Day spent in the garden, although most of it was playing with the kids ?.
When they went to sleep managed an hour; moved a couple of panicums, three imperata cylindrica and a skimmia rubella. Tied in three clematis, mowed the lawn and pulled up about a hundred more sycamore seedlings. Seems like a crazy year for them! Finally planted out a leucothoe scarletta.
Four rows of potatoes planted and 40 broad bean plants in. I'm trying a new method (for me) and planted the broad beans in the gaps between the rows of potatoes, with the idea being that the beans will be finished by the time the potato haulms get tall. Some say the bean roots also help supply some nitrogen for the spuds, but we'll see. The beans have been grown in root trainers and I'm really impressed with the result - healthy roots about 8 inches long so I'll be using them for my runners this year, too, to avoid the usual problem with the roots going round and round in the bottom of the pots.
Potted up 30 Bishop's Children dahlias which were sown a few weeks ago in a deep tray and are all about 4-5 inches tall now. Boy, do they grow fast!
Finally, planted the squash seeds in modules on the heated bench.
A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
You have been busy Bob - let us know how your broad bean/potato experiment pans out, won't you.
I have been growing Bishop's Children from seed too. I sowed a few last October, but none of them overwintered very well, so I have sown some more. Did you pinch out the tops of yours before they grew too tall? I sowed my squash seeds yesterday.
I did odd jobs, deadheading, potting on seedlings, clearing the surface weed from our small pond, planted out some more beetroot seedlings grown in module trays.
Did loads today, taken over the windowsills with propagators, oops! Chopped up all the bits that we cut down filled a neighbours green bin that she let us use!! I have seeds to sow tomorrow!! But that is the fun bit, also weeded the wildflower patch, trimmed things etc. But we still have lots and lots to do in the garden!!! Tired in an understatement!!
Glyphosated some Crocosmia planted by the previous owner (it's probably a nice one but I'm wary of it's invasiveness - this one's already popping up in the lawn).
Potted up three newly bought Irish Yew (from Brackenwood GC near Bristol) into terracotta pots. This way, I can grow them on a bit before I put them in the border. I want to use them in a Tom Stuart-Smith style planting (on a small scale). At about 2ft they're too small to have an impact right now.
But they look great in pots, and may stay there so I can move them around like furniture.
"What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbour".
M-I-L came to stay and since Friday has been systematically weeding my garden. She started on one side and I did the other - meeting in the middle! :-)
I have a large garden, so she has given me a fighting chance of keeping on top of things this year.
She also started me off some white lilac cuttings and more buddleia (as well as some other cuttings), so I have been getting them in too.
I am sad to report that we take her back to Shropshire tomorrow
Had a few packs of Hardy Annuals arrive from Chilterns so I've been sowing them direct in a new bed. In and around them I've planted some small silver foxgloves that were started in trays last year and then completely forgot about, some crocosmia that was started from seed about 3 years ago in a pot and split a couple of Heucharas.
Hopefully get plenty of colour with very few pennies spent.
Can you hire your MIL out Suz3, I could do with an extra pair of willing hands around here.
Planted out some more beetroot seedlings, sowed radish seed in between them. Watched the turn on of my pond/pump/waterfall - very exciting - sowed more cucumber seeds and potted up my 5 clematis plugs that arrived today. Did an hours watering of plants not covered by the new irrigation system.
Posts
Day spent in the garden, although most of it was playing with the kids ?.
When they went to sleep managed an hour; moved a couple of panicums, three imperata cylindrica and a skimmia rubella. Tied in three clematis, mowed the lawn and pulled up about a hundred more sycamore seedlings. Seems like a crazy year for them! Finally planted out a leucothoe scarletta.
Beer time ?.
Another lovely day and lots of work done.
Four rows of potatoes planted and 40 broad bean plants in. I'm trying a new method (for me) and planted the broad beans in the gaps between the rows of potatoes, with the idea being that the beans will be finished by the time the potato haulms get tall. Some say the bean roots also help supply some nitrogen for the spuds, but we'll see. The beans have been grown in root trainers and I'm really impressed with the result - healthy roots about 8 inches long so I'll be using them for my runners this year, too, to avoid the usual problem with the roots going round and round in the bottom of the pots.
Potted up 30 Bishop's Children dahlias which were sown a few weeks ago in a deep tray and are all about 4-5 inches tall now. Boy, do they grow fast!
Finally, planted the squash seeds in modules on the heated bench.
You have been busy Bob - let us know how your broad bean/potato experiment pans out, won't you.
I have been growing Bishop's Children from seed too. I sowed a few last October, but none of them overwintered very well, so I have sown some more. Did you pinch out the tops of yours before they grew too tall? I sowed my squash seeds yesterday.
I did odd jobs, deadheading, potting on seedlings, clearing the surface weed from our small pond, planted out some more beetroot seedlings grown in module trays.
Did loads today, taken over the windowsills with propagators, oops! Chopped up all the bits that we cut down filled a neighbours green bin that she let us use!! I have seeds to sow tomorrow!! But that is the fun bit, also weeded the wildflower patch, trimmed things etc. But we still have lots and lots to do in the garden!!!
Tired in an understatement!!
Glyphosated some Crocosmia planted by the previous owner (it's probably a nice one but I'm wary of it's invasiveness - this one's already popping up in the lawn).
Potted up three newly bought Irish Yew (from Brackenwood GC near Bristol) into terracotta pots. This way, I can grow them on a bit before I put them in the border. I want to use them in a Tom Stuart-Smith style planting (on a small scale). At about 2ft they're too small to have an impact right now.
But they look great in pots, and may stay there so I can move them around like furniture.
Yesterday I tied in the climbing roses at the front of the house, did a bit of weeding and planted out about 30 herbaceous perennials.
I have been blessed over the last few days!
M-I-L came to stay and since Friday has been systematically weeding my garden. She started on one side and I did the other - meeting in the middle! :-)
I have a large garden, so she has given me a fighting chance of keeping on top of things this year.
She also started me off some white lilac cuttings and more buddleia (as well as some other cuttings), so I have been getting them in too.
I am sad to report that we take her back to Shropshire tomorrow
Had a few packs of Hardy Annuals arrive from Chilterns so I've been sowing them direct in a new bed. In and around them I've planted some small silver foxgloves that were started in trays last year and then completely forgot about, some crocosmia that was started from seed about 3 years ago in a pot and split a couple of Heucharas.
Hopefully get plenty of colour with very few pennies spent.
Can you hire your MIL out Suz3, I could do with an extra pair of willing hands around here.
Planted out some more beetroot seedlings, sowed radish seed in between them. Watched the turn on of my pond/pump/waterfall - very exciting - sowed more cucumber seeds and potted up my 5 clematis plugs that arrived today. Did an hours watering of plants not covered by the new irrigation system.
Good day in garden , cut lawns , bit of tiding up and o/h potted up cabbages and begonias in g/h