Peat Ballan

Help

I 'liberated' a sort of feeder from a rubbish heap, and it is ideal for either putting in some water plants, amphibians, iris's.'s's's's's, carefully controlled mint, and rushes. I find amphibians seem to find their own way into the plot, without encouragement from myself or Vee, she who must be obeyed, the Bann an Chy. What will grow in the darker damp spots will grow, almost without buying in stuff. Neighbours are ALWAYS ready to share surplus to requirements plants. Most of our garden plants are surplus and find a ready place  somewhere.it's like Battersea plant hme here, and we always get complimented on the garden. it has turned into the 'alternative' Alnwick Garden, without the admission price !

Help

Hmmmmmmm. I have found that a shady spot is good for much of the previous suggestions, BUT I would also submit that it is a good place for a wee wildlife pond. It doesn't have to be a gurt big pond, only about a meter square, or round ! We have this in our front garden,  and it attracts a small colony of frogs, which say Bon Jour Meseurs/dames when we go out in the morning for breakfast on the front bench ! Around this 'water feature', we have potted plants, various shiftable flower pots and a hosta or two. 

Today I feel so happy....

Happiness is relative, and after you have been stung by a much loved bee that seemed to go banzai when I sat down on our garden bench, it dive bombed me, set to at my nose, got straight in on my arm, and gave me a most irritating injection of venom.  Perhaps a bad day at the hive ........?  There mus be easier ways of relieving Rheumatizz than being walloped by a bee !

What's the weather like in your area?

Hi Frank,   Alnwick dull, chilly, windy, uninspiring and not a good day to sow parsnips, beetroot of any fine seeds !  They'd be broadcast immediately !

Frogspawn is bubbling away in t'pond, birds shredding the hanging baskets for nesting material, and I am in the hoose, packing ceramic figures for sending out tomorrow.

It's good to be indoors, I tremble to say. 

Today I feel so happy....

Me Missus and I were on St Michaels mount t'other day. It was surreal and beautiful. The tide was in and we took the boat across, (obviously ), The sky was a peerless blue,  sun shining fit to burst, and we nearly froze our nadgers off ! For once, it was warmer insde than out !  But on the whole, the Bay is  great view to encounter when returning after too long away.  I still have me we cottage down inSt.Just, and on a stormy day, you can hear the boulders rolling on Porthnanven beach, a mile inlad from it !

Today I feel so happy....

Got a 10X10 patch covered with a camping ground sheet, and another 14X14 carpeted . Only the best Qilton or Axminster will do !

The birds have got used to me and t'missus sitting out on the bench throwing meal worms down to them, and Madam Blackbird comes in reet close now. It's getting better all the time. I love this time of the year. Things are coming to life again, after the 6 month winter !  Bloomin' 'eck, it'll be autumn before we know it !  Can we get by on a 6 qweek growing season ?

Good Evening FORKERS

I'm just an old Gadgie wot is long past sell by date............... so wha is all this acronym stuff ?  TT, & CDM,MMP ? do bear with an OAP  !

Good Evening FORKERS

Just hope it ain't any gardening prog ! I want t rest and relax, and forget anything about composts, soils, seeds, germinations, mulching, fertiloyzers, trowels, bowels and seives.  Ldet me sleep the sleep of the just,    just bone weary !

What's the weather like in your area?

Changeable weather, windy at first, cool-ish, dull to beguinia with, and then the wind dropped suddenly. Up in the greenhouse, throwing out trays of 'seed compost' which got overwatered, and the seeds rebelled, uppped and dies in the swamp conidtions. One miserable sweat pea, and it looks MIZZ !

Drying out the swamp under cover, outside the green house, and having a very mery drink under cover with the missus, laughing wor fool heeds orft. 

Love gardening, me !

germanation

I have sown three traays of sweet peas, of which about 45% have just about germinated in 5  weeks.  Braod beans in deep rooting pots are about 50%, and loads of other Sweet Pea seeds are just dormant under a shallow layer of Vermiculite. I find that Vermiculite is as helpful as vermicelli ! Utterly pointless, kills off any germination, and the soil turns green underneath. On the other hand, this could be due to overly enthusiastic watering ! Probably this is the cause.

 Generally, I have found that for a veg patch, sow seeds where you want them to grow, but, brassicas in a seed bed. Carrots, out in the garden, under a cold frame that will cover a small and short rowed patch.  Beetroot, where you want to grow them , and in a well conditioned soil. I don't worry too much about the 'fertilizer' stuff in the soil, but heap a load of manure for the 'conditioning of the soil. The more veg matter in the soil, the better. Fertility ain't the 'b' all and end all. Condition is the primary thing. The rest will look after itself. 

Get a good compost heap going, and wee on it as often as you are in the garden!  Better than Garotta, which is the same thing, but ours is better ! Bring your friends around for a few bers sometimes, and watch your garden grow !

bee hives

bonfires