kjdintown

Greenhouse beginner

errr, you are correct  I'll definately look into it, thank you.

Greenhouse beginner

Thank you - and you are forgiven  I bought a varied collection with a bit of everything in it.  All I know is that there is a difference in shape and tubers should be dug up, dried off and overwintered whereas bulbs can stay in the ground.  I need to get my head in the books.  

GH is on the East side of a North facing garden (facing West) so as you look at it the back and left side are up against fencing so I only need to really worry about the front and side I think.  As much as I don't like the sound of it I think I'll put the shading material inside rather than paint outside. Because I'm looking at it all the time I want it to look relatively tidy otherwise my OCD will kick in

Greenhouse beginner

Thank you both very much, I work away in the week which is a pain and Pam it didn't sound like a lecture but I'm up for it every time - not gonna learn otherwise. 

I have an auto window opener but I expect that's good but not good enough.  I have bubble wrap still on the back and side of the GH which are both up against fencing  and I've been looking at green GH shading (it's quite thick) and to me I can't see the point of shutting the sun out but probably by next year I'll have changed my mind??  Should I get the shading and does it go everywhere? It's only a 6x4 GH and I quite like the idea of being able to see in it at the mo, my garden is only about 30'x30'.

As soon as the weather is good I plan to plant a lot of the bulbs out (the ones that have produced!) then use it mainly for veg and bringing seeds on.

Great picture 

Greenhouse beginner

oooowwwwww - I thought you were going to say that.  Thank you for replying.  So if I'm planting bulbs I don't have to sit them in anything, the pot can just sit on the shelf.  Well that's a good GH lesson learnt.  Am I doing the right thing with the matting and the grit - watering the grit rather than the plant, or a bit of both?  

Greenhouse beginner

Hello All, I'm in my first season of using a greenhouse and to get me started I ordered a lot of bulbs which I happily potted up in B&Q multipurpose compost.  I had long black trays with matting in them and put some grit on top then stood my pots on the grit.  I thought the idea was that the plant roots would reach down to get the moisture therefore, grow good strong roots.  I can only get to garden at the weekends so I thought this would be a good idea to ensure there is water through the week, that said, I don't drench them at the weekend, they only looked like they needed one water over the weekend but I did put 'a little' water in the tray - just enough to reach all pots but not that you would see it under the grit.  Problem is - on checking the soil lately (things should be growing by now), a lot of the pots are surprisingly wet to the touch.  I tipped one out today to find a rotten dahlia bulb and am worried about the rest but don't want to tip them out unless I have to.  What have I done wrong?  Do I tip the rest  or see what happens?   

Bargains due to bad weather

Cheers, I'm going tomorrow.

worried about oleander

Hi Averil 2, A picture paints a thousand words if you can get one but at first guess I would agree with your gut feeling that it might be frost damage, we have had some very cold nights recently.  If we are threatened with more frost you could try and protect it by wrapping the pot and plant in fleece overnight and removing it in the morning.  I'm not an expert by any means but I don't think the damage shown on your plant so far will do it any harm apart from being a little unsightly.  Hopefully you will soon receive some more advice from others. Good Luck.

Clematis for Breakfast

Georgial - any chance of a photo?  

Ribes sanguineum

I'm not sure if my Ribes sanguineum is a 'Brocklebankii' or 'King Edward V!!'.  I have had it about 4 years and pruned it hard last year.  It is a nice bushy plant now and the branches that have flowered are very showy but some branches have not flowered at all.  Is this because it flowers on old branches? I would be surprised at that because you are advised to prune hard.  I can't remember what I did last year so in pruning, which is due soon, does anyone know which branches I choose? Cheers

Water butt not filling

That's handy to know thanks Koalagirl.  My water butt pipe is very slightly too low so it does overflow when it's full.  I am waiting for a dry spell to emply the butt so I can raise it very slightly where it sits.  

Any ideas to clean the water butt? I opened it last week and it was full of smelly gunk from the gutter! When I get around to cleaning it, any ideas?  Just reach in and get to  what areas I can or add a solution to clean it that wont hurt the plants?

Greenhouse beginner

Ribes sanguineum

Water Feature