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Post by Cat on Apr 28, 2020 18:45:43 GMT
Today was a rainy day so nothing done outdoorsy till after tea when I popped out and planted the first batch of Cambridge Favouritw bare root strawberry plants and 10 tuberosa bulbs.
Tuberosa is very highly scented and excellent in floral bouquets. Not hardy unfortunately. this is the first time I have grown them after years of using them as a florist. I have gone for the traditional white but the lemon and pink are tempting. These are not cheap to purchase but I hope they will be an investment having them near the house door and seating/decking areas.
Keep growing, keep smiling, stay healthy and happy.
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Post by Cat on Apr 24, 2020 18:08:50 GMT
Went on the allotment this morning to plant my potatoes but didn't have time to finish them. We didn't go a walk this afternoon because we wanted to watch the funeral of a friend on the computer. We were given the link and the password but we couldn't find it. The same thing happened last Wednesday with another friend. So I went back to the allotment and finished planting the potatoes. There are 6 rows of 12.They are about 12 inches apart and the rows about 18 inches apart. There are two and a half rows each of Casablanca and Kestrel and half a row each of Red Duke of York and Charlotte. I put lawn mowings in the trenches and put the potatoes on top.This helps to stop scab disease (This is another tip for you, Cat ). When I got home I sowed 5 varieties of lettuce and 2 varieties of beetroot in cell trays and also some calabrese in 3 inch pots. Went in the greenhouse a bit this evening and finished putting the first collars on the leeks. I will need to fix the rest of my frames up soon but the area in front of the shed where they go is a dumping ground when I don't need it. So I began tidying it up . There were a lot of discarded plants that needed removing from their pots and empty trays and buckets that needed shifting. That's great thank you derekbrooks
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Post by Cat on Apr 24, 2020 18:05:53 GMT
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Post by Cat on Apr 21, 2020 20:44:30 GMT
Today I potted all the rooted cuttings of bacopa and diascia that I took a few weeks ago .Not sure whether I wanted them in cell trays or small yoghurt pots so I put some in each. I had lost some because I let them dry out. Potted about 40 brassica plants (sprouts, cauliflowers and 2 varieties of cabbage) from 3 inch pots into 5 inch. I think I have told you before,I do this to help combat clubroot. They will be bigger plants when I plant them out and the roots have a larger volume of compost to occupy before they reach the soil. I have six cold frames that came from Elite Greenhouses. If ever I need replacement glass for them I can get it from there. However, I have another frame that I had given to me which is a different shape which has one of the ends missing.I don't know where I can get glass for it so this afternoon I made one with wood. I am going to try potting brassicas into 5 inch pots this year having seen this re clubroot. Thanks for the tip.
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Post by Cat on Apr 20, 2020 20:33:25 GMT
Today the boss and my neighbour started to put scaffold netting onto our new veg cages. The boss was allowed to use the electric staple gun and loved the responsibility. Hopefully the tmframes should be finished and located by close of business wednesday so they can be filled and I can do some direct sowing.
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Post by Cat on Apr 13, 2020 20:13:52 GMT
So today I got rid of about 18 tubers that hadn't started. Tomorrow I should be able to take another batch of cuttings with luck. We are currently rooting without bottom heat as it is so hot. The boss and I put some shading up in the greenhouse and we are even laying shading over the cuttings to reduce temperatures. By doing this we are running at approx. 20 at night and 26 to 30 during the day(thermometer placed on top of cutting tray)...and that is with the door and vents open.
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Post by Cat on Apr 13, 2020 20:07:50 GMT
Hi johnjess Hope you are well. Pinch out those flower buds. When the flowers form this tells the plant to stop growing so by removing bud the side shoots will grow on.
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Post by Cat on Apr 13, 2020 20:05:58 GMT
I have a mountain waiting to go to the tip for composting that I won'tuse here at home. Dread to think how busy they will be when they re open. Our garden plot is so up to date that I can now focus on those odds and ends that have never been finished like round the base of the raised shed and filling in the gaps of the old crazy paving where weeds currently grow and I have to sit for hours weeding
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Post by Cat on Apr 7, 2020 20:13:58 GMT
Today I potted up a few things like purple sprouting broccoli and brussel sprouts, oh and of course some dahlias (not many 7) I also sowed some herbs - sweet basil, oregano and mint. I split a supermarket pot of chives into a bigger pot and added some Chives 'Bigga' seeds to fill the bigger pot. Repotted a bit of yellow marjoram taken from the main bit in the front garden to use in the back garden. My eldest son sprayed the decking furniture and some fence panelling this morning while I was busy. My neighbour does a lot of carpentry and he is going to build me a couple of netted frames for the new veg beds so today we agreed a plan of construction over the garden fence. Tomorrow is a working from home day so won't be doing much on the 'plot'
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Ask Derek
Apr 7, 2020 20:06:48 GMT
via mobile
Post by Cat on Apr 7, 2020 20:06:48 GMT
Hi Cat It's nice to hear from you again after all this time. In answer to your first question, neither Rosemary or myself are very well at present. We have been isolating ourselves about 10 days. We are both off our food . Rosemary lost here sense of taste and smell but they have come back a bit now.I just keep feeling tired and don't feel like doing much. I hope you are O.K. I wash plant pots at the kitchen sink just using washing up liquid . I don't wipe them afrer, just leave them to drain. REALLY SORRY YOU ARE BOTH FEELING ROUGH. I HOPE YOU HAVE PEOPLE SUPPORTING YOU AT THIS TRICKY TIME. LOOK AFTER EACH OTHER AND TAKE THINGS SLOWLY.
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Post by Cat on Apr 6, 2020 20:25:48 GMT
That is great news steve. It is my all time favourite dahlia. We had loads of stock beginning of last year but lost the majority due to bad back issues and not being able to lift our dahlias until just a few weeks ago. Everything rotten. We have just two small tubers left in the ground that we have left in rather than disturb because they were nice and firm. It is a regular winner on the show bench for us and the pollinators love it. We still have Birkenshaw Wyn's Favourite too!Although still working on growing numbers up as it is a bit of a beast plant. I hope you are looking down and smiling at the joy your dahlias have brought Tel
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Ask Derek
Apr 6, 2020 17:34:54 GMT
via mobile
Post by Cat on Apr 6, 2020 17:34:54 GMT
Good evening Derek, I hope you and all your family are well during this difficult time. When you wash your plant pots do you wipe with a dish cloth or brush with a bottle brush? And do you use a specific cleaning product or just mild soapy water? I have just dug some new veg beds at home and I have decided to follow your 4 plot rotation to include potato and bean space. I have enjoyed revisiting your books and keep them to hand for easy referral particularly for varieties and how to
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Post by Cat on Apr 6, 2020 17:30:56 GMT
I am so glad the garden club is still running. I am a firm believer that all children should know the basics of growing and where our produce comes from - and a little hard work hurts no one! Our school has been busy planting and we have enrichment lessons twice a week for the farm and growing ground as well as an after school club for gardening only. I don't think it is as well organised as your club is but I am sure it is still enjoyed by all involved.
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Post by Cat on Apr 6, 2020 17:21:48 GMT
I was raking through my seed box today and I came across an old brown packet, I had no idea what it was till I looked inside. Turns out it was a few tomato seeds that Tel sent me, obviously quite a few years back! It was a nice remind of our Tel. I'm going to sow them and see if they germinate. well you know what they say rosie., they won't germinate left in the packet. Speaking of Terry I wonder if anyone still has any dahlias of 'Garden Friends'. Yes it is around sweetpea johndoe has a tuber awake and we have 2 we are waiting to see if they come alive, fingers crossed
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Post by Cat on Apr 6, 2020 17:15:37 GMT
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