You can start the Sweetpeas now in the greenhouse, or in a cold frame (I must remember to get another cold frame my self) Yes, the Nigella and cornflower are best planted in spring now. You can put them in up to late September to start them, and they usually survive over winter, but if it gets too late in Autumn the seed will be more eaten or rotted in the wet than germinated, so it is best to wait till it starts to warm up again.
My favourite plants are Clematis. I have a huge collection that I have grown mostly from seed, or from pinched cuttings.
The two main types of cultivated Sweet-pea are both very pretty. The perennials don't smell, but are very reliable at returning each year. I have some seed grown, woodland species sweet-pea plants. I like all species plants best. I find that though they haven’t been bred to be as big and beautiful, they have more resilience weather wise - and that has to be good up here!
Hi dinah, where abouts are you, you said 'up here' thank you for advice on the sweet peas, and nigella etc, have to wait awhile for those i love clematis too, just had a count up 15 inthink, 3 of those from tesco's cheap and indon't know the names, but have princess kate and diana, armandii x 2 sorts, avalanche, evergreen, plus another evergreen, plus the rest are the ones you cut down, pinks and whites, avalanche was lovely last winter, i have high hopes for it again...you did well to grow on from cuttings, maybe i should have a go ?
Yes! do have a go at taking cuttings from your Clematis. They are very easy, I take a piece about 6 to 8 inches long in summer, trim it too half way between the bottom nodes (the bits where the leaves sprout out) take off the growing tip and all but a couple of leaves. Then I put them in, covering the lower one or two sets of nodes in soil (the nodes are where the new roots will sprout).
I live on the North Coast of Ireland. I see more boats than cars in Winter, and few people other than the local shepherds. It is wonderful, and the rents are amazingly cheap if you are happy to live somewhere that gets cut off by snow. If you keep good stores of food you are OK. We are all stocked up ready for a cold spell
Dinah, sorry just seen your message 2 days ago. The dogs get dried first, then humans. Our oldest one has to have socks and bags on his front paws because they get sore, so before I could change I had to stoop down and put them on. I hate it when my legs are wet with wet clothes on.
Hmm yes, I guessed right, you do dry the dogs first! I know this behaviour very well. In our house the cats get dried first. It is a good thing to do in winter because if we get chills it is OK, but if the cats get chills, they not only get far more miserable and play up consequently, but there are often vet's bills with the elderly ones. For a quiet life, one dries the pets first. Some of the cats now actually ask to be dried, and will not stop asking until it is done.
Having read some of your comments above, we are so lucky - still above 10 degrees during the day time - although the wind is picking up again now and some showers this evening too although dry all day. No cats or dogs here because of my allergies but our next door daughter has a beautiful cat which I take care of during the day (outside) whilst she works. He is only a year old so no special treatment needed.
Thank you for your tips with the clematis dinah, you sound like you live very remotely, we have a friend staying at the moment, he has come down from the north west of Scotland, a croft, very remote too....not sure i would cope as you and he does, very organised, food, heating fuel etc
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More cold-frames. Yes of course. I've filled them all up with overwintering plants again, and I need another one for seeds. Well spotted GWRS!
You can start the Sweetpeas now in the greenhouse, or in a cold frame (I must remember to get another cold frame my self)
Yes, the Nigella and cornflower are best planted in spring now. You can put them in up to late September to start them, and they usually survive over winter, but if it gets too late in Autumn the seed will be more eaten or rotted in the wet than germinated, so it is best to wait till it starts to warm up again.
My favourite plants are Clematis. I have a huge collection that I have grown mostly from seed, or from pinched cuttings.
The two main types of cultivated Sweet-pea are both very pretty. The perennials don't smell, but are very reliable at returning each year. I have some seed grown, woodland species sweet-pea plants. I like all species plants best. I find that though they haven’t been bred to be as big and beautiful, they have more resilience weather wise - and that has to be good up here!
Hi dinah, where abouts are you, you said 'up here' thank you for advice on the sweet peas, and nigella etc, have to wait awhile for those
i love clematis too, just had a count up 15 inthink, 3 of those from tesco's cheap and indon't know the names, but have princess kate and diana, armandii x 2 sorts, avalanche, evergreen, plus another evergreen, plus the rest are the ones you cut down, pinks and whites, avalanche was lovely last winter, i have high hopes for it again...you did well to grow on from cuttings, maybe i should have a go ?
Yes! do have a go at taking cuttings from your Clematis. They are very easy, I take a piece about 6 to 8 inches long in summer, trim it too half way between the bottom nodes (the bits where the leaves sprout out) take off the growing tip and all but a couple of leaves. Then I put them in, covering the lower one or two sets of nodes in soil (the nodes are where the new roots will sprout).
I live on the North Coast of Ireland. I see more boats than cars in Winter, and few people other than the local shepherds. It is wonderful, and the rents are amazingly cheap if you are happy to live somewhere that gets cut off by snow. If you keep good stores of food you are OK. We are all stocked up ready for a cold spell
Dinah, sorry just seen your message 2 days ago. The dogs get dried first, then humans. Our oldest one has to have socks and bags on his front paws because they get sore, so before I could change I had to stoop down and put them on. I hate it when my legs are wet with wet clothes on.
Only down to 3.4C in the back garden last night, but ice still on the windscreen in the front at 10am this morning!
5.4C in the back garden at the moment, a pale blue sky and still.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Overcast and damp , just about to go in garden - Lincoln
Hmm yes, I guessed right, you do dry the dogs first!
I know this behaviour very well. In our house the cats get dried first. It is a good thing to do in winter because if we get chills it is OK, but if the cats get chills, they not only get far more miserable and play up consequently, but there are often vet's bills 
with the elderly ones. For a quiet life, one dries the pets first. Some of the cats now actually ask to be dried, and will not stop asking until it is done. 
Having read some of your comments above, we are so lucky - still above 10 degrees during the day time - although the wind is picking up again now and some showers this evening too although dry all day. No cats or dogs here because of my allergies but our next door daughter has a beautiful cat which I take care of during the day (outside) whilst she works. He is only a year old so no special treatment needed.
Last edited: 23 November 2016 19:47:41
Thank you for your tips with the clematis dinah, you sound like you live very remotely, we have a friend staying at the moment, he has come down from the north west of Scotland, a croft, very remote too....not sure i would cope as you and he does, very organised, food, heating fuel etc