I chop my salad greens, rocket etc. It's getting leggy now, running to seed and being eaten by flea beetles, so its harvesting value is almost over. I chop really low and it shoots again in just a few days. This year I have also chopped some a bit higher to see what that yields. This also works with swiss chard.
I normally chop Sedum this week, but I'm leaving it a little longer. I was taking some photos yesterday and realised how far behind the plants are. Last year at this time, the Irises, Poppies, Alliums, clematis were all flowering. Now, they're only just in bud.
I'm going to try chopping my Rudebeckia ' herbstonne ' this year-- as last year it grew to about 6 ft.! It also needs thinning out , hopefully thend week end-- if it does'nt rain -- or snow!
When I remember, I chop my Herbstonne as it grows very tall. I find it's also rather rampant and I have to chop it's roots back. I have another very tall rudbeckia, Hortensia, which is also better for the chop and has double flowers.
Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
I do about half of my various heleniums to ensure there are fresh flowers over a longer span. But there are nowhere NEAR ready as only 3 inches high due to cold and usually around chelsea are at least a foot bigger. Surely most chops will need to be 2-4 weeks after chelsea this year (which then makes it a little more risky unless we have a correspondingly long growing season ...?)
If I chopped anything now there would be nothing left! I have done it in the past with various perennials but as we have a later season up here anyway I would only do it if plants were big and bushy and, like you kester, I tend to do half the plant rather than all of it.
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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It's 4 weeks to the open gardens event in my village... no way am I chopping anything now.. unless I hit my foot in my panic to get everything done!!
I chop my salad greens, rocket etc. It's getting leggy now, running to seed and being eaten by flea beetles, so its harvesting value is almost over. I chop really low and it shoots again in just a few days. This year I have also chopped some a bit higher to see what that yields. This also works with swiss chard.
Thanks Sheila. shall try this too. My Swiss Chard was chopped by deer some time ago, and now it is really good!!
I normally chop Sedum this week, but I'm leaving it a little longer. I was taking some photos yesterday and realised how far behind the plants are. Last year at this time, the Irises, Poppies, Alliums, clematis were all flowering. Now, they're only just in bud.
It snowed this afternoon
I'm going to try chopping my Rudebeckia ' herbstonne ' this year-- as last year it grew to about 6 ft.! It also needs thinning out , hopefully thend week end-- if it does'nt rain -- or snow!
When I remember, I chop my Herbstonne as it grows very tall. I find it's also rather rampant and I have to chop it's roots back. I have another very tall rudbeckia, Hortensia, which is also better for the chop and has double flowers.
I normally do the Sedum and the White Phlox but this year the Sedum is still very small although I will do the Phlox, maybe next week or so.
Two years ago my Clematis alpina got the 'Chelsea scalp' and came back the next year bigger and better than ever.
I was worried that it would not recover but it's still thriving and flowering well - so far, so good
.
Must say I only 'scalped' because the plant had become unsightly and I wanted to move it away from the drainpipe it
entwined.
It is in a sunny position, in a large pot, just under the kitchen window, has been there for about six years and seems quite happy.
Does anyone have care advice for Clematis alpina? I am wondering if I
should repot the plant after it finishes flowering this year, or leave it alone?
I do about half of my various heleniums to ensure there are fresh flowers over a longer span. But there are nowhere NEAR ready as only 3 inches high due to cold
and usually around chelsea are at least a foot bigger. Surely most chops will need to be 2-4 weeks after chelsea this year (which then makes it a little more risky unless we have a correspondingly long growing season ...?)
If I chopped anything now there would be nothing left! I have done it in the past with various perennials but as we have a later season up here anyway I would only do it if plants were big and bushy and, like you kester, I tend to do half the plant rather than all of it.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...