BobTheGardener

All you experts I need help - germination techniques

What works for me with echinacea is growing them quite large in 5" pots before planting out.  If they're not big enough, I overwinter in a coldframe rather than plant out, pinching out any flower shoots that may develop.  All of the larger ones I planted out last spring went on to flower (mostly just one flower) and are now showing several shoots.  There are about a dozen overwintered ones in the CF which will go out as soon as I can find the time.

Got any 'ose?

Bit late posting today as I had to plant a bare-root Maraval sweet chestnut tree in a large 60x60x60cm container as soon as I got home from work, before it went dark.  Took ages to fill with a mix of my clay soil, MP compost and JI No3, then had my dinner and fell asleep!  Tomorrow's job when I get home is planting a Japanese Wineberry, a Jostaberry, a Lingonberry and a Worcesterberry! 

Spring sweethearts

Some beautiful photos everyone!  Here's my humble effort.  Only mini daffs, about the same size as the snowdrops, but they really made me smile this morning.

What has happened???

I know what you mean, chicky!  My 'Lizzie' early plum has had flower buds on for nearly 2 months and I don't think she can hold it in much longer, poor thing!

Our own A to Z of our Gardening

I'll have a go at Aquilegia:

Aquilegia are an unfussy, hardy and long-lived perennial that thrives in most soils and aspects.  They come in a wide variety of flower shapes and colours and are easy to grow from seed, which can be sown as soon as it is collected or in the spring.  Growing your own can be rewarding, but be aware that they very readily cross-pollinate and don't come true from collected seed, but worthwhile new variants often arise so you can have a plant that is completely unique to you!

Excellent varieties are available commercially and some of my favourite large flowered varieties from seed are aquilegia caerulea (blue/white) and McKana Giant hybrids (mixed colours.)

Bee spotting

Thanks for the great photo's Cheery!

If anyone is interested in identifying the bees they see, here are a few web links:

General Bee ID:

http://www.wildaboutbritain.co.uk/british/Bees/identification

Bumblebees:

http://www.nhm.ac.uk/nature-online/life/insects-spiders/identification-guides-and-keys/bumblebees/

http://www.bumblebee.org/

http://bumblebeeconservation.org/about-bees/identification/

Solitary bees:

http://www.glaucus.org.uk/SolitaryBee.html

Honey bees:

http://www.bbka.org.uk/

mulching advice please

If in doubt, compost it first for at least 6 months.  This will break down any growth-retarding natural chemicals that the leaves may contain.  If you don't have a compost heap, you could put  the shreddings into a black bin liner, wet them, tie the bag closed and poke a few holes in it, then hide behind a shrub etc. for a year. That's how I make my leaf-mould, too.

using ash from wood and brickettes in the garden

Wood ash is good for use around the garden but avoid using it on any plants which prefer acid conditions as it is alkaline.  I would advise against using the briquette ash though as it may contain traces of heavy metals which are not good for plants or animals, including us.

Plants to avoid using the wood ash on include (but are not limited to): Acer, Azalea, Camelia, Heather, Rhododendron, Blueberry, Cranberry, Raspberry, Apple, Grape, Strawberry, Potato.  If you aren't sure about a particular plant, use google and search for the plant name and add "growing conditions" to see if it prefers acid soil (pH lower than 6.5) - if so, avoid using the wood ash on it.

Rhubarb in pots

Hi lavenderlass, check that you haven't accidentaly clicked 'Ignore' on your own avatar.

To fix it, go to Settings and unignore yourself.

Good news about the rhubarb!

PS, the site 'my posts' thing is currently broken for everyone - they are working on a fix.

Good Evening FORKERS

Great weather and got a lot done.

The 72 bedding plugs which arrived this morning turned into well over 100 when potted-on into modules as many of them had more than one plant so I separated those which would easily come apart. The tomatoes which came up earlier this week spent the day in the GH and look really healthy, with he sungold now showing true leaves - I'll bring 'em indoors tonight though.  Also got a cheap rhubarb from wilko, so that's gone in the ground today, too.

ID trumpet flower

Bee spotting

New deliveries

Flower ID

Oh no, lily beetles are back!