Mummy Muddy Paws

Amateur Weatherman/woman

Have others noticed that when you start to get interested in gardening, you suddenly start to shush everyone when the weather forecast is on?  I'm now borderline obsessed with the weather!

The ladies at my son's primary school have stopped watching the weather forecasts and just ask me now (no pressure!), I wondered what other people do to try and predict our unpredictable climate?  I use a mix of TV forecast, long range forecast from the interweb, what's going on outside the window, and various bits of weather lore (like lots of berries on the rowan = long or cold winter, we get what America gets but 6 weeks after them etc)

Is it just me that's obsessed (not much else I can do in the garden as I don't have a greenhouse), or is everyone else the same?  What do you do to try and predict what to sow and when?

Carrots in tubs

I'd use a 50/50 mix of grow bag (cheapest compost) and sharp sand for drainage.  Can grow them successfully in a bucket or deep trough, remember to put some holes in the bottom for drainage.

Non Support of Poor Companies

I've used T&M and never had any problems with them.  Get cashback from them very promptly too.

Last year I ordered a lot of perennials from an email I got that was 'Mirror reader offers' - I don't read the mirror, but I do enter lots of competitions which means I get a fair bit of spam.  Anyway, the perennials looked good, were mostly varieties which I wanted in the garden, so ordered.  When they arrived, most were in a really poor condition, and also included two small slugs in the packaging .  I emailed them back that day, saying I was disappointed, I expected the plants to be healty and not half dead, and to be free of pests (I have enough slugs in the garden without importing any!), and what would they like to make a gesture to make me a happy bunny before I posted my response on their forum.  I got a full refund, and was allowed to keep any plants (assuming they survived).

I was, however 'trained' how to complain successfully when I stared work at a big software company, that pride their programmers on being able to talk to people as well as machines!  Some top tips:

In a conversation, there is always a 'parent' and 'child', the 'parent' is the one that is in control.  You should aim to be the 'parent' in any complaint conversation.

Never loose your cool or swear (I've also worked in the programming dept of call centres, two swear words and they will cut you off).

Be clear what you are 'disappointed' about (never angry).

Suggest what the other party could do to make you a happy bunny (most will happily comply, the internet is a powerful tool for airing disappointments).

Don't shout, or get personal about the person on the end of the 'phone, or face to face.  Aim to be the 'parent' - remember how you felt when your parents told you off?  Try to act similarly (although you need to remember you can't put them on the naughty step or spank their bottom!)

If your complaint is dealt with in a satisfactory manner, you should say that you are satisfied, or even better, say you are delighted your complaint has been dealt with in a swift and efficient manner, and you will have no hesitation in using them again.  Stick and carrot in equal measures.

My husband now does zero complaining, a few years ago we were told in a pub that they weren't seving at the 'bar', and we had to go into the restaurant - we were a car club and regularly had 15+ members turning up.  They 'set' me onto the manageress, we had a very pleasant conversation, she explained why the rule had been introduced, but agreed to 'waive' it in our case - no shouting, no tears or fuss, just an adult exchange of views and compromise reached.  Now his mates 'borrow' me if they need to ring somewhere to complain.  There's normally chocolate in it for me

Bee spotting

A swarm in May is worth a load of Hay

A swarm in June is worth a silver spoon

A swarm in July is not worth a fly.

Guessing that this year, if queens aren't laying yet, the swarms won't be worth very much!

Where do you shop - for greenhouse benches etc

Cheap & cheerful, get a decorating pasting table.  Won't last too long (unless you invest in a plastic tablecloth to cover it with).  Failing that, somewhere like Makro for shed/garage shelving.

Today's dilemma

You could always get one of those dalek type compost bins and have a bin full of that, refill it and use it every 6 months or so.  If your garden is big enough, I'd  have a two for horse muck (one usable and one 'cooking'), and two or three compost bins for cardboard, peelings, annual weeds etc.  Again, one filling up, one cooking and one usable.  I'd also put a couple of lumps of horse poop in the fillling one as a compost activator, to get the whole thing going.  It's the right time of year to start one up, just as things are (hopefully) starting to warm up.

aldi easter monday.

Is it me, or are gardeners in general obsessed with the weather?  The ladies that teach my son's class (He's 4 and in foundation stage 2, first year of compulsory school), say they don't bother watching the weather forecast any more, but ask me instead.  I do look at the forecast, but also take note of the long range forecast, and what the weather has been like recently, and what the plants are doing.

So do you think once you start gardening you become a bit of an amateur meteorologist?  Asking because a lot of folk will buy and plant out the bedding plants, and then cuss when they die.  Whearas us gardeners may buy them and put them in the greenhouse (if you are lucky enough to have one), or pop them in the coldframe until the weather is right.

Growing veg in an unkempt garden!

If you own the house, I'd spend time digging up the bamboo.  It's a great plant for pots, but it's a right thug if planted in the ground.  If you're renting the house, ask if you have permission to 'sort out' the garden, and dig the blooming thing up.  What you could do is stick some of it in a big pot (a very big pot), so the landlord won't notice it's been evicted, that way you can still keep it as screening, but it won't take over the garden.

You'll need to try to get as much of the roots out as possbile, as it will come back from a tiny bit of root, you just have to keep digging the damn thing up - one of you will give up eventually!

Drat these Easter eggs

A CAT!!!  A CAT!!!!!!!

WOOF!

Why I never buy online

My Son's school is down a tiny side road - so the yellow markings are down there.  None on the road in the estate that I have to cross over with the pushchair, think it will be a matter of time before someone's child gets knocked over there.  Just hope it's not me, or more likely the pushchair - I try to pop my head out before I cross, but it's such a scrum there in the morning.

pH meter suggestions, please

Does anyone else..........

Getting rid of Bindweed

Got any 'ose?

Rowan Tree Propagation

Amateur Weatherman/woman

Gauntlet recommendations, please

Apple Tree Help needed

Bargains

Is there anything I can't compost?

Help with overwintering Strawberries, Please

Help - Massive Bramble problem

Unidentifed Raptor