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Post by spiderpuss on Sept 11, 2020 23:36:52 GMT
Don't forget for Toms, it's the last few weeks of ripening. Trim away extra leaves from the area where the fruits are so more sunny-sol gets to them. Keep picking the ripe ones as you go, don't leave it to pick in one go. That was all. You got any tips for growing rhubarb, pretty please, Spidey? TIA! I don't grow any right now, but from my memory they preferred watered, but well drained soil. Where my old man grew them, he had fantastic soil, with heaps of sheep dung ready to throw at any soil problem. They seemed (it is a while ago) to get along all by themselves, you only want the young stems, the old ones are tough and stringy. The rest 'll be on the web.
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Post by chuffedstokie on Sept 12, 2020 6:41:58 GMT
Brilliant thanks. I'm already growing one of those with a degree of success and there's a guy (grower) who comes to the weekly market who I'm sure can help with the others on the list. Well give us a starter for 10, then, Chuff! We want to know which one! The Rosemary is hanging on in there murph and chive seems to like its location as well the one thing that grows around here like a weed though is Thrift. It looks great all along the seafront, think I'll dig a bit up and have a crack at it myself, it won't be missed!.😉🌻
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Post by Deleted on Sept 12, 2020 16:55:33 GMT
You got any tips for growing rhubarb, pretty please, Spidey? TIA! I don't grow any right now, but from my memory they preferred watered, but well drained soil. Where my old man grew them, he had fantastic soil, with heaps of sheep dung ready to throw at any soil problem. They seemed (it is a while ago) to get along all by themselves, you only want the young stems, the old ones are tough and stringy. The rest 'll be on the web. I use a good mulch of well rotted manure over the winter on my rhubarb and I also use coffee grounds around the plant during the summer - it loves it and the stuff grows like hell.
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Post by murphthesurf on Sept 14, 2020 13:32:55 GMT
You got any tips for growing rhubarb, pretty please, Spidey? TIA! I don't grow any right now, but from my memory they preferred watered, but well drained soil. Where my old man grew them, he had fantastic soil, with heaps of sheep dung ready to throw at any soil problem. They seemed (it is a while ago) to get along all by themselves, you only want the young stems, the old ones are tough and stringy. The rest 'll be on the web. Ta ever so, Spide. I know you can buy well-rotted horse manure in bags, so some will be obtained before the winter.
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Post by murphthesurf on Sept 14, 2020 13:42:00 GMT
I don't grow any right now, but from my memory they preferred watered, but well drained soil. I use well rotted manure on my rhubarb and I also use coffee grounds around the plant during the summer - it loves it and the stuff grows like hell. I have custard on mine. BOOM BOOM. I'm 'ere all week. Or I could get me coat. Oh, c'mon Dees, you KNEW one of us was going to say it, dincha! I'm just surprised it wasn't Badge or JD!
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Post by murphthesurf on Sept 14, 2020 13:55:52 GMT
Well give us a starter for 10, then, Chuff! We want to know which one! The Rosemary is hanging on in there murph and chive seems to like its location as well the one thing that grows around here like a weed though is Thrift. It looks great all along the seafront, think I'll dig a bit up and have a crack at it myself, it won't be missed!.😉🌻 Oooooooo, Chuff, you little monkey - that's against the law! And you one of the Met's very finest, too! Suppose you could add pillaging the countryside to the historic arson charge sheet and the imminent one for dubious laptop - and hidden camera - skulduggery in a supermarket car park…… I'm going to start rehearsing baking cakes with a file in them.
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Post by franklin on Jan 29, 2021 18:27:26 GMT
I thought I'd bring this back as I've just had a Lemon tree and Magnolia Stellata for my Birthday. I'm delighted and I have one very nice lemon nearly ready 😀
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Post by spiderpuss on Jan 29, 2021 23:40:38 GMT
Now is about the time to prune the trees you have before they start their real new growth. I might leave mine this year, with just a bit of dead-wood removal. The pears last year were really nice (comice), so looking forward to them this year. The flowers make a show in spring too.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 24, 2021 20:22:46 GMT
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Post by franklin on Mar 31, 2021 15:10:10 GMT
Well with the nice weather I've been putting my lemon tree outside to benefit from the sunshine and I have a thermometer to measure temp and humidity and today in the sun it peaked at 40.2°C at 3.45pm 🌞
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Post by raythesailor on Mar 31, 2021 21:06:39 GMT
Delighted to see this excellent non controversial thread bought back to life 😀
As a complete gardening novice, inspired by lockdown, lets start with an easy one. MINT ?
Last year I grew quit a healthy plant, and contained it within a pot.
Over the winter it seems to have expired, but I now have a few straggly shoots coming up around the edges of the pot.
What are the chances of bringing this back to life ?
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Post by franklin on Apr 1, 2021 7:37:50 GMT
Delighted to see this excellent non controversial thread bought back to life 😀 As a complete gardening novice, inspired by lockdown, lets start with an easy one. MINT ? Last year I grew quit a healthy plant, and contained it within a pot. Over the winter it seems to have expired, but I now have a few straggly shoots coming up around the edges of the pot. What are the chances of bringing this back to life ? Growing mint as I do myself I'd say 100% it will come back its a tough old boot of a plant and will continue to return for years to come.
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Post by franklin on Apr 1, 2021 7:49:50 GMT
On a side note did anyone see the BBC report on "huge bees" the other day? I've had loads in my garden everyday for a week or so now and apparently they are Queen bees looking for a decent location for a new hive. My missus is petrified of "bugs" and the thought of a hive in the garden has her on Defcon 1 🚀
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Post by Deleted on Apr 1, 2021 7:55:38 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Apr 1, 2021 7:57:20 GMT
On a side note did anyone see the BBC report on "huge bees" the other day? I've had loads in my garden everyday for a week or so now and apparently they are Queen bees looking for a decent location for a new hive. My missus is petrified if "bugs" and the thought of a hive in the garden has her on Defcon 1 🚀 Yes I saw the report, some were huge weren't they. I think I heard an ominous buzzing in our garden shed yesterday so I'm going to take a look this morning to see what's going on.
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Post by franklin on Apr 1, 2021 8:00:23 GMT
On a side note did anyone see the BBC report on "huge bees" the other day? I've had loads in my garden everyday for a week or so now and apparently they are Queen bees looking for a decent location for a new hive. My missus is petrified if "bugs" and the thought of a hive in the garden has her on Defcon 1 🚀 Yes I saw the report, some were huge weren't they. I think I heard an ominous buzzing in our garden shed yesterday so I'm going to take a look this morning to see what's going on. They are i watched one the other day a good inch or so long exploring my garden it went into every hole in my sleepers and at one point started to dig in my flower bed lol
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Post by murphthesurf on Apr 1, 2021 8:34:44 GMT
On a side note did anyone see the BBC report on "huge bees" the other day? I've had loads in my garden everyday for a week or so now and apparently they are Queen bees looking for a decent location for a new hive. My missus is petrified if "bugs" and the thought of a hive in the garden has her on Defcon 1 🚀 Yes I saw the report, some were huge weren't they. I think I heard an ominous buzzing in our garden shed yesterday so I'm going to take a look this morning to see what's going on. Please be very careful, Dees - do you think it could be a wasps' nest? Remember that Michael Caine film - I think it was called 'The Swarm'... (another similar film was called 'The Killer Bees')... Lots of people met a gruesome end through multi bee stings, although it's classed as one of the worst films ever made, along with one of his others, 'Jaws 4' ---- Michael Caine even acknowledges that himself about both films, but says he doesn't care how bad they were because they paid for his new house! Not many people know dat!
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Post by murphthesurf on Apr 1, 2021 8:46:35 GMT
Delighted to see this excellent non controversial thread bought back to life 😀 As a complete gardening novice, inspired by lockdown, lets start with an easy one. MINT ? Last year I grew quit a healthy plant, and contained it within a pot. Over the winter it seems to have expired, but I now have a few straggly shoots coming up around the edges of the pot. What are the chances of bringing this back to life ? Easy-peasy, Raymondo. Just leave it as it is, and it will re-grow on its own - you may find that the new growth comes up round the perimeter of the pot rather than in the centre, but that's no prob. If you want to rejuvenate it, there are a couple of easy ways: Tip the whole plant out and split it, whether you halve it or quarter it, each portion having some of the new shoots that are coming up round the edges - plant each new clump in its own pot, using ordinary garden soil, with the new shoots in the centre, then water in and leave it to look after itself. The other way to get new plants is to cut off a few stems which are looking healthy and with strong-looking leafy tips - cut them maybe 5" long - then leave the leafy tips as they are but strip off all the other leaves down the stem. Put these in a tumbler of water and place it out of direct sunlight and leave them until, after perhaps a week, the stems sprout loads of long tiny roots all the way down. When the baby roots look quite developed and as though they can't wait to grow, just pot the stems up, starting in a smallish pot until the plants get established then pot them on in a bigger container. The main thing, which can't be emphasised enough, is that when you planted your mint you put it in a pot, which is a sort-of golden rule on planting mint, as its roots need to be confined or the plant will soon spread all over the place. If you actively want the mint to be rampant, plant it in open ground! Tabbouleh, a Middle-Eastern dish, uses masses of mint and parsley, and you'll enjoy it far more if you grew the herbs you're eating!
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Post by murphthesurf on Apr 1, 2021 8:56:45 GMT
Well with the nice weather I've been putting my lemon tree outside to benefit from the sunshine and I have a thermometer to measure temp and humidity and today in the sun it peaked at 40.2°C at 3.45pm 🌞 Don't forget to take it back inside by teatime (ONO), though, François, as there will be still be more than a chance of frost at night every night for a couple of months yet. Put an alarm call on your phone for the appropriate time to take it back in.....
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Post by franklin on Apr 1, 2021 8:58:42 GMT
I've actually got my mint in the ground rather than pots, they are invasive if you let's them get out of hand. I have Spearmint, Chocolate mint, Apple mint and Bowles mint. You do have to keep an eye out for them but it's not too difficult to control them its just if you have the time and don't mind getting on you knees and digging bits up if you don't want it. I quite like it and don't mind it spreading a little. My soil is not too heavy so its easy for me to root out unwanted weeds and other bits and bobs including mint.
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Post by murphthesurf on Apr 1, 2021 9:02:55 GMT
I've actually got my mint in the ground rather than pots, they are invasive if you let's them get out of hand. I have Spearmint, Chocolate mint, Apple mint and Bowles mint. You do have to keep an eye out for them but it's not too difficult to control them its just if you have the time and don't mind getting on you knees and digging bits up if you don't want it. I quite like it and don't mind it spreading a little. My soil is not too heavy so its easy for me to root out unwanted weeds and other bits and bobs including mint. Day of the Triffids!
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Post by franklin on Apr 1, 2021 9:03:49 GMT
Well with the nice weather I've been putting my lemon tree outside to benefit from the sunshine and I have a thermometer to measure temp and humidity and today in the sun it peaked at 40.2°C at 3.45pm 🌞 Don't forget to take it back inside by teatime (ONO), though, François, as there will be still be more than a chance of frost at night every night for a couple of months yet. Put an alarm call on your phone for the appropriate time to take it back in..... Weather permitting its out at about 10am and in around 7pm. I get the sun all afternoon in the back and it does get very warm late afternoon early evening. I've only had it since my birthday a few months ago and although its OK indoors I can see it likes outside much better bizarre I know but the last couple of hot days and I swear I can see the leaves perking up and getting a gloss shine.
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Post by franklin on Apr 1, 2021 9:12:51 GMT
Another shrub/ Bush or tree however you describe it is a Californian Lilac mine is Skylark and is evergreen and has masses of tiny blue flower spikes and it smells lovely. Mine is a about 5yrs old and is about 6foot tall and 4foot spread. Bees love it and it looks beautiful in full flower and it flowers for weeks and weeks.
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Post by chuffedstokie on Apr 1, 2021 10:12:39 GMT
Although I've only moved 3½ miles down the road from my last place I'm now away from the full force of Cardigan bay and its associated salt onslaught thankfully. The main benefit though is a fantastic South facing aspect in a small sheltered cul de sac but still a short walk to the beach. Everything still has to be grown in pots and what I've got at the moment are doing really well, a fruit tree would love it I think, is starting small and potting on best or jump in with something more mature. Lemon sounds great.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 1, 2021 12:04:21 GMT
Yes I saw the report, some were huge weren't they. I think I heard an ominous buzzing in our garden shed yesterday so I'm going to take a look this morning to see what's going on. Please be very careful, Dees - do you think it could be a wasps' nest? Remember that Michael Caine film - I think it was called 'The Swarm'... (another similar film was called 'The Killer Bees')... Lots of people met a gruesome end through multi bee stings, although it's classed as one of the worst films ever made, along with one of his others, 'Jaws 4' ---- Michael Caine even acknowledges that himself about both films, but says he doesn't care how bad they were because they paid for his new house! Not many people know dat! Emptied the shed this morning and checked everywhere and not a sign of anything like bees or wasps, thank goodness. The buzzing yesterday must just have been a visiting bee or wasp checking out the suitability for a new home.
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Post by franklin on Apr 10, 2021 16:06:01 GMT
My Cherry and Apple trees are just beginning to blossom i hope this cold snap won't do for them. On the plus side my Fritillary Imperialis are doing great things ready to flower 🌼
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Post by franklin on Apr 15, 2021 11:40:17 GMT
Well what a beautiful day early morning DIY new shower pull switch fitted, some touch up filler and painting in the bathroom then sitting outside on my decking smelling the intoxicating perfume of my Hyacinth watching the insects buzzing about my Cherry blossom and spring flowers waiting patiently for my apple blossom to open. If Carling did.....
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Post by Deleted on Apr 15, 2021 11:53:09 GMT
Yes it's a lovely morning but it was a little chilly earlier on. The cherry blossom in our garden hasn't opened yet, but the new crab apple that I planted a few weeks ago is on the cusp of opening. Our magnolias have been flowering for a couple of weeks, but the star so far this year has been our camellia, it's been covered in beautiful red blooms, a really bright highlight even on dreary days.
I've spent the morning in my greenhouse - sowing some seeds and potting on some seedlings that I'd planted a few weeks ago. I've also become more and more interested in growing my own plants from cuttings from plants in my garden, and also from neighbours etc. Last year I took lots of different things, and most rooted well, but I'm most pleased that 4 of my rose cuttings have all rooted nicely and I've now separated them into individual pots - only problem is I can't remember which one is which type (until they flower !).
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Post by franklin on Apr 15, 2021 12:21:30 GMT
Yes it's a lovely morning but it was a little chilly earlier on. The cherry blossom in our garden hasn't opened yet, but the new crab apple that I planted a few weeks ago is on the cusp of opening. Our magnolias have been flowering for a couple of weeks, but the star so far this year has been our camellia, it's been covered in beautiful red blooms, a really bright highlight even on dreary days. I've spent the morning in my greenhouse - sowing some seeds and potting on some seedlings that I'd planted a few weeks ago. I've also become more and more interested in growing my own plants from cuttings from plants in my garden, and also from neighbours etc. Last year I took lots of different things, and most rooted well, but I'm most pleased that 4 of my rose cuttings have all rooted nicely and I've now separated them into individual pots - only problem is I can't remember which one is which type (until they flower !). Are you stalking me 😁 my Camellia Dr King ( new this year) has amazing red blooms my Magnolia Stellata( new in Jan) has yet to bloom but has buds and my Crab apple is bursting with red buds ready to open anytime now. We seem to have similar taste in what we plant. Oh my Cherry is a Stella on dwarf rootstock.
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Post by franklin on Apr 15, 2021 12:35:38 GMT
For anyone interested I've also just purchased a solid oak Kentucky bourbon barrel and a half barrel. Given them a short refurbishment, planted the half up with numerous plants and made a cracking drinks table out of the full one varnished complete with the original stamp. Total cost £40 for the two items way cheaper and better quality than a garden centre.
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