I'll bear your tips in mind too @Fairygirl. After a slow start my seedlings are now taking off. The seeds you very kindly sent me germinated well so I hope to have some photos to post in a few weeks time! I like your string technique!
I do too @punkdoc. I've taken to adding a bit of granular slow release stuff on planting, as I'm not using commercial compost in the containers, and even when I did, there wasn't a huge amount of it, so it saved having to remember doing liquid food. I use turf at the bottom, then a layer of manure - often mixed with garden soil, then whatever else I have to finish filling them up. I use tomato food later on in the summer/early autumn which keeps them going well, and there's less planting/other jobs needing my attention, so I can usually remember to do it.
Great tip regarding the turf! I'm always chucking away clods of turf in a quiet corner of the garden, after edging my lawns. It never occurred to me to use it as filler in the bottom of deep pots
I honestly can't remember sending you seed @Plantminded! My memory is becoming really appalling. Was it the good Dr. Uvedale I sent you? They were superb for me, and I got so much seed from them. The other one I really liked - Roosterville, was impossible to get seed from. The pods just didn't ripen in time. I bought more, so this year I'll leave a couple of flowers right from the start instead of deadheading religiously as I normally do. They didn't germinate well in the crappy compost either, which didn't help, so I only have a few of those.
The turf is very useful @borgadr - certainly for anything that needs lots of water, as s. peas do. I just leave it in there till the following year as well, unless I'm putting something else in the pots that might not be so keen on moisture retention
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Yes @Fairygirl, it was Dr. Uvedale you kindly sent me (maybe he can help with your memory lapse!!). In the last week all the plants have greened up nicely and are looking determined to climb! A mulch of farmyard manure I applied to the whole border a month ago has also helped. Some of the perennials that were there last year look much better too.
Yes @Fairygirl, it was Dr. Uvedale you kindly sent me (maybe he can help with your memory lapse!!).
I'll give him a bell Glad they're doing well. Mine are coming along too - in their pot. The later sown ones are still small though. They'll put a spurt on soon.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
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My memory is becoming really appalling.
Was it the good Dr. Uvedale I sent you? They were superb for me, and I got so much seed from them. The other one I really liked - Roosterville, was impossible to get seed from. The pods just didn't ripen in time. I bought more, so this year I'll leave a couple of flowers right from the start instead of deadheading religiously as I normally do. They didn't germinate well in the crappy compost either, which didn't help, so I only have a few of those.
The turf is very useful @borgadr - certainly for anything that needs lots of water, as s. peas do. I just leave it in there till the following year as well, unless I'm putting something else in the pots that might not be so keen on moisture retention
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Glad they're doing well. Mine are coming along too - in their pot. The later sown ones are still small though. They'll put a spurt on soon.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...