My gardening diary, ( amongst other things)

ani_26

I have a confession to make. Yesterday i bought some more plants. That's no more food shopping for the rest of the month? :think: :whistle:


In my defence, everything was £1. Two rose bushes, a climbing rose, a honeysuckle, (you've got to have a honeysuckle?) 40 blue iris bulbs, (these were 2 bags for £1, bargain,) and a bag of 15 black gladioli bulbs, The gladioli look distinctly chocolate in colour. I've not seen chocolate gladioli before.

Oh, and i bought some seeds, although these have 2015 on the packs, so i'm in no rush with more growing of seeds. I'll wait until everything is planted, at the very least. Got a good selection. Black, (chocolate sunflower,) Hollyhock, some mixed Cosmos Sea Shells, (these have leaves like bluebells?) Godetia, (that one plant i managed to grow last year, which i loved?) mixed Livingstone Daisy, Love lies bleeding, Cleome colour fountain, Salvia blaze of fire, and just to finish the party, some Antirrhinum circus clowns...............:rotfl:


With the growing of more seeds put on hold until i empty the already full seed trays, i think it's 'design a garden' time. Yes, i shall have to seriously plan where everything will go. My neighbour gave me some tips, the other day, as i (foolishly?) cut back all my climbers? Time will tell. But this uncovered a deceased climbing rose, hence my urge to buy some more roses, (especially priced at £1.) Seems i've a tough job on my hands with the cistus? I now have a purple, a pink and a white.



Yes, today is a whole new realm of exploration for me, as i try my hand at garden design? I'm even thinking competitions, here? No. You can't enter yourself into a competion? No, it wouldn't be that impressive? :rotfl::rotfl: Would it? :eek:




The good news of the day. Sunflowers responded to mouth to mouth resuscitation and (heavy) refreshments, and full health is restored. Needless to say, they've been relocated. :rotfl:

I WILL repot them soon. I WILL repot them soon.........................

recoverydust

Ani,
Your diary has inspired me to try again with our indoor, windowsill and downstairs' roof's garden.
Last year I sowed and planted everything far too early and a bit manically, not remembering that I did not have a hundred foot garden to play with.
I got very dispirited when so much of it failed, and I must first address the neglect of the past cold and depressed few months.
I wold like to grow tomatoes, peppers and herbs inside, and I am looking for suggestions for a windy roof garden, that is not heavy and will thrive in Edinburgh.
Your pictures of plants are lovely.
It's also good to read of you being more positive
Xxx
Dusty

Piquant_2

Ani I'll be back later, must get ready for work.

Briefly, cistus needs a dry gritty soil, it is Mediterranean in origin, I think so doesn't like to get water logged - think dry and sunny when planting and it will thrive.

Roses are easy, dig in some blood and bone feed when planting, dig deep and they'll be fine. There is a mystery about pruning put about, but there isn't really. They won't need pruning for a year or so anyway.

Most things will survive a pruning, they may not flower this year if it's not the right time. but it's not the end of the world.

I write the eventual height of the plant on my plant markers, it helps in planning your planting, means you don't get the delphiniums at the front and the poached eggs at the back!:rotfl:

Back later ...

NorthernLas

When the yellow thing in the sky finally returns, make a note of how it tracks across your garden. It is good to do this at different times of the year to see how far the shade recedes... then you can give plants the light that will suit them. A good dollop of compost will compensate for the sand (or if the soil is not suitable at all, plant in a big pot and put it in the border so you can move them around if you decide they would be better elsewhere). Primrose/ula will grow pretty much any aspect/soil And poachie eggs, they will hinder them W**Ds!

You have picked acid soil lovers in heathers and rhodies, so peat based grow bags from the pound shoppe will help (they may sell one of them ph kits if you fancy being scientific).

I can do some Thur and Sun in the next couple of weeks and Sats

ani_26

recoverydust wrote: »

Ani,
Your diary has inspired me to try again with our indoor, windowsill and downstairs' roof's garden.

Pleased to be of assistance.

recoverydust wrote:

Last year I sowed and planted everything far too early and a bit manically, not remembering that I did not have a hundred foot garden to play with.

Mine was more erratic last year, although it's equally as manic this year.

recoverydust wrote:

I wold like to grow tomatoes, peppers and herbs inside, and I am looking for suggestions for a windy roof garden, that is not heavy and will thrive in Edinburgh.

I'm not keen on the growing tomatoes indoors theory. The yield doesn't compensate for the amount of whitefly you have to endure. I'm not going to grow tomatoes, this year. I have plenty of pepper plants you can have.


Maybe i should watch for another £1 ticket to the big E? I never used the last one. I could help create a garden for you?

Off the top of my head, if it's a windy roof garden and you want some colour i would opt for 'low lying' plants? Some large (as in very large tubs which won't blow away?) Pansies seem to survive all year round, even around here. Violas. Primula and primroses like it cold? and provide colour at the same time. Spring tubs - crocus and miniature daffs? I'm no expert? I'm going to grow some miniature coloured daisies. Let me know when you're 'around' again. You're welcome to come and help yourself. x

recoverydust wrote:

Your pictures of plants are lovely.
It's also good to read of you being more positive
Xxx
Dusty

Thanks xx

ani_26

NorthernLas wrote: »

When the yellow thing in the sky finally returns, make a note of how it tracks across your garden. It is good to do this at different times of the year to see how far the shade recedes... then you can give plants the light that will suit them. A good dollop of compost will compensate for the sand (or if the soil is not suitable at all, plant in a big pot and put it in the border so you can move them around if you decide they would be better elsewhere). Primrose/ula will grow pretty much any aspect/soil And poachie eggs, they will hinder them W**Ds!

You have picked acid soil lovers in heathers and rhodies, so peat based grow bags from the pound shoppe will help (they may sell one of them ph kits if you fancy being scientific).

I can do some Thur and Sun in the next couple of weeks and Sats

All this is getting WWAAAAAY too techincal for me, now.............:rotfl:



I've already had discussions with my neighbour re the sun rising in the east and keeping the cistus out of the morning sun, (an impossibility.) :rotfl::rotfl:



I'm free anytime so just let me know? All i 'attempt' to do, is gardening. Such a sad life i lead?



More gardening shopping? :eek:


I've also decided to create a trough of azaleas. I'm sure i can buy a very large trough, cheaply? :rotfl:

ani_26

Piquant wrote: »

Ani I'll be back later, must get ready for work.

Briefly, cistus needs a dry gritty soil, it is Mediterranean in origin, I think so doesn't like to get water logged - think dry and sunny when planting and it will thrive.

Roses are easy, dig in some blood and bone feed when planting, dig deep and they'll be fine. There is a mystery about pruning put about, but there isn't really. They won't need pruning for a year or so anyway.

Most things will survive a pruning, they may not flower this year if it's not the right time. but it's not the end of the world.

I write the eventual height of the plant on my plant markers, it helps in planning your planting, means you don't get the delphiniums at the front and the poached eggs at the back!:rotfl:

Back later ...

Thanks for the tips.


I think that's what happened to the climbing rose the previous occupant planted? My neighbour pointed out the roots are above ground, which is why it's died. Shame. I couldn't see it for the passion flowers.


Eeeee, this gardening malarkey? :eek:



I'm not doing anymore gardening once my garden is as it should be? :rotfl::rotfl:

ani_26

Love the thought behind poached egg plants.


I must also repot the pep's, i must repot pep's, i MUST repot sunflowers...........< sigh >

recoverydust

You have disappeared again.
How are you?
How is the garden?
Xxxx
Dusty

aggypanthus

I just found you all here, its very interesting to read.
My garden lift my heart, after a long isolated reclusive winter, the little faces of my violas once again delight me, as does my stone trough with frittilaries planted last yr, and my new spring border planted last yr with mixed daffs, this week, emerging red, yelllow, and various pink tulips, muscari etc etc, planted behind them are a row of lavendars which survived the first winter, on the fence, a stolen honeysuckle poking through from next door, and my 2 clematis, one in delicate flower now, but not yet a grown up plant.

Re roses, I prune all new plants as it kickstarts vigorous new growth, and ensure the roots are very firmly stamped down to avoid the roots moving.

Re seeds, plant seeds in a tray , leave outside, then when ready , cut into small squares and plant out, this is instead of just scattering them in the ground all at once. this works for godetia .
cosmos. best to plant early, can put one seed in each pot, or 2-3 in a cell tray, they get long roots quickly and flower late summer, but need an early start.
I have hurt my back with grass cutting plus baby carrying, (neice) this week
so I cant get much needed weeding done,Grr!