Gold1locks

Gardening by the moon?!

Have I been suckered in here? 

Meconopsis- blue poppy - lingholm. Bareroot hostas

I have sown Lingholm (got them from Chilterns Seeds), and although the germinated and grew on, they didn't survive the winter, so, being biennial (or short term perennial), i never saw them flower.

They need very special conditions from what I gather - rich, well drained,  but moisture retentive acid soil in semi shade, and better in the cooler Northern half of the country.

 We were high up in the Welsh hills, had acid soil that was moisture retentive, but it was not so well drained so the roots were in soggy soil in winter and I think that did for them. 

Although Chiltern Seeds claimed this variety was not monocarpic (did not die after flowering in year 2), I read other stuff that suggested that unless you had super soil conditions the flowering would exhaust the root system. Well, I had my go at it, because they look so lovely, but have resigned myself to never growing them successfully, especially now I am in alkaline heavy clay with no shade in Lincolnshire!

Gardening by the moon?!

 Lunar gardening does NOT mean gardening at night by the light of the moon. I don't practise it myself, so my understanding is limited, but I do know it means gardening in daylight but timing activities such as sowing seed at what are regarded as optimum times in the lunar cycle. There is a suggested scientific argument for it, to do with varying gravitational forces that affect soil conditions (rising and falling moisture levels), root development etc..I teach science and wouldn't dismiss it. After all, I would not want to have been a know-all critic of the ancient Egyptian practice of rubbing mouldy bread to treat infections on wounds, which 3000 years later was discovered to be the effect of penicillin!

Need help indentifing this plant/ shrub etc

I'd remove it. Cut to the base, treat any new soft leaf growth with glyphosate. You will need to do this on several occasions to exhaust the roots. I know some will say you should leave it as it provides food for birds at a time when food is scarce, but it can be very unruly in a garden and can spoil your garden plants / shrubs. Maybe you have an uninteresting tree somewhere where you could leave some ivy? 

allium purple sensation and irises taking over my small garden

Even if you deadhead to stop seedlings, they multiply by bulblets. Mine are out of control - should have dealt with them last year - after flowering I will pull lots of them up. They seem to come up easily. 

Advice on an acer palmatum

I have grown Japanese acers for years, and full sun can be deadly if the acer is in the wrong spot, even when there is no wind. The critical time is early May, when the young leaves are starting to open on a frosty morning. Morning sun can wipe out all the leaves, and if the acer is young it will have no energy to generate new leaves. And, even if there is no frost, if the acer is in full sun you can get scorch that disfigures the leaves for the whole summer, especially on teh more delicate variegated / golden leaved varieties. 

One other thing - they preper acid soil, can grow OK on neutral soil or slightly akaline soil if it is moisture retentive (eg loamy) but if its alkaline and dry / free draining soil, I really wouldn't bother. 

Has anyone got buds on there apple tree yet

My apple and pear buds are now starting to open, but a few weeks more before I need to worry about protecting opening flowers from late frosts. 

propogating temperatures

Germination temperature and other conditions should be stated on the packet, and you need to read them carefully.  Some (not many) need a temperature that is only to be found somewhere like an airing cupboard - some need light, some need darkness (so a good covering on top).

The best temperature for the germinated seedlings is something else. It needs to be in balance with the light level to stop leggy seedlings that flop. With more light you can have a warmer temperature, and vice versa. You will be surprised how much the light is reduced on windowsills. Your eyes will deceive you as they adjust rapidly, but try a light meter and you will be amazed. 

Multi Purpose compost

Get quality stuff for seeds - just think of the seed cost and your time, and the disappointment if your sowings fail, and the cost of late replacement plant purchases from your garden centre! False economy to buy seed compost on price.  

On the other hand, if you are looking at a potting on / bedding plant compost then anything will do I reckon. Any fertilizer will have washed through in 6 weeks anyway and you should then use MiracleGro or the like. All the better if it has moisture retaining beads - saves on watering time, but if not you can buy the beads and add them yourself. 

And if you are looking for a compost for a shrub like a wisteria then use John Innes No3 (Not No 1 or no 2) - packed with long lasting nutrients that don't wash out. Don't be fooled by cheaper multipurpose composts 'enriched with John Innes', it might only be 5% enriched and it won't tell you how much on the packaging. 

Still Very Slow

So ssslllooooowwww this evening - waited 40 seconds to get on! 

Sting in the Tale

Sting in the Tale

ground frost warning

Iris Katharine Hodgkin

Scarifier / aerators / rake

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