mike w

Van Meuwen

Hi Brumbull

Your complaint seems to be dealt with to your satisfaction,which echo,s my own experience when on rare occasions I have had a complaint with mail order suppliers.

I have converted from growing from seed to plugs for those plants such as begonias which need to be set away early ( January ) also I no longer over winter geraniums or fuchsias.The aim is to reduce the period that heat is required in the green house.Instead of having heat on from November onwards I switch on mid March.thus saving a lot of money.

Today I received 100 No begonia plugs from "Jersey Plants" well packed in excellent condition.

Regards

Mike W

GREEN ALGEA ON SEED TRAYS

Thank you sotongeoff & homebird.The seeds I am having problems with are begonia,I do water from the bottom but maybe a little too generous,I will try covering the seedlings with vermiculite as suggested and be more careful with water.

Regards

Mike W

GREEN ALGEA ON SEED TRAYS

I used to use Cheshunt dressing to prevent algea growth on planted seed traysCheshunt has now been withdrawn,has anyone an alternative treament ?

Flowering plants that like shade

Hi Daniel 2323

I have a plot North facing in shade located in N.E.After much experimenting I successfully grow Begonia,s ( plenty of colour ) fuschsia,s nocotiana and senecio

Good luck

Mike W

paraffin heaters

I agree with previous comments that you need to provide adequate ventilation.Parafin like all fuels is expensive ,often allotment associations sell it cheaper.

I have a twin funnel which uses a gallon every two days, this keeps the G.H. just above freezing This is too expensive to use all winter,I tend to use it April and May to protect against snap frosts here in N.E. England

Vitopod Propagators

Hi Sarah

I have 3 large vipods and 1small one,I purchased them over aa period of 3 years and I swear by them.My reason for using them is primarily to reduce the cost of heating the greenhouse and having the advantage of controlling different temperatures 

The thermostats control is excellent,also the abilty to increase the hieght is a great advantage.

Expensive yes but a rolls royce product,the Stewart is the Lada.You pay your money etc

Talkback: Greenhouse temperatures

Because of the high cost of heating,I have moved away fro overwintering plants such as fuchsia,s and pelargoniums and buy plugs in spring.Also any seeds which need sowing before mid march again I buy plugs.The result is I do not incur heating   the green house between October and April

I do have automatic vents but find them a nuisance in the winter period, and do not control temperatures effectively,I find shading from the low winter sun more effective.Also strong winds have damaged auto vents.

Begonia Corms

yellow sulphur powder has also been withdrawn/

saving begonias

Mirabelle,The plugs were fibrous root which were grown on in 75mm pots with heat.As sweet peas can be grown without heat I would not use plugs. Plant sweet pea,s can be planted  this month.

saving begonias

I am not sure whether it is worth saving the Begonia bulbs over winter (unless for a few of your favorites ) I have done this in previous years with mixed results This year I bought a few bulbs from Wilkinsons at less than a £1 each, Then 72 plugs mail order,the grown plugs were magnificent. 

Coffee Grounds

GREEN ALGEA ON SEED TRAYS

standard weeping rose