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Post by SueA on Oct 9, 2017 7:51:01 GMT
You asked us in 'Help' in the 'Welcome to Garden Friends' section joysie21 so there are a few answers there already. I would say just use whatever compost you have in or normally use, just don't let the bulbs sit in very wet heavy compost, mix a bit of grit, sand, vermiculite etc. in to aid drainage.
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Post by Rosie on Oct 11, 2017 7:33:47 GMT
I would do a 50/50 compost/John Innes but I'm contrary
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Post by Lou78W on Oct 11, 2017 14:21:28 GMT
I'd agree with you Rosie.....half/half.....a bulb fibre would do in place of mpc; bulb roots don't like heavy compost.
I've just ordered an apple tree (maiden) for a huuuuuuuge pot I have; "Scrumptious". It won't be delivered until late Nov at the earliest....
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Post by SueA on Oct 12, 2017 7:18:28 GMT
150 'free' spring bulbs arrived in the post yesterday from G.World magazine, going in the cupboard (with all the others! ) until the ground dries out a bit! Did yours arrive Rosie?
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Post by Rosie on Oct 12, 2017 7:42:45 GMT
I got mine about 10 days ago SueA, already in pots and put to one side till spring . They look nice bulbs too
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Post by SueA on Oct 16, 2017 8:28:06 GMT
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Post by roofgardener on Oct 16, 2017 9:37:40 GMT
About 6 weeks ago I went to Aldi for some cottage cheese. (I needed it in order to put a few of my chives in. Well, you've got to put them SOMEWHERE otherwise it just grows and grows, and when I sit out in the roofgarden sipping a glass of wine, it droops into my glass, and everything suddenly becomes chive wine. Or chive tea. Or chive cider. [ I should explain that the chive plantpot sites on my outdoor table])
Where was I ? Oh yes... Aldi.....
Anyway... as I was dragging my unruly shopping trolley towards the entrance, it suddenly slipped its leash and gamboled off towards the outdoor flower display shelves. As I went to recover it, I saw a display box of miniature roses, attractively priced at about £1.99 each, so I got three.
I put them in three pots and... they grew. (or rather... bushed out). And they looked really nice.
I dead-headed and lightly pruned them this weekend; some have produced new buds.
Sometimes, the unplanned spontaneous plants can turn out to be the most successful. I may even get some more next year.
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Post by Fractal on Oct 20, 2017 6:57:01 GMT
A Medlar (Mespilus germanica). Yes, it's the one you have to let the fruit effectively rot before you eat them!
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Post by SueA on Oct 20, 2017 8:20:45 GMT
They're the ones you have to 'blet' aren't they Fractal, I think I'd be worried about knowing the right point at which they were 'rotted' enough to use but not totally 'gone off'. We were walking around a walled garden near here once & a gent who worked there as a volunteer heard me say 'Oh look medlar fruits' & he asked me if I knew how to use them as a lady volunteer who used to use them to make jam was no longer around, I do have a recipe for I think medlar cheese somewhere but have never tried it & wouldn't like to inflict my preserves on anyone!
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Post by roofgardener on Oct 20, 2017 9:40:08 GMT
"blet" ??
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Post by Fractal on Oct 20, 2017 17:08:14 GMT
They're the ones you have to 'blet' aren't they Fractal, I think I'd be worried about knowing the right point at which they were 'rotted' enough to use but not totally 'gone off'. We were walking around a walled garden near here once & a gent who worked there as a volunteer heard me say 'Oh look medlar fruits' & he asked me if I knew how to use them as a lady volunteer who used to use them to make jam was no longer around, I do have a recipe for I think medlar cheese somewhere but have never tried it & wouldn't like to inflict my preserves on anyone!
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Post by Fractal on Oct 20, 2017 17:10:34 GMT
Yes, that's right Sue. Blet or bletting is where I suppose they sort of start to ferment just before rotting. Probably a fine line as you say.
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Post by Geumlover on Oct 21, 2017 10:54:19 GMT
You do not actually need to 'blet' them to use for making Medlar jelly. Just wait until they are properly ripe (they go soft then). Purée the fruit with a little water, but no sugar. Strain through a cloth. Do not press through unless you want a Medlar cheese. Then 1 pint of juice to a pound of sugar makes a very nice clear jam. Wife is not keen as it has an astringent quality. I like it though.
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Post by grindle on Oct 22, 2017 5:12:29 GMT
my bulbs arrived from Parkers yesterday, though goodness knows when I'm going to find the time or weather to plant them
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Post by SueA on Oct 22, 2017 7:35:34 GMT
I got 2 trays of bellis & 2 of violas for £10 from Plumleys Garden centre & a pretty foliage begonia & oyster mushroom growing kit for £1 each in the sale & 3 packs of 40 crocus for £10 from Fryers yesterday. Thinking of planting crocus bulbs in the lawn along the edges - will need a lot more than 120 though!
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