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Post by franklin on Apr 25, 2022 8:34:27 GMT
Some of our bluebells which are colonising a shady corner and spreading quickly. ibb.co/6JBQVrpOne of our camellias which is coming to the end of it's flowering period now. It's been brilliant since early March. ibb.co/CQyD0TsOur crab apple "Evereste" which is settling in nicely ibb.co/bNQx21CFlowering cherry tree which has been covered profusely with blossom for what seems like ages this year ibb.co/Xz33cgZOur fruiting cherry "Stella" which we're growing in a large pot. Covered in blossom after I gave it a rather drastic prune last autumn. We'll see how many cherries we actually get this year. ibb.co/YXvVj7mThis is an azalea that my dear departed old dad potted up about 12 years ago and I've managed to keep it going ever since. ibb.co/yFdL6dkAnd finally, the greenhouse is getting full with seedlings soon to be needing potting on. ibb.co/C83nvXGLovely mate I wish I had a bigger garden 😢
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Post by deeside2 on Apr 25, 2022 10:44:56 GMT
Here's a few more taken this morning. This acer is situated in full sun in a full south facing position. The label clearly said it likes shade/partial shade. ibb.co/RQtkLcrHere it was last autumn ibb.co/QC79vYgThis is another acer in a more shady position ibb.co/7XxvDWNThis is a "rescue" acer that my wife found in our local garden centre "casualty corner" for £1.25 two years ago. ibb.co/hFBMg7pThis is part of the "shady" area getting it's bit of sun before noon. Afternoon onwards it's fairly shady. ibb.co/PFwcZjB
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Post by cerebralstokie on Apr 25, 2022 14:08:34 GMT
I have an apple tree in my back garden. It is "Newton Wonder". It fruits biennially and in 2020 it had an enormous crop (probably somewhere near 50kg.) but last year nothing. I use it as a cooker -you can pulp it and freeze it. My neighbours shared in the bounty. It is a little tart but can be enjoyed by those who like a little sharpness in the taste. It is currently flowering and I hope for another bumper crop. I also have an allotment but it is plagued by birds (pigeons and magpies) so soft fruit, cherries and plums need protection. I find growing your own food very satisfying - good exercise and a good tasting end product. Good luck to all those of you who have contributed your experiences on this Board so far - may you enjoy a bumper crop of fruit and other produce this season!
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Post by questionable on Apr 25, 2022 16:08:39 GMT
Just come to the end of our first project 60sq mts of light grey Indian stone laid with a 5x5 pergola raised flower beds, fully stocked with plants etc and some lovely ornamental pots, looks mint.
Project 2 Garden/borders/new lawn is next very soon then Project 3 new patio area by the French doors but looking at wooden sleepers to retain where the walls are now to get the cost down and looking at doing as much of the shit shifting myself again to save costs.
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Post by questionable on Apr 25, 2022 17:22:20 GMT
Here's a few more taken this morning. This acer is situated in full sun in a full south facing position. The label clearly said it likes shade/partial shade. ibb.co/RQtkLcrHere it was last autumn ibb.co/QC79vYgThis is another acer in a more shady position ibb.co/7XxvDWNThis is a "rescue" acer that my wife found in our local garden centre "casualty corner" for £1.25 two years ago. ibb.co/hFBMg7pThis is part of the "shady" area getting it's bit of sun before noon. Afternoon onwards it's fairly shady. ibb.co/PFwcZjBWe had literally dozens of acers that fell of the back of a lorry, they actually did from where to wife use to work and they could help themselves as the pots had broken, gave loads away but everyone we had died, that’s pretty much the same result whenever we’ve planted them over the years, ground and even pots all dead 😪
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Post by deeside2 on Apr 25, 2022 19:04:14 GMT
Just come to the end of our first project 60sq mts of light grey Indian stone laid with a 5x5 pergola raised flower beds, fully stocked with plants etc and some lovely ornamental pots, looks mint. Project 2 Garden/borders/new lawn is next very soon then Project 3 new patio area by the French doors but looking at wooden sleepers to retain where the walls are now to get the cost down and looking at doing as much of the shit shifting myself again to save costs. It all sounds really nice, and very well designed.
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Post by questionable on May 6, 2022 8:55:42 GMT
Obviously not fruit tree related but out of curiosity I’ve got myself a few packets of seeds (Lupin/Cosmos/Honey Bee Mix), John Innes seed soil and two of those plastic boxes to grow seeds in for the kitchen window, So far so good and I’ve come across a reputable site saying that once slightly established put them in egg boxes which I've done with the Cosmos, lost a couple but the rest seem fine so far, once they get a little stronger looking I’ll put them in the garden, hopefully they’ll take and I’ve saved some money
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Post by deeside2 on May 6, 2022 12:04:19 GMT
I think the thread could perhaps be renamed - something like Compost Corner, Green Fingers, or The Oatie Gardening Club maybe I've grown cosmos seeds for many years, and have got some Dazzler, and Purity growing well in the greenhouse at the moment. I've grown lupins several times but they always get infested with greenfly when they're planted in the garden for some reason. This year I'm also growing some seedlings of Tithonia, Antirrhinums, Gypsophila, various types of Marigolds, Mexican Hat, Dahlia, Nicotiana, Salvia, and Sweet Peas, as well as Basil, Parsley, Coriander, Beetroot, Pak Choi, and various types of lettuce, carrots, and tomatoes. I started the parsnips off indoors in toilet rolls and then planted them out just as the root showed at the end of the toilet roll - they're growing really well. The only problem is that there are a hell of a lot of pots to wash once everything has been planted outside. I hope everything grows well for you - good luck
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Post by franklin on May 6, 2022 16:16:52 GMT
I think the thread could perhaps be renamed - something like Compost Corner, Green Fingers, or The Oatie Gardening Club maybe I've grown cosmos seeds for many years, and have got some Dazzler, and Purity growing well in the greenhouse at the moment. I've grown lupins several times but they always get infested with greenfly when they're planted in the garden for some reason. This year I'm also growing some seedlings of Tithonia, Antirrhinums, Gypsophila, various types of Marigolds, Mexican Hat, Dahlia, Nicotiana, Salvia, and Sweet Peas, as well as Basil, Parsley, Coriander, Beetroot, Pak Choi, and various types of lettuce, carrots, and tomatoes. I started the parsnips off indoors in toilet rolls and then planted them out just as the root showed at the end of the toilet roll - they're growing really well. The only problem is that there are a hell of a lot of pots to wash once everything has been planted outside. I hope everything grows well for you - good luck Anything "plant" related is fine by me it makes a change from the bickering on most other threads none gardening 🙂
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Post by franklin on May 14, 2022 8:38:00 GMT
I have on the face of it a decent crop of cherries I just hope them make it to the edible stage.
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Post by questionable on May 14, 2022 12:19:13 GMT
I have on the face of it a decent crop of cherries I just hope them make it to the edible stage. [ Would they need a net of some description over them to stop the birds getting at them as apparently “when/if” my fig trees ever sprout figs they advise to cover the fruits.
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Post by franklin on May 14, 2022 12:48:32 GMT
I have on the face of it a decent crop of cherries I just hope them make it to the edible stage. [ Would they need a net of some description over them to stop the birds getting at them as apparently “when/if” my fig trees ever sprout figs they advise to cover the fruits. It's not the birds last year I only had about 6 cherries but they dried up and turned brown. I think there must have been some disease or something that killed the fruit. This year I have a bumper crop so far and I'm just worried they will go the same way before they ripen.
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Post by questionable on May 14, 2022 13:37:48 GMT
Shouldn’t really admit to this but years ago I was in BQ and picked up a large bag of daffodil bulbs on offer as you do I planted them in the three gardens we had at the time.
Thought nothing of it until come growing time and when talking to our neighbour he commented on my weird looking plants that were popping up all over the place, explained that I’d put a load of daffodils in and asked if I was sure...
Turns out I’d actually planted loads of potato’s
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Post by deeside2 on May 15, 2022 5:27:12 GMT
My cherry tree is similarly covered in mini fruits at the moment, like Franklin's photo. Last year we didn't have as many at this stage, but what we did have either fell off early, or were attacked by birds as they ripened and turned red. I think we actually only got about 6 edible fruits !
Likewise with our gooseberry bush, it was covered in fruit last year, and we waited and waited until they looked ready to harvest (it's got lethal thorns !). We went to pick them a couple of days later only to find the vast majority had disappeared (taken by the birds !), so that is being netted this year.
Surprisingly our two blueberry bushes have been unscathed every year so far and we get loads of fruit off them.
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Post by innocentbystander on May 15, 2022 22:22:12 GMT
Been potting up the delphinium seedlings today, ran out of flower pots. So I looked at some online - how the hell can an empty flower pot be more expensive than a full yogurt pot?
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Post by deeside2 on May 16, 2022 4:52:12 GMT
Been potting up the delphinium seedlings today, ran out of flower pots. So I looked at some online - how the hell can an empty flower pot be more expensive than a full yogurt pot? I know, the price is scandalous for a bit of injection moulded plastic (or should I now say "recyclable plastic"). I had to buy some last year and the prices were unbelievable. I shopped around on ebay and fortunately found some second hand ones about 20 miles away that were free if I collected them - bargain !
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Post by franklin on Jun 20, 2022 16:49:23 GMT
I think I've finally figured out my fruiting issue with my cherry. Out of the all the blossom this year my fruit set but dropped before it had time to ripen. I looked at pollination and at disease and after all the searching it looks to be water,its been lacking water and I've been giving it gallons of water and the remaining fruit seem to be set and are turning red touch wood I should have at least some fruit to eat thank goodness.
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Post by deeside2 on Jun 21, 2022 5:39:32 GMT
I gave our cherry tree copious amounts of water and the cherries were growing quite nicely but we didn't get to eat one, not one ! They've all been snaffled by birds this year. I don't really want to net it next year so I don't know what to do. I did net our gooseberry bush this year and we've got loads of fruit ripening nicely, and all untouched by birds !
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Post by franklin on Jun 21, 2022 19:40:18 GMT
Eaten my first home grow cherry tonight and it was delicious 😋
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Post by cerebralstokie on Jun 21, 2022 20:10:14 GMT
I gave our cherry tree copious amounts of water and the cherries were growing quite nicely but we didn't get to eat one, not one ! They've all been snaffled by birds this year. I don't really want to net it next year so I don't know what to do. I did net our gooseberry bush this year and we've got loads of fruit ripening nicely, and all untouched by birds ! I'm afraid the birds are a menace (at least as far as soft fruit is concerned). I think the only answer is to net if possible. I am having a good crop of strawberries and raspberries this year, but my autumn fruiting raspberries are fruiting now and I am at a loss to understand why.
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Post by spiderpuss on Jun 21, 2022 21:40:01 GMT
I gave our cherry tree copious amounts of water and the cherries were growing quite nicely but we didn't get to eat one, not one ! They've all been snaffled by birds this year. I don't really want to net it next year so I don't know what to do. I did net our gooseberry bush this year and we've got loads of fruit ripening nicely, and all untouched by birds ! I'm afraid the birds are a menace (at least as far as soft fruit is concerned). I think the only answer is to net if possible. I am having a good crop of strawberries and raspberries this year, but my autumn fruiting raspberries are fruiting now and I am at a loss to understand why. I generally also net all soft fruit. It's too tempting a treat. I normally leave a little corner for them. Hungry blackbirds can strip bushes clean dry in days otherwise.
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Post by franklin on Jun 24, 2022 10:41:21 GMT
One of my remaining cherries 🤤
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Post by franklin on Jul 9, 2022 9:42:03 GMT
I'll be buying a Victoria Plum shortly to add to my fruit tree collection and as always can't wait to start eating fresh sweet fruit 😋
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Post by deeside2 on Jul 9, 2022 10:11:53 GMT
As an experiment about two years ago I grew a plum tree from a stone I planted in a pot after eating the plum. It took about three weeks for it to peep through the compost and is about 3 feet tall now. I didn't have enough space to plant it in my garden so gave it to my cousin. It'll no doubt be a few years though before there are any plums that she can pick and eat.
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Post by questionable on Jul 16, 2022 21:01:07 GMT
Purchased a number of clematis in the spring which I’m hoping in time will cover my fencing at the back, am I right in saying I need to well cover (heaped soil) the root area from the sun?
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Post by cvillestokie on Jul 16, 2022 21:09:09 GMT
Does anyone have any general suggestions for good books on introductions to gardening?
We are soon to move into a new house, our first owned, and I want to develop a garden, but I literally have no ideas on where to start.
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Post by deeside2 on Jul 16, 2022 21:12:42 GMT
Purchased a number of clematis in the spring which I’m hoping in time will cover my fencing at the back, am I right in saying I need to well cover (heaped soil) the root area from the sun? Ideally you should plant them a good few inches deeper than normal. The plant root area should be in the shade, or not in direct sun, and they like to be well watered and fed regularly (I use diluted liquid tomato food). Even so this year it's been so hot and dry that a couple of my clematis have got clematis wilt. Best treatment is cut the plant to the ground, and the deeper roots shold help it to regrow. If you apply a mulch of compost over the roots make sure you've watered the roots well before you add the mulch.
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Post by deeside2 on Jul 16, 2022 21:16:28 GMT
Does anyone have any general suggestions for good books on introductions to gardening? We are soon to move into a new house, our first owned, and I want to develop a garden, but I literally have no ideas on where to start. There's loads of books on it. Some years ago Alan Titchmarsh wrote 2 books "How To Be A Gardener" which takes you right from type of soil, basic designs, types of plants etc - I don't know If they're still available. I suppose there are numerous more up to date variations by other authors. You could also take a look at "RHS Complete Gardener's Manual" which looks like it's a good base to start from. On Amazon around £18. Hope this helps.
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Post by franklin on Jul 17, 2022 6:02:44 GMT
Does anyone have any general suggestions for good books on introductions to gardening? We are soon to move into a new house, our first owned, and I want to develop a garden, but I literally have no ideas on where to start. Mate I'd no idea whatsoever but and it's not for everyone I took this approach. Chucked compost on my home made borders went to garden centre picked plants I liked and took them home and planted them. It really was that simple go to the garden centre in spring, summer, autumn and winter and see what's flowering at each time and if you like it buy it and plant. Once you've become confident in planting then you tend to get into it a bit more and start to look at what kind of plants they are , annual, perennials etc. Some plants live for the summer do their thing then die never to be seen again. Some come back year after year etc. Some do there thing die but drop seeds before they do so next year you have seedlings. I have no idea what kind of soil I have and to be fair I don't care just go for it be flamboyant. One tip dont always buy expensive plants cheap is often better and a packet of seeds is better still and dont forget bulbs and tubers like dahlias, daffs, tulips, gladioli etc. Wild flower seeds chucked on the garden often produce a stunning show well into the autumn. This is mine at the moment and I've no idea how I've done it 😁
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Post by deeside2 on Jul 17, 2022 6:24:39 GMT
Does anyone have any general suggestions for good books on introductions to gardening? We are soon to move into a new house, our first owned, and I want to develop a garden, but I literally have no ideas on where to start. Mate I'd no idea whatsoever but and it's not for everyone I took this approach. Chucked compost on my home made borders went to garden centre picked plants I liked and took them home and planted them. It really was that simple go to the garden centre in spring, summer, autumn and winter and see what's flowering at each time and if you like it buy it and plant. Once you've become confident in planting then you tend to get into it a bit more and start to look at what kind of plants they are , annual, perennials etc. Some plants live for the summer do their thing then die never to be seen again. Some come back year after year etc. Some do there thing die but drop seeds before they do so next year you have seedlings. I have no idea what kind of soil I have and to be fair I don't care just go for it be flamboyant. One tip dont always buy expensive plants cheap is often better and a packet of seeds is better still and dont forget bulbs and tubers like dahlias, daffs, tulips, gladioli etc. Wild flower seeds chucked on the garden often produce a stunning show well into the autumn. This is mine at the moment and I've no idea how I've done it 😁 That's my way of doing it as well. Your garden looks really good so it obviously works !
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