Awful weather - typical Brits talk

pink_poppy

I was just reading on another thread about using the inner tubes of loo rolls - apparently you make 4 cuts of about an inch long on one end of the tube (each quarter circle) and fold them inwards so they make little 'pots' that stand up.

Dustyevsky

2p, can you not empty the bucket, stick the tree in it and pack around with damp compost for now?

Well, the fog has partially lifted here, but it's still very dank and my clothes were wet when I came in for lunch. I fear there will not be a 'partially sunny' afternoon as promised, though I'm sure the sun's up there somewhere, above the clouds we're enveloped in.

This weather is encouraging growth. I'm beginning to see the little red bobbles that develop into new buds as before the elm hedge bursts into life. I also saw my first dandelion bloom of the season yesterday. All will be well if nothing extreme comes our way, but what are the chances of that?

Farway

Just a quick visit, back from DD and Purple Haze apple is now safely in its new home, should be good for thirty plus years.

Her new garden has Black Lace elder in there, so I've put the apple nearby, and if all goes to cunning plan I think they will make excellent companions. The Open Bottomed pop bottle also planted, no connection to recent Leaky Rim.

Photo in due course once leaves etc are out

The gorse & blackthorn are out along the motorway with fields flooded as well

Hope you have the apple in now 2P, something needs doing ASAP if only a quick fix

Paspatur

I actually got out in the garden today, hit 10 degrees but felt colder as sun doesn't hit much of the ground at this time of year but thankfully hits the greenhouse roof so I popped in and out of the greenhouse. 
First job was disgusting. @Farway can you please change your signature to read Eight out of ten owners who expressed a preference said their cats preferred other peoples gardens  

Dustyevsky

pink_poppy said:

I was just reading on another thread about using the inner tubes of loo rolls - apparently you make 4 cuts of about an inch long on one end of the tube (each quarter circle) and fold them inwards so they make little 'pots' that stand up.

Or you get enough to just fit inside some sort of deep tray, fill them with compost and put your prize winning leeks into them, ready to plant out without further disturbance. They also work for parsnips, best sown as 3 seeds per roll and thinned to one, because parsnips don't germinate or transplant wonderfully. I suppose it could also work for big carrots, though I wouldn't normally bother for those. My parsnips still fork, regardless!

I gave up on the sun this afternoon and did some much-needed heavy pruning in the main garden. Discovered several self-seeded oaks that have successfully hidden away in there for a few years (!) They develop a very strong tap root first, so to get them out I may need to tie them to the ride-on.

twopenny

Good idea Dusty. Or maybe an old pot with drainage holes.
I've got it in soil but not deep enough. Leg not working so couldn't do much. So fingers crossed no high winds 

Otherwise just enjoying your stories. Hopefully I get up tomorrow with all bits working.

It's real spring here. Masses of daffs, primroses and camelias in bloom.
The mimosa trees are looking fantastic. It's all a bit weird this early.

pink_poppy

I should have said, the conversation about loo roll tubes on the other thread was about sowing sweet peas.

I like the idea about using them for leeks. Do you think leeks would do okay in a largeish pot?? I’m just not ready to plant anything directly into the garden at the moment.

The weather has been dreich today, so no chance to get outside.

Dustyevsky

pink_poppy said:

I should have said, the conversation about loo roll tubes on the other thread was about sowing sweet peas.

I like the idea about using them for leeks. Do you think leeks would do okay in a largeish pot?? I’m just not ready to plant anything directly into the garden at the moment.

It depends on how long "at the moment” lasts. Suitably spaced, I'd guess leeks can be grown to an edible size in a large pot of rich soil. I just keep mine in pots until I'm ready to plant them out. They transplant easily, so if you'd be ready to plant them in 3 months or so, a big pot to grow them on would be fine too.

pink_poppy

If I'm continuing with my job (still undecided on that one) and the weather stays as bad as it has been, 'at the moment' could mean growing in pots indefinitely...   I've got a couple of decent sized pots that are empty at the moment, so could try them as an experiment.

Dustyevsky

Experimenting is always good. When we came here, it was hard to decide where anything would go eventually, so we cleared a small bit, a few metres square, improved the soil and planted in that. It was lettuce, salad greens, and maybe courgettes. We had a weird home-made polytunnel full of nettles too, so we stuck some ground cover in there and grew toms etc in pots in it for the first season.

I guarantee the weather will improve, but you are in one of the wetter locations up there. Of course, on the other side, the drier conditions come with added coldness!