[Tuppence2]

Some photos of the garden.

[Tuppence2]

And another view. The old fridge by the gate is due to go to the Recycling Centre.

[telecom69]

Hi Folks, well April has arrived,so now we can get down to serious gardening at last,the weather is being reasonably kind and Im very pleased with what I have done so far,have several trays of bedders in the greenhouse going quite well,but keeping an eye on the forecasts in case any frosts are forecast...dark leaved Begonias,Pelargoniums,mixed trailing Lobellia (for the baskets) are all progressing well,and also varoius Fuchsias in 3 inch pots, and I have a dozen Tomatoes pricked out into 3 inch pots also,I like to have them in the grobags in the greenhouse by mid April if possible so as to get the best from them ....in the next week Im hoping to get most of my bedding plant seeds sown,and will keep them indoors until germinated,then outside they will go so they grow strong and hard....off up the garden centre today (Sunday) to get some Surfinias and other plants for the baskets.

Penny you certainly look as if you had a busy day on your birthday dont know how you fitted it all in,loved the photos of the garden you posted,it looks more like a garden centre than a garden,you have so much stuff,certainly enough to keep you busy this season....I note you planted your seed potatoes,dont forget to keep watch when they show and keep them earthed up till all the frosts have gone ...Im still dithering about when to plant the Dahlia tubers in the garden,its been so long since I grew them, I suppose in about another fortnight might be about right ....Ive posted a pic of my Forsythia taken yesterday,and its just about at its best now,I seem to remember you saying yours were finished by now? just shows how much in advance of us you are down South ...more later happy gardening people ...take care ...Bob



Click for bigger picture if you are interested,if not just ignore ....

[Steppinstone]

Your garden Looks great Penney! I have to pick up some new tomato seeds today. I guess I used them all up last year, plus I would like to try a different variety. Last year I did my regular cherry tomatoes and a pear shaped yellow variety. Wee one's preschool teacher was the only person that tried them and like them so I will start her a few of those plants.

Take care!

Chari

[Tuppence2]

Hello Bob and Chari.

You sound well in amongst it all, Bob. I pricked out my tiny tomatoes and lettuce at Palmer Gardens today, into trays of 12 for the lettuce, and single pots for the tomatoes. Thanks for the advice about earthing the potatoes. I was reading the other day, where someone doesn't bother with earthing any more, but I might need to if the weather gets cold again.

The comfrey is just beginning to grow. I always like to see it's lime-green little leaves. Your forsythia is lovely. My new little bush has flowers and other people's have, too, but my big one that was really cut back hard last year to make way for the vegetable plot is over.

I've taken photos of some local magnolia, particularly a lovely white one, and will post them at another time.

Next door's spaniel got through a damaged fence panel and onto my onions - the poor things, they're having a hard time of it. The fence panel fell onto them in the strong winds a few weeks back, now little paws walking all over them!

Is it too early to plant beetroot seeds in a "Gro-Bag"?

The yellow toms sound good, Chari. I've seen yellow ones here, but not pear-shaped.

I put in more sweet-peas the other day, seeds and little plants. The seedlings I started to grub-out, thinking they were weeds (I ought to have paid more attention), turn out to be verbascum. I'm really pleased. I rescued a wild plant last year, from which vandals had broken the beautiful yellow flower spike, had it in the garden and it's seeded.

I chose a pot for the camellia and now wait for it to be delivered, along with suitable compost. It may have to be at the back of the house because the front faces East, which camellias don't like, apparently.

"Roko Kolla", the big white clematis in a tub, is doing well, long shoots on that: and clematis "Cezanne" and "Madame Julia Correvon" are growing. I've wallflowers beginning to bloom.

I've had a very busy Sunday and need a rest, so I'm putting my feet up and watching the recording of the swimming on Eurosport.

Good gardening, everyone.

[telecom69]

Hi Penny, A chance of frost was forecast for Sunday night so I covered everything up in the greenhouse just in case ...everything would have probably been OK but why take a chance? to save a bit of typing click on this for beetroot advice http://www.gardeningpatch.com/vegeta...-beetroot.aspx I only mentioned about the earthing up of the potatoes so the shoots dont get cut back by any frosts we mght get ...I was wondering if what you read was referring to earthing up in general ? and preventing the potatoes from getting any light if near the surface,and going green,when they become poisonous of course,I have read too where they have used black polythene to stop that happening instead of earthing up ...
I had a bit of a surprise when I went to the garden centre yesterday and found there were hardly any plants to be seen apart from plenty of Sweet Peas and Pansy variations,Im just hoping that they have let it empty to fill it up for Easter next weekend,as it will be packed solid up there next weekend,it always is ....I did however buy all my compost that I shall need and also some pots of seedlings of Impatiens of various sorts,not the plugs just the seedlings,that were going quite cheap,and also some beautiful Violas that had a beautiful scent,as soon as you walked into the hall you could smell them,and I couldnt resist ...so for this week I shall be busy pricking out the seedlings and sowing seeds of various bedding plants,and trying to make room for everything to fit in the greenhouse in the next few weeks,its always a problem at this time of the year,but I always manage somehow ...more soon ...take care ..Bob

These are the Violas I couldnt resist ...

[franca]

[quote=telecom69]Hi Folks,
Im still dithering about when to plant the Dahlia tubers in the garden,its been so long since I grew them, I suppose in about another fortnight might be about right

This will help you..

We planted ours in pots last week......

[telecom69]

[quote=franca]

Originally Posted by telecom69

Hi Folks,
Im still dithering about when to plant the Dahlia tubers in the garden,its been so long since I grew them, I suppose in about another fortnight might be about right

This will help you..

We planted ours in pots last week......

Thanks for the great link Frank,lots of info on that site ...was wondering about the dimensions of the pots you are planting the Dahlias in,because as I remember some of them are quite large plants,and it would need pretty large pots to hold them,plus of course they have to be staked ...how do they do in the pots if you get any strong winds ? ..

[franca]

[quote=telecom69]

Originally Posted by franca

Thanks for the great link Frank,lots of info on that site ...was wondering about the dimensions of the pots you are planting the Dahlias in,because as I remember some of them are quite large plants,and it would need pretty large pots to hold them,plus of course they have to be staked ...how do they do in the pots if you get any strong winds ? ..

Your very welcome.......never had any problem with wind damage as they are in pots we can move them to a sheltered area......also good in pots for moving around the garden for different effects......

[franca]

OMG !!!!!!!!!!!! I just looked out the window....It's SNOWING........

No gardening today..........

[Tuppence2]

Enjoyed seeing you dahlia pots, Frank. Sorry to hear about the snow, but thanks for the photos.

Oh, dear, Bob. Your garden centre doesn't sound very well stocked. Palmer Gardens has masses of plants. I just love violas. The photo is very pretty. Thanks for the beetroot link. I'll take a look now.
I used my bus pass for the first time today and went into Bath this morning. There's a very nice herbal shop that also sells herb plants.
The first leaves of the comfrey in the back garden appeared a few days ago. Must get the grass cut while we have such pleasant, sunny weather.

[Steppinstone]

[quote][The yellow toms sound good, Chari. I've seen yellow ones here, but not pear-shaped. /QUOTE]

They are slightly larger than a large cherry tomato, shaped like a pear. I do have a few seeds left from last year if you would like me to send them to you!

Thanks Frank...... For the snow, ours should be here tomorrow

Take care everyone!

[franca]

Originally Posted by Steppinstone

Thanks Frank...... For the snow, ours should be here tomorrow

Take care everyone!

The snow was all gone by Noon...... heavy frost this morning.........sun just rising that will get rid of it fast........... hope the snow stays away for you.........hago Chari ttyl take care........

[Tuppence2]

Hello Chari.

That would be great! Thank you very much. Look forward to growing them.
I'll send you my address again in a private message.

I visited this church the other day, lovely trees in the churchyard.

Bye

[eggplant43]

Been away for a while folks. I've moved to a new location, where once again I can have a garden Ordered "Topsy Turvy" planters last night. These are the planters where you hang the plants upside down from above, and it places the tomatoes at harvest level without your having support them. I'm all for that.

I'm very excited I will once again be able to grow my own vegetables.