Living in the midlands and wondering what you're doing now!!

tootallulah

What a glorious week-end I have planted out my first lot of berlotti beans, runner beans, courgettes and peas (the rest are in a cold frame "in case") and I have also planted out my perennials and my early sweet peas. My apricot tree is full of blossom. Lots more seedlings are outside hardening off with a bit of luck it will stay warm for most of the week and give everything a good start.

kippers

lutink wrote: »

I havent a clue how to sow parsnip seeds, i have some, but no idea what to do, any pointers would be greatfully recievied!

I usually pull away a drill approx a 'hoe' width and fill with cheap compost. I then water and space my parsnips out one at a time. I put a radish seed inbetween each parsnip seed to mark the row (as radish germinates far quicker than parsnip). I then cover the seed with a light covering of compost but i don't water again (as this can make a crust on the soil which the seeds can't push through) I have never had any problem with germination of the parsnip seeds as i plant them around now when the soil has warmed up and it's cold soil they don't like. You know the soil has warmed up when you see the weed seeds growing.

Alot of people sow the seeds in pots as you get nice straight parsnips

Steel_2

Anyone with a wisteria out there? What is it doing at the moment?

Mine has buds - has had for a long, long time - and is definitely alive but is the only plant in the garden that doesn't appear to have those buds breaking.

I would have thought with all this warm weather something would be happening by now?

Anyone have any ideas?

Lotus-eater

kippers wrote: »

Alot of people sow the seeds in pots as you get nice straight parsnips

Well that's open for debate, I used to advocate sowing in toilet rolls, but I found the problem is that the single root grows so fast, as soon as you see the greenery poking out of the top, the root is often out of the bottom of the roll and that means bent and twisted parsnips.
The only reason I germinate inside, is it takes away the uncertainty of sowing in the cold wet ground outside and gives a bit of warmth to the seeds, which helps.

soba

Yesterday we were out in the garden for a few hours. We planted onions, potatoes, carrots, parsnips, peas, beetroot and spring onions. In pots we've got rocket, salad leaves and some herbs.

We've had two cordylines (sp) that have died over winter and I've pulled a very leggy lavender out of it's tub as well. So we've got a couple of spare containers for planting out the toms when they're a bit bigger.

Anybody bought their tom plants from Aldi? We bought some mini plum toms but can't work out if that means they're small plum toms or if the plant itself is small? Really wanted hanging toms for in baskets but that's what we've got now so whatever they are they'll be planted out anyway.

Have spent this morning making the garden even more chicken-proof. It looks like a maximum security prison now - fencing everywhere. And a newly cobbled together chicken wire fence that I've put up this morning with minimum tools. DH's gone camping and it seems he's got his own system for tool storage in the garage - meaning that nobody else knows where anything is.....

zarazara

planted potatoes,rocket,leeks,parsnips.

tattonlady

I planted sweet peas this weekend in Derbyshire.Bought a pair of 5 foot willow obelisks from Argos on line,beautifully constucted in Linconshire , only £14.99 for two!
The sweet peas should look good when they scramble up!
I fed the sweet peas with liquid seaweed and added composted manure too.
It's great when vegetables start to appear, the garlic is showing in a raised bed. Frost is still forcast here at night, so am keeping salad crops in the shed a little longer ! I love reading about what people are doing in their gardens.

elsien

I've run out of room in my little plastic greenhouse, but wanted to start some cut and come again salads in a pot. Do you think it would be ok to start these outside now (my yard is fairly sheltered) or should I wait a bit longer?

heynonnynonny

AIIEEEE!! So excited....have spotted a mystery flower in my gravel garden at the front of the house, only small yet with a lovely flower on it, only moved in last year so waiting to see what else pops up!! Going to leave it to do its thing, was over the moon when I saw it sad sad I know

Emma_whitnash

Hi, I'm in Leamington Spa and recently moved to a house with a HUGE garden! The list of jobs to do is endless however I have put my potatoes in and shallots. Onions to go in. Sweet peas are doing well in the greenhouse and planted beetroot and lettuce in garden.

I had potted up carrot, chilli, sweet pepper and toms in greenhouse but nothing as yet :-(. Have noticed a french bean about to sprout though.

It it worth buying seedlings (and cheaper?) if my seeds don't sprout. I'm used to them coming up quickly. Maybe I need to bring them indoors.

Great thread :-)