jo4eyes

What's the weather like in your area?

BTW Zoomer my OH does a 'mean' Focaccia... J.

What's the weather like in your area?

Did I say no damage done? Was planting out some hardy stuff yesterday & realised that one of our tv ariels is hanging loose. That explains the 'hollow' banging sounds I kept hearing causing me to keep going out to check on a coldframe lid! It's obviously a redundant one though as no problems with tv noticed- apart from the longstanding infuriating trick of trying to 'tape' things from Welsh channels which have rotten reception!

Today bang on 11am, as per forecast-wow, it began to rain & has been constant since. Managed to do quite a bit of potting on/pricking out in the greenhouse though.
The courgettes & beans are now too big for windowsills inside the house, so they are cloched in the greenhouse. 

Things in the 2 coldframes still cant be risked outside completely so a real 'traffic jam' still around here. J.

My dahlia tubers are not doing anything

I had only 50% success this yr with some new, small tubers bought in. They werent expensive, so not too unhappy really.....

The big ones that I grow in pots from one yr to the next, including chocolate cosmos, are all over wintered in their wrapped pots & covered with fleece 'hats' in an unheated part-glazed porch that can be cold, but frost free.

I did end up tipping the non-starters out of their pots, & checking things out. Yes, still solid tubers with growing points, but nope, just didnt want to get going, despite the warm sunny windowsill.

Tomsk wrote (see)

I planted a couple of dahlia bulbs I bought in Lidl about a month ago and can't see any sign of them. I planted them when the cold weather ended. I've seen other bulbs and shoots appear, especially in light of the warm, sunny weather of the last week or so.

Are these something that needs to be planted in pots and kept in greenhouses at first? I just put them into the soil.

Chances are Tomsk that they're too cold still. They may have survived, but I'd check them out, very carefully, to see if any signs of life. IME They need to be started off inside, with some heat- windowsill in my case- & not put out/planted out until after the risk of the last frost for your area. J.

Morning Glory leaves are shriveling up

Yellowing leaves would indicate too cold at night, so shrivelling leaves could just be 'scorched' by any sunlight coming through the glass.

If in doubt, time enough to sow some more & they'll soon catch up. J.

What's the weather like in your area?

Wet, but not anywhere as windy (gales) as yesterday, thank goodness. No damage done. About 10C outside at the mo.

The garden looks very 'lush' now, still the odd late Narcissus out, but after the dry spell lots of my spring bulbs went over very quickly. My Tulip pots have perked up & the 'rogue' ones in various borders are all up & out as usual. I dont ever try to comp[ost old tulip bulbs now!!

I have made a note of what should be starting as it's so late this yr. So easy to forget. J.

pieris forest flame

They are best in part shade & acid/neutral soil. If in a container then ericaceous compost is needed.

Evergreen plants do drop some of their leaves in the spring, so it could be that? If container grown is it dry? Even if a new planting in a border it'll need more watering with all this dry weather. J.

What's the weather like in your area?

Had a busy few days over this w/end, but spent all of today in garden & most of yesterday, when it was far too hot to be in the greenhouse by afternoon, even with the door wide open. Pricking out did get done though, phew.

I sensibly did all my greenhouse related tasks first thing today. More seeds sown & various houseplants sorted out. Lawn cut, some planting of container grown plants too.

It actually reached 22+C at about 5pm in my back garden in WManchester.

Have 2 coldframes full to bursting & the bedroom windowsills & porch too, but we're due to get colder again by end of the week, so the shuffling around of things now on hold & the fleece is ready! J.

EVIL Japanese Anemone

I shouldnt have 'spoken' so soon......

I've discovered that the one in the Ashwood hellebore bed is a THUG!! Quite a few bits now in council wheely bin, a couple of bits in pots for daughter- brave soul. I plan to reposition some more 'bits' into a currently 'empty' patch from where I've nearly removed a Viburnum Tinus- the soil there is very impoverished, in shade & If it takes, great! Cant remember variety, but it's worth a try.

I checked on my others, all showing nicely now & being well behaved. J.

Best proven seeding compost

I've had several good yrs using B&Q's Verve seed & cuttings compost. This yr no exception, so far. The composition is different from previous yrs, but still my first choice.

I do then pot on/up into JI no2. J.

What's the weather like in your area?

We actually reached 16C yesterday! Wasnt able to garden, but intend to do so today.

Bright sun from the word go so far. Have opened up the coldframes & fed the birds. Lots to do out there & in greenhouse if the predicted showers arrive. J.

Care & maintenance of elderly Bramley apple trees.

Suggestions for planting in a sunny, boggy site.