Grow Your Own Magazine

Nicos · #**106** (**permalink**) 02-03-2006, 03:17 PM

dni dave -where is the snowman? keeping warm in the polytunnel?? Nice plot!

dni_dave · #**107** (**permalink**) 02-03-2006, 06:22 PM

Nicos

Just as you say we put the snowman in the tunnel so he didn't freeze.

Just had a look and couldn't see him anywhere, but I'll not bother next time as I don't think they're house trained - he's left a big puddle in the middle of the floor!

Nicos · #**108** (**permalink**) 02-03-2006, 06:28 PM

It wasn't the whisky you gave him to keep off the chill?

andrewo · #**109** (**permalink**) 03-03-2006, 01:23 PM

Washed my plastic pots and seed trays in jeyes and water, don't you just love the smell? Swept down the patio and was about to burn some wood when my kind neighbour put her washing out on the line - she has radar.

I will next prune my clematis.

dni_dave · #**110** (**permalink**) 03-03-2006, 02:19 PM

Andrewo - and other vines

Is Jeyes fluid the best disinfectant to use or would another brand (say Dettol for example) do.

Looked at the price in the garden centre and it's not cheap is it?

Would appreciate the comments and past experiences.

Dave

andrewo · #**111** (**permalink**) 03-03-2006, 03:54 PM

I always use jeyes, lasts ages, the bottle I am using now is half full and I bought it three summers ago. Have spent the afternoon making a trellis from canes to go over the window for the clematis radar love.

Marie FG · #**112** (**permalink**) 03-03-2006, 05:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by andrewo

I poked my nose out of the door, watched as pots flew past on the wind, planned my seeds indoors and tried to get to the corner shop, watched Nigella Bites on TV and thought, "It's Sunday ahhhhhh!".

Andrewo

Today I had a walk around checking out the snowdrops and mass of crocus that suddenly have appeared. Checked the onions for signs of life, but nothing yet, must get on with some more sowings.
Marie

nick the grief · #**113** (**permalink**) 03-03-2006, 06:43 PM

today i suffered a torrent of abuse from my Chrysaths in the little unheated greenhouse. I don't think they like -5c so I covered them with fleece and apologised

dogsbody · #**114** (**permalink**) 05-03-2006, 11:57 AM

Yesterday it was so cold we stayed in and built the kitchen trolley I bought a while ago. I now have somewhere other than the box on the floor to store my home grown veg in.

Today I am considering putting the guttering up on the shed, maybe tomorrow!

Jaxom · #**115** (**permalink**) 05-03-2006, 12:59 PM

Today I will mostly be recovering after spending 12 hours in the garden yesterday. It is amazing how little jobs can take so long! (They do if you end up doing just one more little job repeatedly)

Jax

sewer rat · #**116** (**permalink**) 05-03-2006, 01:43 PM

Jax
S'not fair - why aren't you snowed in like the rest of the UK ?
Rat

sewer rat · #**117** (**permalink**) 05-03-2006, 02:50 PM

Just opened my cold frame from Lidl - one side panel is missing , so I'm off to get it replaced - only a 40 mile round trip. At least the snow's stopped.
Rat

fruit&vegvirgin · #**118** (**permalink**) 06-03-2006, 09:50 AM

that's annoying rat!!
yesterday I planted my first 10 first early spuds, having worked out that they should be ready midMay, and we go on holiday at the end of May. So I'm going to wait 2-3 weeks before I plant the other 10, with the theory being that they wont all go to waste while we are away.
then I chucked some chicken manure pellets around the place in a hopeful kind of way. has been gorgeous here the last 3 days, brilliant sunshine and almost warm if you are out of the wind.

Amanda1 · #**119** (**permalink**) 06-03-2006, 01:35 PM

Tidied my shed so that I can now walk into it without have anything fall on me, put the potato seeds in the greenhouse to chit (I know, very late but only just got them), will plant earlies in black bags Geordie style soon, made a list of all the seeds I have and listed all the seeds yet to order, still have plenty of digging to do

WiZeR · #**120** (**permalink**) 06-03-2006, 04:16 PM

I planted another 3 fruit trees and a comfrey plant.

andrewo · #**121** (**permalink**) 06-03-2006, 04:51 PM

Wizer, noted on your blog that your collar was felt for planting the tree, in case they get too large. To prevent this, because they are pear and cherry, I suggest that you fan train them against a frame. All you need is two post about 2' foot from either side of the tree and that run wire across and tie in the branches into a fan shape and then cut off any that are pointing the wrong way. They will get big and fast. My cherry tree was that size when I bought it 5 years ago, it's now 10' tall.

WiZeR · #**122** (**permalink**) 07-03-2006, 08:48 AM

Thanks Andrew, it's actually Pear and Plum. But you're right, on closer inspection I have noticed the Pear and Plum are actually 'pixy' which grows to 10ft. I have posted a question on the matter in my other thread.

dni_dave · #**123** (**permalink**) 07-03-2006, 09:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nicos

dni dave -where is the snowman? keeping warm in the polytunnel?? Nice plot!

Still got lots of snow around so I put my time to building the attached with the neighbour and his 2 kids.

He looks happy. Wonder how long he will last?????

Nicos · #**124** (**permalink**) 07-03-2006, 10:19 AM

I think he could do with some of andrweo's rhubarb schnapps - he looks like he is waiting in anticipation for something!

(a ladyfriend to chat to maybe?) Not made a snowman like that for years!

fruit&vegvirgin · #**125** (**permalink**) 10-03-2006, 10:04 AM

have just planted lots of bulbs: crocosmia, acidanthera, ixia, and some others whose name I've forgotten already. planted my maincrop spuds yesterday, anyone know how long before I should see anything appearing?

andrewo · #**126** (**permalink**) 10-03-2006, 11:37 AM

Have just planted Thames Plum over my fruit arch (in the rain but had no choice) and pruned back all the laterals to create a cordon Plum. Could only get down 18" before I started hitting big cobbles and stones (couldn't get these out but poured water in the hole and it drained instantly - fear there may be a well beneath and therefore don't want to dig too far and vanish). The variety was bare rooted and very big, hope it takes, mixed in lots of compost and blood, fish and bone and watered afterwards but not too much as it was hissing down by then. I hte pruning in the wet but had no choice as the lateral were up to 3' long! and whipping everywhere.

SueA · #**127** (**permalink**) 10-03-2006, 12:15 PM

It's been raining non-stop all week here since the snow stopped at weekend so I have contented myself by buying some cheap compost from Lidl & terracotta pots from Tesco & am sowing some carrot seed in them to try & get some early baby carrots.

Jaxom · #**128** (**permalink**) 10-03-2006, 03:06 PM

Yesterday I planted a Family Pear tree, Dual Cherry and a Dual Plum in to large pots as a temporary measure. Too much rain to do much with more with them.
Today I went to B&Q and picked up some reduced price plants and onion sets.
Planted four dozen Polyanthus of mixed colours and nine Oriental Hellebores.

nick the grief · #**129** (**permalink**) 10-03-2006, 05:06 PM

I pricked out some brassicas & potted up 50 geraniums - very pleasant. (and tidied the greenhous up a bit)