Thanks Frank. I might disappoint you but I feel at a stage before even getting to Monty's potting, Last night when he was showing how to pot something he started by describing the mix of compost he was using. I can't remember now exactly what he said or how you would go about making it, and that is kind of the point I'm making. There are some shows that you watch with a pencil and paper to really learn how to do something, and there are others you kick back and let wash over you. There are many, many, people who grew up without gardens to who the whole thing is new, just there are lots of people who grew up not knowing how to cook. Personally, I thought it was great that someone like Delia would understand that lots of people need the very, very, basics of cooking explaining to them and it would be nice if someone did the same for gardening. Most beginner gardening shows seem to be make-overs by professionals rather than how-to-dos for amateurs. But what I'm saying is that I wouldn't like to see GW changed to try and satisfy the likes of me. I may not have really understood what Carol and Mrs Chatto were talking about, but I'm glad they were.
“Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm.” Winston Churchill
I know we old f*rts keep banging on about Geoff Hamilton but that is because (for many of us) he really was the person who taught us how to garden. His garden at Barnsdale was much larger than most of us can dream of (5 acres) - but he built it from scratch and divided it into several much smaller gardens (each with it's own theme) which were of a much more relevant size to most of us.
Having watched him create his country garden, I was inspired to buy his book and DVD and I had a go at making his obelisks. They turned out quite well..
Good looking obelisks LF. They're on my list of jobs to do - later n after all the indoor painting.
Aym - it's fine to treat a group 2 clematis as a group 3 for pruning. Makes life easier but better not to mix them together in the first place if you want the distinct flowering times.
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
"The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
I had group 2s in my Belgian garden but their top growth was always hammered by cold winters so I just pruned them all like group 3s. They were fine but it changes their flwoering time to all summer instead of a big flush in May/june followed by a second later on f you remembered to prune and feed them after the first flush.
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
"The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
That's because none of the named varieties come true from seed. You might get some nice clematis (if you get fertile seed) but they won't be the named variety.
When I first read the post I thought you were talking about seed in general and thought, blimey, I have never seen more seed than in the Chiltern catalogue.
How can you lie there and think of England When you don't even know who's in the team
without all those mixed genes you won't get the big, bright flowers, wild species aren't like that. Same with salvias. We have to dig deep into our pockets, buy one plant and take cuttings or divisions.
I find that Beechgrove has more advice for beginners. Watching Jim doing basic things like sowing in pots has been an education in efficient technique for me.
Verdun, I watch Gardening Australia in winter, but I find the camera work uninspiring and once it was panning around so much it gave me a headache. Still, I find it enjoyable.
Posts
Thanks Frank. I might disappoint you but I feel at a stage before even getting to Monty's potting, Last night when he was showing how to pot something he started by describing the mix of compost he was using. I can't remember now exactly what he said or how you would go about making it, and that is kind of the point I'm making. There are some shows that you watch with a pencil and paper to really learn how to do something, and there are others you kick back and let wash over you. There are many, many, people who grew up without gardens to who the whole thing is new, just there are lots of people who grew up not knowing how to cook. Personally, I thought it was great that someone like Delia would understand that lots of people need the very, very, basics of cooking explaining to them and it would be nice if someone did the same for gardening. Most beginner gardening shows seem to be make-overs by professionals rather than how-to-dos for amateurs. But what I'm saying is that I wouldn't like to see GW changed to try and satisfy the likes of me. I may not have really understood what Carol and Mrs Chatto were talking about, but I'm glad they were.
Having watched him create his country garden, I was inspired to buy his book and DVD and I had a go at making his obelisks. They turned out quite well..
Last edited: 12 March 2017 12:38:17
Good looking obelisks LF. They're on my list of jobs to do - later n after all the indoor painting.
Aym - it's fine to treat a group 2 clematis as a group 3 for pruning. Makes life easier but better not to mix them together in the first place if you want the distinct flowering times.
Polish Spirit is indeed a group 3. If in doubt about your others, you can check them on this database run by Hull University - http://www.clematis.hull.ac.uk/new-clemlistsearch.cfm
I had group 2s in my Belgian garden but their top growth was always hammered by cold winters so I just pruned them all like group 3s. They were fine but it changes their flwoering time to all summer instead of a big flush in May/june followed by a second later on f you remembered to prune and feed them after the first flush.
Beautiful garden Lead Farmer.
Your excellent planting sets off your handywork very well. I really should have a go and making those obelisks myself...
That's because none of the named varieties come true from seed. You might get some nice clematis (if you get fertile seed) but they won't be the named variety.
In the sticks near Peterborough
As usual Nut is right.
When I first read the post I thought you were talking about seed in general and thought, blimey, I have never seen more seed than in the Chiltern catalogue.
When you don't even know who's in the team
S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
without all those mixed genes you won't get the big, bright flowers, wild species aren't like that. Same with salvias. We have to dig deep into our pockets, buy one plant and take cuttings or divisions.
In the sticks near Peterborough
Have you tried Salvia patens aym. They are very blue and very easy from seed.
They may then form tubers, which are easy to overwinter, like Dahlias.
When you don't even know who's in the team
S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
I enjoyed GW on Friday.
I find that Beechgrove has more advice for beginners. Watching Jim doing basic things like sowing in pots has been an education in efficient technique for me.
Verdun, I watch Gardening Australia in winter, but I find the camera work uninspiring and once it was panning around so much it gave me a headache. Still, I find it enjoyable.