Nice People Thread No. 15, a Cyber Summer

chris_m · 8 June 2016 at 5:06PM

PasturesNew wrote: »

They flower Feb-March.
http://www.unwins.co.uk/iris-reticulata-harmony-iris-bulbs-pid6228.html

From what I've found so far, some are early, some mid and some late flowering. Mine definitely aren't the one in the Unwins link, as mine aren't bulbous but grow from rhizomes.

I think I'll leave them a month or two in case they are late-flowering ones, then look at hoiking them out and dividing the rhizomes ready for next year.

Looks like they are easy to transplant so I may use some of them to fill in the gaps between the roses I planted a few weeks ago, instead of (as I've done this year) using annual bedding plants.

chris_m · 8 June 2016 at 5:11PM

Pyxis wrote: »

This might give you a clue......

http://faq.gardenweb.com/discussions/2766193/i-have-no-bloom-on-my-bearded-irises-why-are-they-not-blooming

Cheers, that's helpful - I suspect that mine are not flowering either because it's too early for this variety, or because they are too crowded and need splitting, or they are planted too deeply (note to self, scrape the compost back off the rhizomes), or that they were until last week rather clogged with weeds.

chris_m · 8 June 2016 at 5:23PM

PasturesNew wrote: »

I should crack on and dig out/lay the foundations for the gabions I'd like .... but I've not even worked out what I'll fill them with, so it seems a bit daft to get started.

There's always tomorrow

:p:p

Generali · 8 June 2016 at 5:41PM

michaels wrote: »

air source heat pump, photo voltaic(solar panels)

NP advice please.

Our £260 indes(h)it dishwasher broke afer 22 months. Tesco have declared it a write-off and offered us an 'economic value' of £100 which on a straightline depreciaton suggests the machine has a life expectancy of 3 years.

From the error codes it looks like it requires a new heater element costing £43 plus fitting (about £60 call out fee?). So the options seem to be:
Buy the element and fit myself (hard work and risk it doesn't fix it. Cost 43
Get a man to fix it cost about 100
Buy a new dishwasher - anything from 150 upwards, same model is about 200 now plus potentially add on a warranty, 4 years is about 50 quid.

Thoughts?

Have you tried getting the thermostat out and cleaning with Viacal?

silvercar · 8 June 2016 at 6:12PM

michaels, its an Indesit. Next time by a bosch. Slightly more expensive but should last longer. I wouldn't waste money repairing an Indesit.

chris, looks like gladioli leaves to me.

chris_m · 8 June 2016 at 6:27PM

silvercar wrote: »

chris, looks like gladioli leaves to me.

Thanks, but I'm inclined to the suggestion of them being Irises.
From what I can see the two foliages do look similar, Gladioli being in the Iris family - however, what I have definitely has rhizomes, whereas Gladioli apparently come from things called corms, somewhat like flat-bottomed bulbs.

oldandhappy · 8 June 2016 at 6:51PM

iris's 100percent....they spread or you can cut into them and transplant elsewhere if you want more or give them away is always a nice way. I do lots of cuttings from shrubs and when they take root and grow I give lots away...its nice to propagate....
calcare or similar we use to clean taps and shower the calcium in the water is high so white film happens....calgon in the washing machine. We have high water pressure here so you can get a shower when you turn the taps on if your too relaxed ...that saves time...haha. Have not catched up on peoples postings so hope all is ok with you all right now .regards Dianne

chris_m · 8 June 2016 at 7:04PM

oldandhappy wrote: »

iris's 100percent....they spread or you can cut into them and transplant elsewhere if you want more or give them away is always a nice way. I do lots of cuttings from shrubs and when they take root and grow I give lots away...its nice to propagate....

Cheers - I'll see what I can make of them.

We have high water pressure here so you can get a shower when you turn the taps on if your too relaxed ...that saves time...haha.

Hehe - reminds me of when I had a combi boiler installed to replace the old one with a header tank, so the hot water was at mains pressure instead of whatever pressure came from a tank one floor up.
It took me several days to learn NOT to turn the kitchen hot tap on as quickly as I had been used to doing - after soaking several shirts and pairs of trousers. :rotfl: