Win Wild Strawberry Plants : Submit a recipe, vote and be a winner
The wild strawberry is usually found on hill sides,, in woodlands, and on exposed land throughout most of the British Isles and can fruit quite profusely. Usually the wild strawberry ripens in August, but it is dependent on how much sunlight the plants get, they have been known to ripen from June onwards.Use it like you would a domestic strawberry, bearing in mind that the flavour is much more intense and sweeter in the true wild strawberry.It is hardy and doesn’t mind the frost, It flower’s from April to July, and the seeds ripen from May to September. The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by bees, flies, Lepidoptera (Moths & Butterflies). The plant prefers light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and requires the soil to be well drained The plant prefers acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade but the soil must be kept moist.Cultivation details Prefers a fertile, well-drained, moisture retentive soil in a sunny position.Tolerates semi-shade though fruit production will be reduced. Succeeds on acid and alkaline soils. Likes a mulch of pine or spruce leaves. Does well on woodland edges.Plants spread rapidly by means of runners Propagation Seed - sow early spring in a greenhouse. The seed can take 4 weeks or more to germinate. The seedlings are very small and slow-growing at first, but then grow rapidly. Prick them out into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and plant them out during the summer. Division of runners, preferably done in July/August in order to allow the plants to become established for the following years crop. They can also be moved in the following spring if required, though should not then be allowed to fruit in their first year. The runners can be planted out direct into their permanent positions.
To enter the competition All you have to do is submit a recipe, at the end of the competition the recipe with the highest votes will be thewinner, you can vote for yourself and you can get your friends and family to vote for your recipe.
CLOSING DATE : JUNE 20th 2009
What you win. The winner will receive a potted wild strawberry plant that will duplicate itself very quickly once established in your garden
Win this attractive FSC certified Ladybird Tower, plus 30 live ladybird larvae to release into your garden to help keep it free from pests, plus a pack of ladybird/larvae food, to encourage them to stay.
Eco Lynx with Topeco Ltd, are offering this free to enter competition. Three lucky winners will receive a natural pest control garden pack.
A children's favourite and once voted Britain's favourite insect, the inoffensive little ladybird is being threatened with extinction. The winners of this competiton will not only add charm to their garden, help keep the garden free from nasty pests with out the use of harmful chemicals, they will also most importantly be helping re- populate our native ladybirds with healthy adults.
|
 | Win this attractive Fsc certified Ladybird Tower, this not only adds charm and is an attractive addition to any garden, it has the real benefit that our native ladybirds will seek shelter and hibernate in it over winter. as well as the Ladybird Tower, you will receive 30 live ladybird lavae Adalia Bipunctata, a native to the UK, these little creatures will help to rid your garden of any unwanted pests, like greenfly or black fly, you also receive food for the larvae to help keep them in your garden. Place the tower in a sheltered sunny position, and release the 30 Ladybird lavae either onto any pest infected plants, starting at the base and watch them climb up the plant, or if you have recently used chemical pesticides, release the 30 Ladybird larvae onto the tower and use the food provided. This is excellent for the green organic gardener, or as a home educational project with your children, watch the larvae transform into little ladybirds in 25 -30 days. |
| Guide to larvae per plant | Quantity to be introduced | | Rose bushes | 3 to 5 larvae / stem | | Ornemental shrub (honeysuckle, climbing rose bush,…) | 1 to 2 larvae/ hotspot | | Currant, raspberries,... | 3 to 5 larvae / stem or 10 larvae / hotspot | | Fruit trees | 10 to 20 larvae / tree or 1 to 2 larvae / aphid colony | | Vegetable garden (lettuce,strawberry,…) | 2 to 5 larvae per plant |
| 
30 Live Lady Bird Larvae Adalia bipunctata |
| Ladybird Larvae - The larvae look nothing like their parents, but they have the same appetite for soft bodied garden pests such as greenfly and blackfly. Each larvae will eat large numbers of pests before pupating and emerging as a ladybird. Release ladybird larvae anytime between May and August |  |
Impostor is threatening the survival of our much-loved ladybird. A vicious impostor is threatening the survival of our much-loved ladybird. A foreign species of the popular beetle is threatening to drive three British varieties to extinction, conservationists say. The harlequin, which first arrived in Essex four years ago from Europe, is larger than British types and threatens them by eating its young lavae and food. The three ladybirds most under threat is the seven spot and the two spot,along with the already rare five spot. The invasion of the harlequin ladybird (Harmonia axyridis) threatens our native populations. If you want to know more about this species in particular, or want to record sightings, please have a look at the Harlequin Ladybird Survey website. |  |
| |
Enter Competition If you would like to help re-populate our native ladybird species, add charm to your garden and help keep your garden free from pests without the use of chemicals, then see the T & C and enter our free competition, just fill out the form below and send it to us, all entries must be received by 30th July, 2009. (12 pm), the first 3 picked at random will be the winners and will be notified by email shortly afterwards. Enter Competition See Terms and conditions | 
The ladybird breeding kit is an interactive and educational activity. It's ideal for teaching children about the caring of and the life cycle of this native beneficial insect. At the end of the cycle the ladybirds are released into your garden and become a natural pest control. More Details |
Add this code to your site and let your website visitors enter the competition from your site.