a new one. Will have to landfill this unless someone claims it.

218d

Free: Young basil plants (ordinary basil) (Hatfield AL10) Gifted More spare basil plants after potting up some young plants - they are now growing faster than I can eat them - by now much bigger than in the picture. This is ordinary "sweet" basil like you get in supermarkets. But don't believe basil has to be tortured like supermarkets do - cramming millions of plants into one tiny pot. A single one will make a large bushy plant (easily 1ft x 1ft) if you keep potting it into a bigger pot as it grows. You can also root the shoots in water to make more plants yourself. Basil likes strong sunlight and warmth, so probably keep inside in a bright kitchen window or conservatory. They're very happy outside in pots in summer, but in my experience get immediately eaten by slugs if I plant them in the ground, so probably don't do that! These are only just potted up in fresh compost in individual pots, so you can just water them (and eat them) for a while. In some weeks they will outgrow their small pots and then you should pot them on. You can keep them going all summer, but they are tender annual so don't expect them to live forever. I will divide my spare plants to satisfy demand.

221d

Free: Verbena bonariensis (Hatfield AL10) Gifted More of these ever-popular young plants, mostly potted as little clumps of 2 or 3 in smallish pots. Highly recommended, these been my most popular giveaway on here in the past. Good in containers and quick to grow, these plants will establish quickly and flower for you this summer. Leave the flower heads next autumn and they will seed for you too if you're lucky. Verbena bonariensis is a beautiful hardy perennial with purple flowers on tall wiry stems over a long flowering season. Comes back from the base stronger every year and will self seed around if it's happy. Flowers beloved of bees and butterflies. Watch goldfinches try to balance on the seed heads next winter. It wants sharp drainage and full sun to be truly happy, but I have sticky clay and a fair amount of shade and it does fine.

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221d

Free: Tomato plants "Sungold" (Hatfield AL10) Expired Variety "Sungold" - my absolute favourite - produces orange/yellow cherry tomato fruits freely and is really really sweet. Always very reliable for me outside (no greenhouse or polytunnel) and never fails to give me a good crop. These are from side shoots from established plants, which I rooted in water about a month ago and potted up once the made roots - and since they've established in their pots. (More plants available than those in the photo, so don't be shy.) There will be a few of other varieties later, but those aren't ready to go yet. It's said that cuttings fruit much quicker than plants from seeds - about the same time as their parent plant - so these should be absolutely fine [it is too late to start from seed, so don't bother]. Some of them already have flowers. They should grow away fast if you keep them in a sunny place, water and pot them into bigger pots as they grow. Tomatoes are not really troubled by any pests (slugs, squirrels, birds, aphids). They love a nice hot summer like we seem to have this year, but Sungold will not let you down even if we have rain from now on.

223d

Free: Mint - healthy young plants (Hatfield AL10) Expired Very easy to grow and good for teas/cooking or just to smell the leaves as you brush past. Mint does go flowers - and is good for bees then. If you prefer to keep it for yourself, or whenever it goes a bit ratty, cut it right back for a new flush of fresh bright green leaves. These are established plants split from some bits of root I accidentally dug up in the early spring and potted on after they re-rooted. Unfussy but prefers damp soil - it will delight in nasty sticky clay. Mint can be invasive in the ground, so take care if you plant it out with other plants. Very happy in pots as long as you can keep it damp and maybe feed or repot from time to time.

223d