yakram

Dragon fruit

paull2 wrote (see)

There are so may exotic fruit & veg in our supermarkets these days, and I assume may posters here have a go at cultivation from the seeds.... no matter how unlikely the outcome! I've succeeded (without any great skill) in growing some Dragon fruit (aka Pitaya) seedlings this Spring which are now like little inch-high cacti. I believe that they can grow considerably bigger in the tropics. Not sure how to look after the half dozen I've kept. Anyone grown these in the UK and with what success?

Hi. Well done.  A couple of years ago I managed to germinate 4.  The strongest one I potted into cactus compost.  After a few months it was obviously intending to be a hanging cactus, so I put it into a hanging pot.  Guess what?  It has now decided to grow skywards!   The other three have decided more or less to grow upwards, but in a lax manner.  I understand a common name is Queen of the Night, and it could be a Hylocereus.  We may have to wait several years for them to flower; I hope the flowers are worth staying up all night for.   I'm trying to grow mangoes this year.

Plant or weed what is it.

It could be Mugwort, Artemisia vulgaris.  "A weed is only a plant in the wrong place, but a treasure in the right place".

Gardeners World - not back for 4 weeks!

I'll be outside most of the time, too (in a tiny summerhouse).

Unfortunately OH is "so old" he doesn't have to pay for a TV licence, so we can't cancel ours.

Tatton park any good

Hi Folks.  The four-legged lawnmowers (sheep and deer) have been moved off the showground to pastures new.  25acres has been fenced; quite a logistic feat with the metal fencing, methinks.  The showground is a hive of activity: machines and people buzzing around, the skeletons of marquees are going up and being clothed.  The large show gardens round the Tatton Clump are emulating moles at the moment.   Plants are being cossetted and primped.  The excitement mounts.

Does anyone know what this plant is?

Just a guess: Baptisia or an upright Linaria?

Chelsea!

I hope to do a stint on the Tatton info stand Weds morning; depends if I'm chosen.  OH is on the Show info stand that morning.  The 'Lads' are keeping their plans close to their chest at the moment.  Was very hot in the glasshouse today, but I should be let out soon!

Chelsea!

Thank you Obelixx for the lovely photos, which captured the essence of Chelsea.

BBC Gardening Arrivals - Meeting Point

Yay, the wonders of lateral thinking!  I did download my avatar, but not without head scratching.   I have been saddened by the gradual decline of the gardening messageboard on the BBC as I am sure all the 'original members' were.   However, I wish all messageboarders much happiness and fun on this forum and I look forward to a bright future for us all.

BBC Gardening Arrivals - Meeting Point

Can't upload my Yak avatar at the moment, so will have to be 'faceless bod'.  Have been on this site for a long time, but never used the forum.  This 'old Yak' is finding it hard to learn new tricks. <biggrin> So nice to see messageboard friends on here, but don't expect me to post much as I prefer to be 'SirLurkaLot'.

However, following Monty Don pinching out his sweet peas - if you save the pinchings and dib them singly around a pot, most of them will root, hence more sweet peas for your money. <thumbsup>

Gardeners' World hibernating