[Tuppence2]

I've just ordered the following seeds from the "Real Seed" catalogue.
http://www.realseeds.co.uk/why.html

Early Annonany peas
Golden sweet mang-tout peas
Pattison blanc summer squash
Quintal de Alsace winter cabbage
Bleu de Solaise leeks


Penny

[telecom69]

Hi Ladies, and it is all ladies these days,seems Im the only male posting on a regular basis,thats the way it seems nowadays, around where I live anyway its always the Ladies that do the gardening there is not one single male I talk too that is a gardener,wonder why? anyway to get on,my mail order plants arrived and have been transferred to trays to grow on,I wasn't overly impressed by them to be honest but they will be ok I suppose when they get going,not too sure I like ordering living plants by mail,they are not exactly suitable for packing in small boxes,which they have to be to stop them moving around in the post ...we shall see in due course how they get on .....

I had a good look round that real seed site Penny and read all the details on it,they remind me a bit of Tom and Barbara from the Good Life,they make all their own power and everything and it sounds like its just the two of them plus one helper that run the firm,will be interesting to see how the seeds you bought, go for you, they really do sound self sufficient just like Tom and Barbara .....they do things the old way it seems, not for them any F1 hybrids and the like .....

My greenhouse is now full of trays,really full, can just about get in there and move around,and its now a matter of waiting as everything grows on to be ready for planting out from the middle of May onwards,Im still covering them all with bubblewrap every night just in case there are frosts that are not forecast,I did miss one night last week and guess what there was a frost but it wasnt hard enough to hurt them thank heavens.

The weather has taken a downturn this last few days,lots of rain and cloud around,but its still mild in the daylight hours,we needed the rain badly and its good to see it,although it has stopped any outside work temporarily, millions of tiny self sown seedlings now sprouting up in the front garden from last years bedding plants,but they will have to be dug in sadly as soon as the rain stops ....the Floribunda Rose are now beinning to show some growth at last(hooray) they were of course bare rooted,and to me, have taken their time ....and for you Margaret (who asked about them) I will take a pic when they are a bit bigger ....the Tea Roses in the front garden are going great guns,very pleased with them,but they were in pots of course .....

So for now we are just watching everything grow on and looking forward to mid May for panting out,just have the Bean Canes to set up and generally tidy up the bottom part of the back garden as and when the weather permits ...more soon...take care all and happy gardening for those who can,and for those who can't it wont be long now,and you will catch up, Im sure, as its still very early yet, 6 weeks yet before safety here in the UK .....

Have a Happy Easter everyone

[franca]

Originally Posted by telecom69

Hi Ladies, and it is all ladies these days,seems Im the only male posting on a regular basis,thats the way it seems nowadays, around where I live anyway its always the Ladies that do the gardening there is not one single male I talk too that is a gardener,wonder why? anyway to get on,my mail order plants arrived and have been transferred to trays to grow on,I wasn't overly impressed by them to be honest but they will be ok I suppose when they get going,not too sure I like ordering living plants by mail,they are not exactly suitable for packing in small boxes,which they have to be to stop them moving around in the post ...we shall see in due course how they get on .....

I had a good look round that real seed site Penny and read all the details on it,they remind me a bit of Tom and Barbara from the Good Life,they make all their own power and everything and it sounds like its just the two of them plus one helper that run the firm,will be interesting to see how the seeds you bought, go for you, they really do sound self sufficient just like Tom and Barbara .....they do things the old way it seems, not for them any F1 hybrids and the like .....

My greenhouse is now full of trays,really full, can just about get in there and move around,and its now a matter of waiting as everything grows on to be ready for planting out from the middle of May onwards,Im still covering them all with bubblewrap every night just in case there are frosts that are not forecast,I did miss one night last week and guess what there was a frost but it wasnt hard enough to hurt them thank heavens.

The weather has taken a downturn this last few days,lots of rain and cloud around,but its still mild in the daylight hours,we needed the rain badly and its good to see it,although it has stopped any outside work temporarily, millions of tiny self sown seedlings now sprouting up in the front garden from last years bedding plants,but they will have to be dug in sadly as soon as the rain stops ....the Floribunda Rose are now beinning to show some growth at last(hooray) they were of course bare rooted,and to me, have taken their time ....and for you Margaret (who asked about them) I will take a pic when they are a bit bigger ....the Tea Roses in the front garden are going great guns,very pleased with them,but they were in pots of course .....

So for now we are just watching everything grow on and looking forward to mid May for panting out,just have the Bean Canes to set up and generally tidy up the bottom part of the back garden as and when the weather permits ...more soon...take care all and happy gardening for those who can,and for those who can't it wont be long now,and you will catch up, Im sure, as its still very early yet, 6 weeks yet before safety here in the UK .....

Have a Happy Easter everyone

Good Morning ! talk about the early bird catching the worm.......what are U doing up so early ?....... we are so far behind this year because of the cold weather, we are about a month behind this year...... haven't started anything yet.... & a Happy Easter 2U also Bob.. I'm off now till Wed hope the weather cooperates........ 8-48pm here.......ttyl take care & don't forget to keep getting those hands dirty........

[ymfoster]

Originally Posted by Farmgirl22

Yay! I finally got something right! I was pretty sure, because when I was about 13 we moved into a house that the little old lady had a serious love for purple coneflowers--I think there were about 50 of them planted around the house, but we gave them all away shortly after we moved there because my little sister had an allergy to them.

There was just a hint of petals left on the ones you photographed--otherwise I wouldn't even have guessed, because they were still so 'fresh'.

Hi Farmgirl,

Yes the tiny bit of pink petal gave me the clue also, I think they are also called Echinacea aren't they ?


Hi Penny, Myrna, Margaret, Bob & Frank,

I hope those warmer days come soon & all your seedlings flourish, ..... I will also be looking forward to seeing your new roses Bob,


Have a very Happy Easter everyone,

[Tuppence2]

Thanks for the Easter greetings, everyone.

Nice to see you around, Frank. Hope your soil warms up and you can start gardening.

I hope the new plants are all right, Bob. Yes, the "Real Seed" people are very "Good-Life-like". Isn't it refreshing to find people willing to be like that. I found the site through "The Grapevine", which I've joined. It's a UK gardening site, so lots of information that pertains to our growing conditions.

http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/grapevine/vegging-out/

I post in the "What I did Today" thread.

Look forward to seeing your roses. Mine are all in leaf and burgeoning.

Hello Yvonne. Hope it's not too hot and dry there. We've had rain in the night for three nights running, so I'm pleased. It's damp out this morning.

My swiss chard and kohlrabi are settling in. The scabious seeds have taken a lot longer than the marigolds to germinate and it looks as though I've only got 3 plants from the packet of sunflowers I planted. I didn't use the best compost and must do that next time I want to germinate anything - to give them the best of starts.

Time for a cup of tea to start the day - the dogs have had breakfast and I've fed the wild birds. My turn now.

[Farmgirl22]

Originally Posted by ymfoster

Hi Farmgirl,

Yes the tiny bit of pink petal gave me the clue also, I think they are also called Echinacea aren't they?

Yes ma'am. It seems like they have some sort of natural healing properties as well, but I can't remember what it was....

[ymfoster]

Hi Penny,

It's been nice & cool & we've had some welcome rain here, forecast of low 20s F over Easter.




Hi Farmgirl,

Echinacea is supposed to help clear sinus congestion,

[oil painter]

Hi All:

I'd like to add my Easter greetings to everyone, too.

For anyone who wants to know--
Echinasia--is a native North American medicinal herb. American Indians used it for many ailments. It boosts your immune system and like Yvonne said it is good for sinuses but also colds and flu.

Our weather has warmed up a touch and the snow is finally going. We are supposed to have 3 sunny mild days for the weekend, so I'm hoping it will all go. Next week is when I usually open my greenhouse but I think I will be a week or so late this year.

I have my snapdragon seed in the freezer and I will plant them if I have time this weekend. I keep them in the house until they germinate.

My son, his wife and my dear twin grandsons are coming today so the last thing on my mind will be gardening. I can't wait to see them.
Have a great Easter weekend

[Tuppence2]

Hello Yvonne. Hello, everyone.

Echinasia is used here and can be bought in the "health food" shops. It's fairly expensive, though.

I have my first aquilegea flowers, the peony buds are about to open and there are foregetmenots everywhere.

Bought a sack of a good potting compost for future seeds.

A friend brought me some lettuce seedlings and I put them in the veggie garden, some under the polytunnel away from birds. Don't know whether the others will survive.

Rain again today.

[telecom69]

Originally Posted by franca

Good Morning ! talk about the early bird catching the worm.......what are U doing up so early ?....... we are so far behind this year because of the cold weather, we are about a month behind this year...... haven't started anything yet.... & a Happy Easter 2U also Bob.. I'm off now till Wed hope the weather cooperates........ 8-48pm here.......ttyl take care & don't forget to keep getting those hands dirty........

Hi everyone, I have odd sleeping hours Frank a legacy from when I worked odd shift work on the railways many years ago,can never manage to get much more than 4 or 5 hours at the most anytime, its called a biological clock ...although we have got off to an early start this year we did have to suffer an early winter,it started in November instead of the usual January,these things tend to even out though and Im sure you and others who have a late start will catch up a lot soon,as we now have a waiting time of 6 or 7 weeks before we can put most of the tender stuff outside safely,because during that time we can still get frosts at night,and have to have an eye on the forecasts all of the time,and you could lose everything gained if not careful....

Its been raining on and off for the last 3 days now,not that I mind,it was needed,not continuous rain, mostly showers,but it has been quite mild,and have managed to do everything outside by dodging the showers,even managed to cut the grass yesterday and erect the bean poles and various other odds and ends that needed doing ...so overall Im pleased with the pre season work,as to what the growing season will throw up,well none of us know that do we ?

The greenhouse is full of pots and trays of seedlings all growing very well indeed,its just a matter of keeping it all watered nd potted on if necessary etc,still not sure where Im going to be able to put the Dahlias this year,will leave them till last I think ....if everything goes as it should I will have a feast of flowers and thats what I aim for these days,because the flowers bring the bees, and without the bees, we would have nothing when you think about it .....

Hoping now that for all of you, that it has not yet happened, that it very soon does,so we can read about it .... everything does come to those who wait,even when that wait goes on longer than we would like sometimes,take care all,more soon

[Tuppence2]

Hello Bob, everyone.

Can't wait to get into proper planting - no more frosts. You sound very busy. I have a big tray of marigold seedlings. shall I just leave them in the tray and plant them direct into their growing places, not pot them on?

I watered the veggies under the cloches and gave the potato bed a watering. I planted a few lettuce yesterday that a friend gave me. It's damp out but brighter than yesterday when it was showery most of the day. I like the rain, too.

I'm an "early-bird", liking the early morning before other people are up and making it noisy. My dad's brothers all worked on the railway in Hull, Doncaster, etc., firemen, track-walkers, porters, etc. Not taken a train ride for a while. The last journey was when I went to London when I retired in 2007.

Hope you have a good Easter weekend in the garden, everybody.

[telecom69]

Hi Penny, Re the Marigolds, It all depends on how big they are now,if they are only just getting their true leaves then it will be ok to leave them in the trays till planted out ,,,but if they have a bit of growth in them at the moment,what will happen is that their roots will all become entangled together and they come out of the tray as a solid block so to speak and you have to tear them apart to plant out,this is ok as long as you are careful and makes sure each plant has an equal amount of roots ...so all in all its a matter of choice,depending on how many you have,you can leave them or pot them on,they will be bigger and better plants if potted on of course,but its all extra compost and work doing that ....for myself I leave them in the trays they are pricked out into and when they have a few true leaves move them all from the main greenhouse into the plastic portable greenhouse,to grow on,Ive always found this keeps the growth slower till they are planted out ....I couldnt possibly pot mine on I have 10 trays of them,24 in each tray ..... hope this helps ... much brighter this morning,lots of sunshine around but slight frosts forecast for tonight....the garden looks a lot better for having been rained upon

[Tuppence2]

Yes, thanks, Bob. They have only just germinated and don't have any growth. There are so many that, like you, I'll leave them in the tray as long as I can.

I've just planted a clematis against the front wall of the house. "The President". Details:-
Type large-flowered hybrid
How Hardy Fully hardy in the UK
Height after two years 3 metres (10 ft)
Flowers RHS Award of Garden Merit. Bred by Charles Noble in 1876, it is a hybrid between C. x jackmanii and C. patens. The deep purple flowers (do not easily fade in the sun) are 15cm (6in) with silver on the reverse and reddish-purple stamens. Attractive wispy seed heads after the flowers fade.
Leaves Mid-green
Ideal Position Full sun or semi-shade - will tolerate a Northerly wall
Pruning Type Type 2

I dug a hole down to the heavy clay, put in grit then used a mixture of compost, manure, grit and grit-sand to bed in the clematis. I don't always have a lot of luck with clematis but this one will grow in most types of soil.

Did some weeding, too, mostly herb bennet and herb Robert.

[oil painter]

Bob and Penny:

When you have plants like Bob said where the roots become entangled, and don't we always run into that sometime, this is what I do. I set the flat that they are growing in into a pan of water and let it get sopping wet right through. Some of the soil may come off when you try to separate them but the roots don't seem to cling to each other like they do when they are dry. If I have any left that I want to keep for planting later I add new dry soil under and around the block of plants and that absorbs the excess moisture.

You may have your own way of doing things and if you have just ignore this. I just thought I'd pass along my way.

Penny--If your Clematis is a cross of Jackmanii, it should do well in your climate. Jackmanii is one that often grown here and I think it is the hardiest of all the Clematis. Beautiful big deep purple flowers.

[Tuppence2]

Yes, Myrna, the clematis is a Jackmanii cross. I'm looking forward to deep purple/blue flowers in the summer. I wanted one that flowered later in the year. There is a very good choice of varieties at the garden centre. Lots I'd like but don't think they'd like my garden.

Thanks very much for the tip about soaking the seeds to get them out of the trays. That will be a very handy thing to do.

I started early in the morning working on the garden, just come in now at 5 p.m., with a break for lunch, of course. Added sand and grit to my herb bed, weeded and hoed, cut back some more of the spirea that's very overgrown. I've been working on this for weeks. It's on the side of the path to the vegetable garden. Watered the vegetables that needed it and noticed the first potato shoots of the year. When I dug one up by mistake the other day it had a good system of roots forming. Moved a rooted piece of lemon balm from the flower garden into the herb garden.

Here's a photo of the bin full of cuttings of the spirea. Lots more to go.



I'm looking forward to Monday, when I'm visiting a local poultry fayre. I plant to keep a couple of bantams later in the year and want to look at housing, etc.