obelixx

Weekend 22 March

I have just put mytrya of nemesia seeds out for a frosting to see if that gets them going.  the packet said 10 to 21 days to germinate and now we're at 4 weeks and nothing.

Have just cleared 3" of snow off the car and turned on teh engine to thaw the windows.  Roads OK apparently once we get out of the village..

have fun everyone;

Weekend 22 March

Belgium has no Gulf Stream so is colder in winter and a bit warmer in summer.  We are in the middle on the crest between the Meuse and Scheldt basins so, whilst not very high, there is no shelter from draughts.  Not so bad when it's westerlies coming from the Atlantic via France but perishing when it's from Siberia.

It's still snowing a bit but the main roads are clear so we should be OK once we get to them.   Just a bit slippery on the way but the winter tyres can cope.

Meanwhile, another chilli has popped over night.  Excellent.

Hops it's not too bad your way everyone.

Weekend 22 March

It has turned white outside!  And we have to take Possum and a friend to Antwerp to support their teacher in a Hip Hop competition.   We'll be rugging up warms and taking blankets and chocolate just in case.

Maybe while we're out the rest of the chillies will pop while I'm not watching.

Geoff - get that ceiling painted so you're free to garden when it's better weather.

Talkback: Growing hellebores from seed

Hellebores don't like root disturbance so if you do split it it will at best sulk and at worst die.    I'd plant it as it is and hope it makes babies and then maybe split it in a couple of years when you have reserves.

Weekend 22 March

Well done you.  Too bitterly cold here for even going out to cut back dead stems on perennials and the ground is hard.

However we are apparently expecting sunshine on Monday and Tuesday and temps just above zero so I'm hopeful of getting out there for a while on Monday, after the scientists have been for their English class, and most of Tuesday.    Hope to get lots of the spring clear up done.

Weeping willow..well something similar.

I can't think pf any weeping evregreen that will stay small so checked on teh RHS plant selector and got 0 results.   You may have to settle for something that has winter or early spring blossom or catkins but I would go for an acer Sango Kaku which doesn't weep but grows slowly, has bright coral coloured stems all year and very good foliage colour from the new shoots in spring to the autumn leaf colour.

You could also consider a smaller, hummocky formed acer but it too will be deciduous.

I have grown a Kilmarnock willow.  It did well for 2 years, grew far too thickly and vigorously for the next 3 and needed constant hair cuts and then it died.  A friend grew one and hers died suddenly as well.

The only weeping evregreen I can find is Cupressus cashmeriana which will get to 8 metres.

Weekend 22 March

Have you tried putting sand paper under the offending bit of your door and just swinging it back and forth?  Worked for me on a door last year.  Need to do it with the back door now except I think that's swollen with the damp and will fix itself naturally if we ever get any warm dry weather.

OH and I love lentil and bacon soup, pea and ham and any variation on that theme.  I shall make some next weekend as Possum, who doesn't like any of the above, will be away on a scool trip for 10 days.

I have Christmas basil doing well and summerr savoury getting leggy and have pinched out my sweet peas.   Waiting for OH to get back now so i can take the car out.  It's automatic so easy.  T'other is manual and I can't do that with a dodgy foot.

Hosta's

You don't need to use garlic spray.  Thinly scatter wildlife friendly slug pellets around your hostas and any other susceptible plants every 2 weeks till June starting on Valentine's day cos it's easy to remember.   This way you'll get the ones coming out of winter hibernation and the ones just hatching from eggs and all before they have time to scoff your treasures or breed.

Weekend 22 March

Stephen - I have chillies which are taking their own sweet time at germinating considering the first babies popped up 2 weeks ago and some are only just poking up.  This morning 3 more had appeared and I check them every half hour as I pass.

Didn't take me long to pot up the 18 Tumbler red toms and 12 Black Russians taht were ready.  The last 6 BR's and the chillies still only have their seed leaves.   Kitchen all clean again and I'm making marmalade.  That won't take long either so I'll have to think of something else such as popping out for more small pots and some trays ready for the next lot of babies.

Coffee and cake first.

Weekend 22 March

Or drink decaf.  I pondered putting polytunnels over my PSB and cavolo nero for this winter but the decided against it because of the winds we get.  Wish I had now as they both got frozen to mush.

As a result, I've sown PSB early this year aiming to get a crop in autumn and will protect what's left for the winter and hang what it looks like.   They're doing well and are ready to pot on.

Off to wake up the teenager now.   She has to do some studying before she goes off to do her theatre piece this evening.   We're going tomorrow night - Joy - French comedy drama done by teenage amateurs.  I shall need a lot of chocolate!

Encouraging bats in our gardens

Beechgrove this weekend

Weekend 22 March

Good Morning - 21 March

Choosing chillies

Hanging baskets and window boxes

New shed - any tips?