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GARDENING everywhere

General socialising and light-hearted discussions take place in here.
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Marian
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Joined: August 23rd, 2009, 2:25 pm

Re: GARDENING everywhere

#221 Post by Marian » June 3rd, 2010, 6:37 pm

Latest post of the previous page:

Alan C. wrote: The worst culprit in my solar tunnel for eating foliage is (believe it or not) earwigs, I've caught the buggers at it! Peppers, mellons, and cape goosberries.
Yes and those guys love the damp too so being near the water is probably their favourite hangout, Nick. Won't diatomaeous (sp) earth help with that?

PS. AlanC. Thanks so much for the shirt for Jr. He loves it and wore it all day yesterday!
Transformative fire...

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getreal
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Re: GARDENING everywhere

#222 Post by getreal » June 5th, 2010, 12:07 am

why does my corriander always bolt? Yet again all my corriander is running to seed. Any help appreciated.
"It's hard to put a leash on a dog once you've put a crown on his head"-Tyrion Lannister.

Fia
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Re: GARDENING everywhere

#223 Post by Fia » June 5th, 2010, 12:29 pm

Eat more of it, getreal :D
Oh, and watering it in dry spells can help too....

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Alan C.
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Re: GARDENING everywhere

#224 Post by Alan C. » June 5th, 2010, 9:43 pm

Two of the main causes of bolting are, sowing too early (I'm guilty of this every year with turnips and neeps) or a cold snap after germination (probably related) or as Fia said, allowing it to dry out.
Plants need to make seed in order to procreate and if anything threatens the natural order of that process they will rush to produce the seed early.
Or summet like that :)
Abstinence Makes the Church Grow Fondlers.

Gottard
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Re: GARDENING everywhere

#225 Post by Gottard » July 13th, 2010, 5:30 pm

This one-year-old offspring comes from a Shetlands thistle and someone in this forum should remember. Today it is withstanding a temp. of 36 DegC. in the shade, humidity 33%, the poor thing!

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getreal
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Re: GARDENING everywhere

#226 Post by getreal » July 13th, 2010, 6:21 pm

Thanks for the replies. I'm sure I haven't sown it too early (May-and in the greenhouse) but I may be guilty of letting the soid get a bit dry now and then. I shall try again next year.

Peneasy--is that the huge thistle-like thing you wanted a name for earlier?
"It's hard to put a leash on a dog once you've put a crown on his head"-Tyrion Lannister.

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Alan C.
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Re: GARDENING everywhere

#227 Post by Alan C. » July 13th, 2010, 6:34 pm

I couldn't get my thistle seeds to germinate Elio, tried three times :sad:

But the edelweiss I got from your seed is doing well :smile: and is about to flower, I'll post a pic when it blooms.

Be carefull not to let your thistle set seeds or you could find yourself overun with them.
Abstinence Makes the Church Grow Fondlers.

Gottard
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Re: GARDENING everywhere

#228 Post by Gottard » July 13th, 2010, 9:25 pm

getreal wrote:Peneasy--is that the huge thistle-like thing you wanted a name for earlier?
Yes!

Alan C wrote "I couldn't get my thistle seeds to germinate Elio, tried three times :sad:
But the edelweiss I got from your seed is doing well :smile: and is about to flower, I'll post a pic when it blooms.
Be carefull not to let your thistle set seeds or you could find yourself overun with them".

I must admit that, from the handful of seed I received, this is the only one I got.
AlanC can you pls. say at what stage I should clip the thistle-heads to avoid them replicating?
Isn't it strange that it is resisting such high temps.? :thumbsup:
The only thing I fear of death is regret if I couldn’t complete my learning experience

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Alan C.
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Re: GARDENING everywhere

#229 Post by Alan C. » July 13th, 2010, 10:22 pm

peneasy
AlanC can you pls. say at what stage I should clip the thistle-heads to avoid them replicating?
As soon as they flower Elio, as in these pics. Otherwise it can be very invasive.
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Gottard
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Re: GARDENING everywhere

#230 Post by Gottard » July 14th, 2010, 8:39 pm

:pointlaugh: Thanks AlanC
The only thing I fear of death is regret if I couldn’t complete my learning experience

Nick
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Re: GARDENING everywhere

#231 Post by Nick » July 15th, 2010, 9:44 am

Seeing those thistles, makes me wonder why the Scots wear such dangerous attire as kilts. Leather lederhosen would seem to give better protection from the prickles....

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getreal
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Re: GARDENING everywhere

#232 Post by getreal » January 24th, 2011, 10:46 pm

Managed to clean out my greenhouse and generally tidy up my veg garden. Got loads of horse poo from my neighbour and have been dumping it on the soil. It has now been dug in.

Starting to look at what I'll grow this year now. It's a nice sign that winter has passed it's mid point and better weather (well, better-ish) is on it's way.

My father gave me a huge sack-the kind you get gravel an' stuff delivered in- to grow my tatties in. Does anyone know if I should make some holes in it, or are they permiable enough without?

Anyone else started with the garden yet?

Just seen that Alan has posted in another thread what he intends to grow and what he has already started.
Show off! :wink:
"It's hard to put a leash on a dog once you've put a crown on his head"-Tyrion Lannister.

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Alan C.
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Re: GARDENING everywhere

#233 Post by Alan C. » January 24th, 2011, 10:56 pm

My father gave me a huge sack-the kind you get gravel an' stuff delivered in- to grow my tatties in. Does anyone know if I should make some holes in it, or are they permeable enough without?
I would think the bag you're talking about would have adequate drainage as they are used for sand (among other things)
Anyone else started with the garden yet?
YES ME! I started on Xmas day with the onion seeds and yesterday with too many to mention again (see the intro thread)
Abstinence Makes the Church Grow Fondlers.

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getreal
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Re: GARDENING everywhere

#234 Post by getreal » January 24th, 2011, 10:59 pm

:redface: Yes, I did read that. After I posted here.
"It's hard to put a leash on a dog once you've put a crown on his head"-Tyrion Lannister.

Gottard
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Re: GARDENING everywhere

#235 Post by Gottard » January 27th, 2011, 2:17 pm

Which remedy for my reluctance/laziness to start tending my garden just yet?
Sunny weather but very low temp -5/5 DegC, 70-80% dampness, warm teas and cosy home browsing the net.
The only thing I fear of death is regret if I couldn’t complete my learning experience

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getreal
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Re: GARDENING everywhere

#236 Post by getreal » March 22nd, 2011, 9:22 pm

Well, it's about time this thread was more active!! What's everyone up to?

I've got me earlies in (in a sack experiment) and think I'll sow my maincrop this weekend.

Some runner beans (in pots, inside) which I'm hardening off to go out in the greenhouse and I have my second lot of sweet peppers sown. The first lot failed, so this time I'm using an electric propegator and I can already see some of the seeds are coming to life.

I also need to get my strawberry boxes filled. I took runners from the crop at the end of last summer as the plants were 3 years old and not giving me such a good crop. I also emptied all the compost out of the boxes. If I don't get a move on I'll never get it done as it's quite a heavy job (the boxes are on top of a wall and getting the compost in is akward).
I have some left over horse manure, would it be a good idea to put this in the bottom and top with compost, or is this too rich?
"It's hard to put a leash on a dog once you've put a crown on his head"-Tyrion Lannister.

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Dave B
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Re: GARDENING everywhere

#237 Post by Dave B » March 22nd, 2011, 9:57 pm

Alan, oh gardening guru: how are you with pot grown herbs?

I had to make sandwiches to take out today and only wanted light stuff since I would be eating well this evening. I used cherry toms, a drizzle of balsamic vinegar and ditto extra cold pressed virgin olive oil, with a touch of black pepper (on Hovis "Best of Both" bread with no butter, I don't like full grain bread).

It occurred to me afterwards that some fresh marjoram or oregano or similar in there would have added the truly Mediterranean touch. I have two windows in my flat, one on the southish (in full sunlight most of the day) and one on the northish wall (that never sees the sun). Would herbs fair well in small pots on one or the other of these window sills, indoors - suitably watered etc.?

Is this within the scope of your knowledge and wisdom?
"Look forward; yesterday was a lesson, if you did not learn from it you wasted it."
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Alan C.
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Re: GARDENING everywhere

#238 Post by Alan C. » March 22nd, 2011, 10:40 pm

Pleased that it's the time of year to resurrect this thread. :smile:
I've got me earlies in (in a sack experiment) and think I'll sow my maincrop this weekend.
All my tatties are in now, first early Duke of York and Sharps express, second early Edzell blue and Kestrel, main crop Desiree and Rooster.
I have my second lot of sweet peppers sown. The first lot failed, so this time I'm using an electric propagator and I can already see some of the seeds are coming to life.
Sowed my peppers and cucumbers in February (both need heat to germinate) they are coming on well.
I also need to get my strawberry boxes filled. I took runners from the crop at the end of last summer as the plants were 3 years old and not giving me such a good crop. I also emptied all the compost out of the boxes. If I don't get a move on I'll never get it done as it's quite a heavy job (the boxes are on top of a wall and getting the compost in is awkward).
You should just fork in some organic pelleted chicken manure and keep the same compost, I've been using the same compost in my polystyrene fish boxes for years.
getreal
I have some left over horse manure, would it be a good idea to put this in the bottom and top with compost, or is this too rich?
Unless it's very well rotted it will kill the roots, it will also inhibit drainage (if it's fresh)

Thanks for bringing my favourite thread back to life. :)
Abstinence Makes the Church Grow Fondlers.

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Alan C.
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Re: GARDENING everywhere

#239 Post by Alan C. » March 22nd, 2011, 11:04 pm

Dave.
It occurred to me afterwards that some fresh marjoram or oregano or similar in there would have added the truly Mediterranean touch.
I only grow marjoram and oregano (strange you should mention those two) for the dogs, and out in the garden.
If they (the dogs) have an icky stomach that's the first thing they head for (herbal medicine?)
I have two windows in my flat, one on the southish (in full sunlight most of the day) and one on the northish wall (that never sees the sun).
Unfortunately not many plants like full sun or complete lack of it, I grow Basil and Coriander cos those are the two I use most, I usually have them on the kitchen windowsill which is North facing but up here in Summer my North facing window gets several hours of sunlight a day. Evening.
Would herbs fair well in small pots on one or the other of these window sills, indoors - suitably watered etc.?
For pot size look at the size of pots your supermarket is selling full grown herbs in, 3"?

My motto is, you can grow anything if you provide the right conditions.
Abstinence Makes the Church Grow Fondlers.

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Dave B
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Re: GARDENING everywhere

#240 Post by Dave B » March 23rd, 2011, 9:24 am

For pot size look at the size of pots your supermarket is selling full grown herbs in, 3"?
True, but most of those provide one or two decent meal worths, would that small a pot be OK for months of picking bits off I wonder?
My motto is, you can grow anything if you provide the right conditions.
Er, that seems to be too obvious to be needed to be stated! :wink:
"Look forward; yesterday was a lesson, if you did not learn from it you wasted it."
Me, 2015

Gottard
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Re: GARDENING everywhere

#241 Post by Gottard » March 24th, 2011, 3:30 pm

In an impetus of energy- probably driven by a sunny hot morning (20DegC!) I dressed my gardening garment this morning and I re-set part of the plants to suit the new shade due to the grown-up fence/hurdle = tired but appeased.
The only thing I fear of death is regret if I couldn’t complete my learning experience

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