Excitable Boy

Potato planting

Yeah, get them in now Loz - at least you shouldn't have to worry about frost unless you're in Scotland! You will probably find that yours will catch up as they're going into warmer soil anyway, so don't worry about being late!

May In Your Garden

Wow! Two evenings gardening in a row! Got the lawn mowed on Monday (thankfully) and weeded the veggies last night. Some radish nearly ready, strawbs in flower, shallots, onion sets and salad potatoes looking good, spinach, parsnips, turnips and psb doing well, BUT beetroot and carrots more miss than hit. Any explanation or ideas, anyone?

The dreaded spring onions are at about an inch and a half after 6 weeks. Will they or won't they, lol?

Sadly bindweed seems to be my most promising crop.

spring onions

And me!

Only ever got one decent crop a couple of years ago, but they were particularly tasty. I have some at the two inch stage this year but I'm going to have a go at the gutter method as they haven't moved in two weeks.

Pergola Problem

As part of our Great Garden Revamp of 2012 I am in the middle of constructing a pergola in the shady bottom corner of our garden. Two sides will be bounded by north and East facing walls and the idea was to find some flowering climbers for the opposite sides. I can't find anything to fit. I like the look of an evergreen clematis but they flower March/May and we want summer flowers. I also like the look of tree lilies in the brochures but have never seen them in the flesh and don't know whether they'd need more care than they'd get.

Soil is on the pH neutral/alkali side, but is a good loam. We get plenty of rain here in S Gloucestershire, so nothing that'd rot, please.

I'd be very grateful for any suggestions.

MULCHING..!!!

The newspaper thing sounds like a good idea to me.

I'm going to give this a go on my strawberry bed. Thanks!

Get thrifty

Pinkshoes wrote (see)

I use an empty, washed out plastic milk bottle as a scoop for putting soil into plant pots.

Instructions - turn the plastic bottle upside down with lid on. Cut a slant edge from the bottom.Hold the handle and happy gardening .

Nice one!

Don't forget to use the bit you have cut off by cutting it into strips which make great plant labels!!

bugs on mint plant

No - greenfly are born live!

Talkback: How to earth up potaotes

John - planting depth should be 5-6 inches. If you have put 18" on top of the tubers that is too much and it would be best to take some off initially and then earth up as per the article.

Teabag - Yes, so long as frosts have passed.

dave and trish - generally once the flowers have died the tubers are ready. Obviously if you are happy with smaller earlies you can harvest them earlier. We just tend to dig what we want and leave the rest to continue growing.

bgaynor - If you are only using compost then I would imagine it will be spent. You can still use it as a soil conditioner though.

Pound shop plants- any success stories?

Not quite a pound but I bought three herb plants for £5 in Morrisons weekend before last (Sage, varigated thyme and rosemary) and they were much stronger better established plants than I have seen at higher prices in garden centres.

Novice Gardener needs help

Hi Lucy, Try Peonies for late spring/early summer colour. Also Iris for a splash of lime green leaves in spring and pretty summer flowers.

Pergola Problem