What have you learnt this year?
I'm still new to it all. Sometimes I pat myself on the back for how well I'm doing. Other times I found things out, and wonder how I ever got anything to take root!
This year so far I've had a lot of 'doh' moments. This is what I've learnt (the long way around):
1. Prevention IS better than cure (especially when the 'cure' involves shears)
2. If using a poly tunnel don't forget to open it up! Or nothing will get pollinated
3. If you hate marrows, it turns out, waiting to see how big your courgettes get, isn't the best idea! (I don't even know how I got this old not knowing that)
4. Treat or take Leaf mould off immediately, and not "see how it goes" it spreads over-night type fast! It is heartbreaking cutting off so many leaves in one go
5. It feels super freaky when you put a pollen covered finger in to a female pumpkin flower.. and it's 'moist' which almost made me scream the first time! I felt violated, god only knows how the plant felt.
6. Bolting spinach is truly bitter. It's not a myth.
7. Most mixed salad leaves seed packs contain Brassica seeds. If you don't know what you're looking at, you could end up with all your seedlings being Brassicas.
8. If in doubt, try the gardenerworld forum b.e.f.o.r.e attempting anything drastic.
Posts
..after 30 years of gardening, I have finally realised I buy too many plants... thinning out is a must for next season... and absolutely no replenishments....
...as if...
I use a cotton bud or little make up brush for that purpose
I say this every year but I never learn - four courgette plants are too many! And I will not kid myself that yellow courgettes are any less prolific than green ones.
Putting gravel in the bottom of a pot with cuttings means that capilliary matting wont work.
A couple of heavy downpours taught me the importance of putting in stakes or other plants supports early in the season.
Read the label carefully before you buy or plant a shrub. Only buy one you really really like. Put it somewhere where it will have room to grow. Prune it lightly every year. Or else, it will turn into a monster with no room to grow or blatantly in the wrong place. I have learned this this year as I am having to pay someone to dig out 3 shrubs, all in the wrong place and all enormous.........
(and I have gardened for years and years and should know better!).
Oh, I am so glad I wrote this post. Some good laughs and tips for me to take on
Magpie, I also learnt that about courgettes this year. I have 2 sharing a pot which is another mistake. Some of the courgettes are like pool table balls where the stems are all entwined, preventing them from being able to grow straight! lol They looked SMALL to me in pictures lol
when the lawnmower needs servicing don't wait till May to do it, especially if the guy then goes on holiday and you don't get it back for three weeks!
Concentrate on one job at a time. When going to weed - do weeding. Don't get sidetracked by noticing a plant would be better two feet to the left and that clematis needs tying in and those roses need deadheading. That way a job may get finished