Actually I recommended 6X as a substitute for farmyard manure, but this was in respect of preparing the growing site in the autumn.
Prior to planting out at this time, I would just use good compost (preferably homemade) to prepare your beds, with the addition of bonemeal....when they start flowering, feed with a high potash feed.
Depending where you live we can start planting them out anytime now. Just keep an eye on the weather forecast and try to plant them out when we have a few frost-free nights....this is to enable to recover from the transplant before having to face cold weather again.
Btw, remember what I said earlier, they really don't like cold icy winds.
Glad you mentioned your daughters wedding. I'ts quite likely these autumn sown plants will have finished flowering by then (certainly past their best) But all is not lost, just sow some seed in situ now...these should be at their peak by late August and last through until the first frosts.
The ones I have in the greenhouse are mid Jan sowings so hopefully they'll not be too bad come August. As you advised I will plant some direct as well as extra insurance otherwise we'll be off to the florist come August! I've also ordered some of the 'freebies' plugs on offer in this months Gardeners World mag and have the nippings that I potted up looking quite healthy ...as I said,sweet pea factory there'll be room for little else. Only two more daughters to go after this one....
Since I posted my last reply, I've taken a peek at your profile (I'm lusting after your greenhouse) it seems we both live in the same county, so i'll take that into account.
Most probably your Jan sowings will be still flowering for the big day, but I would hedge my bets if I were you.
Now did someone mention a big match about to kick-off??????
I've set some away today David and put them in the gh outside that has a fleece cover, I thought I had some seed to do an Autumn sow which I did in 2011 but because I fractured my ankle in the December of that year they didnt get looked after and I couldnt get to them because of the pot so the seedlings died and I couldnt get to the shops to get fresh seed for last Autumn (actually I forgot about them) so only got the seeds on Saturday, anyway, they will be OK won't they David I know they are hardy things but there's going to be such a change of night time temperatures over the next week with hard frost or mild .
I am thanks David but the ankle does twinge when it's cold, just as long as I can potter about the garden planting things I'm OK , got new trellis for them to climb up so roll on growing.
Since I posted my last reply, I've taken a peek at your profile (I'm lusting after your greenhouse) it seems we both live in the same county
I bought the greenhouse from the Greenhouse People in your neck of the woods. It was an ex display, one off model and a real bargain. I haven't stopped smiling since and can be heard repeatedly chunnering 'I love my greenhouse' as I potter around the garden. Just hope it's the real thing and not a short lived infatuation!
David I know you spoke about preparing soil earlier, I'm presently just container-gardening (built a new house and it will take a couple of years to get the garden going ) so I wonder how to prepare the soil for growing SPs in containers? Got regular compost from garden centre, also bought manure from garden centre last year and still have some left over, should I add some manure to the soil in the container before planting?
Posts
Hi again, Carly
Actually I recommended 6X as a substitute for farmyard manure, but this was in respect of preparing the growing site in the autumn.
Prior to planting out at this time, I would just use good compost (preferably homemade) to prepare your beds, with the addition of bonemeal....when they start flowering, feed with a high potash feed.
Depending where you live we can start planting them out anytime now. Just keep an eye on the weather forecast and try to plant them out when we have a few frost-free nights....this is to enable to recover from the transplant before having to face cold weather again.
Btw, remember what I said earlier, they really don't like cold icy winds.
Glad you mentioned your daughters wedding. I'ts quite likely these autumn sown plants will have finished flowering by then (certainly past their best) But all is not lost, just sow some seed in situ now...these should be at their peak by late August and last through until the first frosts.
Thanks David for your helpful advice.
The ones I have in the greenhouse are mid Jan sowings so hopefully they'll not be too bad come August. As you advised I will plant some direct as well as extra insurance otherwise we'll be off to the florist come August! I've also ordered some of the 'freebies' plugs on offer in this months Gardeners World mag and have the nippings that I potted up looking quite healthy ...as I said,sweet pea factory
there'll be room for little else. Only two more daughters to go after this one....
Thanks again ,
Carly
You're welcome, Carly.
Since I posted my last reply, I've taken a peek at your profile (I'm lusting after your greenhouse) it seems we both live in the same county, so i'll take that into account.
Most probably your Jan sowings will be still flowering for the big day, but I would hedge my bets if I were you.
Now did someone mention a big match about to kick-off??????
I've set some away today David and put them in the gh outside that has a fleece cover, I thought I had some seed to do an Autumn sow which I did in 2011 but because I fractured my ankle in the December of that year they didnt get looked after and I couldnt get to them because of the pot so the seedlings died and I couldnt get to the shops to get fresh seed for last Autumn (actually I forgot about them) so only got the seeds on Saturday, anyway, they will be OK won't they David I know they are hardy things but there's going to be such a change of night time temperatures over the next week with hard frost or mild .
Sorry to hear about your accident, Rain, hope your fully recovered now.
I'm sure you seeds will be fine.
I am thanks David but the ankle does twinge when it's cold, just as long as I can potter about the garden planting things I'm OK , got new trellis for them to climb up so roll on growing.
I bought the greenhouse from the Greenhouse People in your neck of the woods. It was an ex display, one off model and a real bargain. I haven't stopped smiling since and can be heard repeatedly chunnering 'I love my greenhouse' as I potter around the garden. Just hope it's the real thing and not a short lived infatuation!
Carly
David I know you spoke about preparing soil earlier, I'm presently just container-gardening (built a new house and it will take a couple of years to get the garden going
) so I wonder how to prepare the soil for growing SPs in containers? Got regular compost from garden centre, also bought manure from garden centre last year and still have some left over, should I add some manure to the soil in the container before planting?
Hello, Robin...I'm very sorry for not replying sooner, the thread had slipped of the first page & didn't notice your query until now.
Anyway, If it were me, I would fill those SP containers with a 50 50 mix of John Innes No3 compost & multipurpose.
Nothing else added, just a high potash feed once a week when they're in flower.
No worries David, it's not exactly gardening weather anyway
. Thanks for the advice, it's my first time growing SPs.