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Post by derekbrooks on Apr 3, 2024 20:41:57 GMT
Raining most of the morning but dried up later. Potted about 24 more rooted chrysanth cuttings. Potted some more begonias that were growing into 5 inch (12.5 cm.) pots .Sowed another 4 packets of flower seeds.
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Post by derekbrooks on Apr 2, 2024 19:48:09 GMT
Had some errands to do this morning so I hadn't time for much gardening but I got the pots ready for sowing zinnias. I grow them in bottomless drinking cups stood upside down in trays containing a layer of potting compost.This is because they don't like root disturbance.A standard seed tray holds 12 of these cups and I got 4 trays ready. Cindy took Rosemary a ride this afternoon so I wemt on the allotment and continued weeding the root crop bed. I had to be home for 3.30 because Cindy went home then. I went in the greenhouse after and sowed the zinnia seeds,2 or3 in each cup.
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Post by derekbrooks on Apr 1, 2024 19:34:24 GMT
It rained most of the morning but dried up by mid afternoon.This morning I went in the greenhouse and took another 46 dahlia cuttings. Sowed about another 6 packets of flower seeds.Some of those sown earlier and put in the propagator were ready to come out so the new ones went in.
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Post by derekbrooks on Mar 31, 2024 17:38:07 GMT
Our church service didn't start till 11.15 because our minister had a service at another church first. So ,apart from watering,I was able to do jobs before I went. I told you that I had been taking cuttings from my overwintered basket plants. However, a lot of the plants didn't survive the winer so I got rid of them.Put the plants into one sack and the compost from them into another. Martyn took us for our lunch to a restaurant we had not been to before and after he took us a ride to two places we had not been to for a long time.
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Post by derekbrooks on Mar 30, 2024 19:57:58 GMT
Because Heather is here to look after Rosemary I went to the hut at the normal time this morning 10.00 till 12.00.Went to Blackleach with Janet this afternoon to do the bird count and record the flowers.Went in the greenhouse when I got home. 72 plugs of impatiens came from Suttons this morning so I transferred them to cell trays.This is the last delivery of plug plants.
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Post by derekbrooks on Mar 29, 2024 21:57:15 GMT
Thank you.Balc2 Our Good Friday service at church was half an hour earlier than usual, 10.00 so I had time to do something when I got home at 11.00. I decided to pepair a pane of glass in my larger greenhouse.Don't know how it got broken but a piece had broken off it and fell to the ground.I took it under the car port and joined the two pieces together by binding duck tape round them. Took Rosemary a walk this afternoon then went in the greenhouse and started taking cuttings from my overwintered basket plants. Did some pink diascias. Heather arrived at 10.30 this evening for the weekend.
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Post by derekbrooks on Mar 28, 2024 21:11:20 GMT
Dry this morning but showery after. Martyn took me monitor back to the hospital this morning. I went to my allotment and started weeding what will be the root crop bed. This was the brassica bed before and there were still some sprouts on it but they have nearly finished.I picked some more and took them home. I also picked the first rhubarb and gave it to two of our neighbours.There is plenty more so I will pick some more for ourselves when we want some. This afternoon I went to Blackleach for the art club. Richard, the ranger doesn't work on Thursdays and besides him I am the only person who has a key to the visitor centre so there can't be an art club unless I go to open up.While they were in I just sat at my desk writing my next article for Garden News.
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Post by derekbrooks on Mar 27, 2024 19:35:39 GMT
A showery day and another day mostly in the greenhouse sowing more flower seeds.Sowed another 8 packets and also two varieties of which I had saved my own seeds ,Rudbeckia "Indian summer" and marigold "Tall Scotch Prize".I planted my begonias in boxes in February and put them in the propagator to start them growing.Today I potted four up into 5 inch pots that were growing.
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Post by derekbrooks on Mar 26, 2024 21:12:04 GMT
A decent day today. I took Rosemary a walk in her wheelchair this afternoon.When we got home I went in the greenhouse .Started sowing some more flower seeds, 8 packets altogether and will sow some more tomorrow.
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Post by derekbrooks on Mar 25, 2024 21:31:02 GMT
A showery day but I have been in the greenhouse most of the timw. Took another 20 chrysanth cuttings and 50 dahlias.
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Post by derekbrooks on Mar 24, 2024 22:02:14 GMT
Two things I forgot to mention earlier. I haven't mowed my lawns this year yet and they were rather long. Because I have to take things a bit easier my next door neighbour mowed them for me with his electric mower.I only have a push mower and it would have been hard work. Heather went home this afternoon. She normally comes for the weekend every two weeks.This wasn't her week for coming but she came because she didn't know if I would still be in hospital.
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Post by derekbrooks on Mar 24, 2024 21:10:18 GMT
Thank you,Jellibeans Another afternoon in the greenhouse.Potted about 40 tomatoes into drinking cups then took another 45 chrysanth cuttings.Removed the chrysanth stools from the warming benches and put the tomatoes on.
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Post by derekbrooks on Mar 23, 2024 21:27:11 GMT
Heather had to take me back to hospital this morning because they had left a cannula in my arm.Thank you again for the messages you have sent me. Had the afternoon in the greenhouse. I told you yesterday that some plug plants had arrived and I transferred them all to cell trays. There were 72 begonia "Non stop" and 72 begonia "Organdy"
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Post by derekbrooks on Mar 22, 2024 19:39:10 GMT
Thank you very much for your messages.I arrived home from hospital this afternoon.I have had a monitor fitted and have to keep it on for a week then take it back.A doctor will examine it and decide if I need any further treatment. Martyn has been looking after Rosemary while I have been away and Heather arrived yesterday for the weekend.I feel O.K. and will start to get back to my normal jobs tomorrow .Two deliveries of plug plants arrived while I was away and some more arrived today. Heather has potted some up for me,some coleus from Dibleys so I will carry on doing them.
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Post by derekbrooks on Mar 17, 2024 21:20:45 GMT
Didn't have time for any gardening jobs today.Heather has gone back home to Porthmadog this evening. I have told you before about the books I have written for the National Vegetable Society, "Getting started on the allotment", Getting started on the show bench" and "Getting started growing cut flowers. "Getting started on the allotment" has been very popular .All the stock of books has been sold and it is being re-printed which is good news and I am very pleased about it.The society emailed me to ask if I wanted any changes making. "Getting started growing cut flowers" is the same size of book and similar quality but this has not sold as well as they would have liked and they have a large stock of books left.Unless they can find any groups that will have the books, they will be confiscated which is very bad news.The only reason I can think of is that because it is a vegetable society members are more interested in a book about vegetables which is what the allotment book is mostly about than one about flowers.I was told that I could have as many books as I wanted.They are in boxes of 40 so I told them to send me a box and I have only had to pay for the carriage.So, I have a box of 40 books to try and sell so if any of you would like one please let me know.The cost of a book is £5.99 but you can have them for half price £3.00 but the postage is £2.70 making a total of £5.70. If you want to send me a cheque my address is 6, Oakwood Drive, Worsley,Manchester M28 3 HN. I just want as many books as possible to go to a good home where they will be made use of and not be confiscated. "Getting started growing cut flowers" My books on the N.V.S.stand at Chorley show
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