Zoomer44

A to Z of gardening

Agree with Paul. 

..although the dead heading competition wasn't the best, it only took up a small proportion of the programme...I still liked 'D'... each to their own....and there's still ' E to Z' to go    

Seed swap

Gardengirl. I've already bought my veg seeds for this year but beetroot -boltardy is a reliable cropper, was trying different varities this time, but if free in a swap,.. I'd like those and would like to try growing leeks from seed...usually get those as plugs.

I've some biennial and perennial flower seeds to swap if you are interested.

What's the weather like in your area?

Rain in the night which has cleared all the snow. At times windy but on the whole a pleasant day. It was nice to get out into the garden, first time in weeks.

Planted up some more garlic into modules, the lot planted in October hasn't even developed roots so thought I'd try again before the last frost, started this lot indoors and they've thick roots with shoots coming through.

Always been lucky with manure, no seeds in it. I've Lots of bulbs coming through, the labels have blown away though  but me thinks crocus, dafs and tulips are coming up along with blue bells in front garden.  

Belis, Sweet William and foxglove, planted out last year have all survived the snow. Really pleased with the foxgloves, unless something disastrous happens they should put on a good show later in the year, fingers crossed. Some stuff has died in the GH, there's cornflower and sweet pea doing well. For-get-me-nots not looking good though, bring on Spring.   

What veggies are you planning on growing 2013?

You can never grow enough peas, so nice freshly picked. I did mooli for the second time last year and found they like cooler weather best sown straight in the ground too and thinned out. First year they were planted to be a mid summer harvest and most bolted. Second year I sowed them in a raised frame on top of the veg plot just in bought compost to be harvested in June, covered by cloches till late April and some were as long as carrots.

What's the weather like in your area?

Snowing here in the NW for most of the day, very heavy and sticking. Was in Blackburn at the end of the day and in just over half an hour 3inches had fallen, had trouble getting out of a side road and the main roads were just a mass of slush.

Looks like I'll be using the salt on paths after all.

Winter feeding of cuttings

Geoff. It's a long story and not very scientific ....Never grown them before and bought a couple late on in the season from the 'nearly dead section' at a GC to fill out some large pots along with some dahlias, didn't expect the geraniums to survive, it was the dahlias I wanted for their tubers to grow this year(25p each).

When it came time for the dahlias to be lifted, the geraniums were still in full flower and I had other winter stuff to put in the pots, seemed a shame to compost them and thought the frost would kill the geraniums, so lifted them and brought them indoors. They continued to flower till just after Christmas and still look like healthy plants      

Veg plot planner

Having an area with stuff which once planted will fruit year after year is always a good idea and not so labour intensive. A row of Red, white and black currant bushes don't take up too much room along with a gooseberry bush.  Strawberries grow happily around them.

Rhubarb if you like it and once planted grows happily year after year with little attention.  

Does the grass stay green?

Thanks for the link Geoff. I was more interged by the picture on the side of your link of the guy up the ladder trying to change a street light, bulb 

What's the weather like in your area?

Only reached 1-2C , so it's cold but no sign of snow, probably because I stocked up on salt for the paths for the first time this year.

The shops are still trying to sell off Christmas Chocs here.

patio Potato bag

Courgettes would be fine in potato grow bags just roll down the sides so the bags  aren't as deep and you won't need as much compost. I grow courgettes in flower buckets.

Painting a trellis...

Repotting a Christmas Tree...

Veg to sow in February...

Stored home made liquid seaweed feed...

Moving flowers...

Which spuds to get...

Clearing snow...

Hard wood cuttings...

Where have all my beans gone!.

Growing fennel bulbs...

Growingspuds for Chistmas...

Saving bean seeds...

Saving tom seeds...

Fruit bushes...

Rubard just won't die back...