Hanging Basket Project (Post One).

This contraption is something Vicki got me the other year and I find it quite handy for starting off your hanging baskets. In the one you see here I have three trailing Petunia's, I know it looks a bit sparse at the moment but these three plants will grow to fill the basket. Anyway what I like about these containers is that they're good for sitting on the greenhouse staging while bringing the plants on but once its time for them to go out in hanging baskets you simply put a bit of compost in the bottom of the basket and then drop this container with plants straight in to the basket and then the roots just grow on out though the bottom. In the picture there are three with Petunia's which are for a project I have planned for this summer and one with four trailing Tomato plants.

If you want to join in the Petunia project with me you need to get planted up three 12 inch (30 cm) hanging baskets with 3 trailing petunia's in each. Just plant them around the top of the basket and don't worry about fancy liners or trying to hide it as the plants will do that for you in no time at all, I line mine with an old compost bag cut to shape and with the black side facing out. If you have a greenhouse put them inside to bring them on faster if not then a warm sunny place outside will do and then in a couple of weeks or so I will show you what to do with them. Make sure you have one good strong hanging basket bracket in place by this time though. Also it will need to be a bit out of the way because the baskets will hang a bit low by the time we've done.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY VICKI

Today is Vicki's birthday!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY VICKI

http://vicks-floral.blogspot.com/

My Last Pennine Way Picture.

MY LAST PENNINE WAY PICTURE
Me at the end of my long walk in July 2008

Todays Weather Readings
Fri 22/05/2009 00:00
Sat 23/05/2009 00:00
Shade Low: C
Shade High: C
Sun Low: 8C
Sun High: 26C
Precipitation: 2 mm
Weather: Bright with rain later..

MY WORK BOOK
See to the sheep
Field
Fri 22/05/2009 08:15
Fri 22/05/2009 08:25
Misc

See to the greenhouses
Greenhouse and Conservatory
Fri 22/05/2009 08:25
Fri 22/05/2009 08:35
Glasshouses
Checked round and opened a few vents.

Burn boxes
Burn pile
Fri 22/05/2009 08:35
Fri 22/05/2009 09:25
Misc
Burnt some boxes which had collected in the barn.

Sort out plants on outdoor staging
Potting Shed
Fri 22/05/2009 09:25
Fri 22/05/2009 10:15
Misc
I had aquired a lot of old plants that were good for nothing so I went through and sorted out what I wanted and what I didn't, the space can now be used to harden off some bedding plants.

Clean filter on the pump
Lily Pond
Fri 22/05/2009 10:15
Fri 22/05/2009 10:30
Walled Garden
Cleaned out the filter and removed the blanket weed from the pond.

Break for tea
Home
Fri 22/05/2009 10:30
Fri 22/05/2009 10:50
Misc

Clean up by little iron gate
Fuel Tank Passage
Fri 22/05/2009 11:35
Fri 22/05/2009 12:15
Public Gardens

The bulb had gone in the outside light.
Fuel Tank Passage
Fri 22/05/2009 12:15
Fri 22/05/2009 12:30
Misc

See to the greenhouses
Greenhouse & Conservatory
Fri 22/05/2009 12:30
Fri 22/05/2009 12:45
Glasshouses
Put on more air.

Support the peas
Fri 22/05/2009 13:30
Fri 22/05/2009 14:30
Walled Garden

Tidy the potting shed benches
Fri 22/05/2009 14:30
Fri 22/05/2009 15:00
Potting Shed
There was getting to be a collection of plant pots and other things making it impossible to put anything down on the work benches.

Clean the floors in the greenhouses and conservatory
Fri 22/05/2009 15:00
Fri 22/05/2009 16:55
Glasshouses

Clean and put away the tools
Fri 22/05/2009 16:55
Fri 22/05/2009 17:05
Misc

Close the greenhouses
Fri 22/05/2009 17:05
Fri 22/05/2009 17:10
Glasshouses

Harrow the gravel
North Front
Fri 22/05/2009 17:10
Fri 22/05/2009 17:35
Public Gardens

Why Pull Up The Foxgloves?

Today turned out a bit nasty so I spend all afternoon in the potting shed and greenhouses sorting out plants to make room for some Busy Lizzies that needed potting on in to six packs. I do basic greenhouse tasks after checking over the sheep but I like to get done with the greenhouse work by break time so at this time of year there is usually plenty waiting my attention indoors if the weather turns nasty.

Emily has asked me why I pulled up the Foxgloves the other day. Basically it was because they were in the wrong place. Its hard to see from the picture I posted but the Marigolds grow in a small raised bed and so the Foxglove would have been to big and over powering so they just have English Marigolds and a Red leaved Formium in the mild for a bit of height. The foxgloves had set themselves there anyway. She also asked about the veg and why I plant the amount I do. Well I like to grow a good variety and I hate half rows so I usually plant a row of each. There were eight plants in each row.

Tonight we will take another look in the greenhouse as there is quite a bit going on in there at the moment. First up we have the Orchids which are now coming in to flower.

Last time we had a look round I pointed out the cabbages growing in the border, well as you can see one of them is ready for eating.
Last week I potted up some of the Tomato plants for the last time, they will live in these pots now. I have three more plants but of a different variety and then there are another lots that will come on later.
And under the staging are the Polyanthus seeds that are just starting to germinate. If you wondering why the tray is on a bowl its to keep the slugs from getting in the seed tray. I think they would have trouble getting in with the sheet of glass on the top but I wasn't taking any chances with them.

Wednesday 13th May 2009

MY WORK BOOK

See to the sheep
Field
Wed 13/05/2009 08:00
Wed 13/05/2009 08:20
Misc
1) Checked the sheep.
2) Put out some minerals.

See to the greenhouses
Wed 13/05/2009 08:20
Wed 13/05/2009 09:40
Glasshouses
Watering round

Filling in the bean trench
Veg garden
Wed 13/05/2009 09:40
Wed 13/05/2009 10:30
Walled Garden

Mow all the lawns
Wed 13/05/2009 10:30
Wed 13/05/2009 12:10
Walled Garden
Rain is forcast for the rest of the week so decided to cut all the grass with the tractor so that it got done.

Mowing
Lawn
Wed 13/05/2009 12:10
Wed 13/05/2009 13:15
Main Garden

Break for lunch
Home
Wed 13/05/2009 13:15
Wed 13/05/2009 14:00
Misc

Sorting some plants out in the greenhouses
Greenhouse
Wed 13/05/2009 14:00
Wed 13/05/2009 15:00
Glasshouses
Needed to make room for more bedding plants.

Potting
Wed 13/05/2009 15:00
Wed 13/05/2009 16:30
Potting Shed
Potted on the Busy Lizzie to 6 packs.

Blue Bell's, Marigolds & Wild Violets

In the flower garden this week I think the Blue Bells are putting on the best show. I especially like this corner with the Blue Bells, Marigolds and Dog Violets clambering over the low stone wall. I see a few Foxgloves in with the Marigolds, these got removed yesterday.

Blue Bell's, Marigolds and Wild Violets.

Today has been Brassica planting day, I had a row each of Red Cabbage, Green Cabbage Brussels and Cauliflower that had been sown indoors that needed planting and while I was at it I sowed a row of Swede and January King. I will sow another row each of Savoy, Brussel's and Broccoli at another time. As you will see I also constructed a frame to suppport the netting. Sometimes they need the netting and sometimes they don't but I did it anyway because you usually find the birds attack at a time when you have better things to do than spend half the day untangling netting. Also I find it easier to get it all sorted before the plants are in.

Tuesday 12th May 2009

MY WORK BOOK

Check the sheep and lambs
Field
Tue 12/05/2009 08:00
Tue 12/05/2009 08:15
Misc
Checked and counted sheep and lambs.

Watering
South Front
Tue 12/05/2009 08:15
Tue 12/05/2009 08:50
Main Garden
Water the roses in the window border.

Tying in the grape vines
Conservatory
Tue 12/05/2009 08:50
Tue 12/05/2009 09:50
Glasshouses
Apart from tying in the shoots I had to put in place some wires as the vine had out grown the ones that were there.


Water round
Tue 12/05/2009 09:50
Tue 12/05/2009 10:30
Glasshouses

Break for tea
Home
Tue 12/05/2009 10:30
Tue 12/05/2009 10:50
Misc

Get the cabbage patch ready
Veg garden
Tue 12/05/2009 10:50
Tue 12/05/2009 12:45
Walled Garden
Worked over the soil.

Constructed a frame to support the netting.
Veg Garden
Tue 12/05/2009 13:30
Tue 12/05/2009 14:30
Walled Garden
Rather than have netting draped over the plants I made a wooden frame to support it

Planted and sown the Brassicas.
Veg Garden
Tue 12/05/2009 14:30
Tue 12/05/2009 15:30
Walled Garden
Planted one row each of red and green cabbages, cauliflower, swede, january king and brussels

Netted the cabbage patch
Veg Garden
Tue 12/05/2009 15:30
Tue 12/05/2009 16:10
Walled Garden

Watering
East Shrub Border
Tue 12/05/2009 16:10
Tue 12/05/2009 16:25
Walled Garden

Watering
Orchard
Tue 12/05/2009 16:25
Tue 12/05/2009 17:00
Walled Garden
Watered the strawberry plants and rhubarb

Clean and put away the tools.
Potting Shed
Tue 12/05/2009 17:00
Tue 12/05/2009 17:20
Misc

Potted up a few cuttings
Tue 12/05/2009 17:20
Tue 12/05/2009 17:30
Potting Shed

Monday 11th May 2009

MY WORK BOOK

See to the sheep
Field
Mon 11/05/2009 08:00
Mon 11/05/2009 08:20
Misc

See to the greenhouses
Mon 11/05/2009 08:20
Mon 11/05/2009 08:50
Glasshouses
Watered round.

Spray some lawn weeds
All Lawns
Mon 11/05/2009 08:50
Mon 11/05/2009 09:20
Walled Garden

Spray the main drive
Mon 11/05/2009 09:20
Mon 11/05/2009 10:15
Public Gardens
Sprayed the weeds at the entrance to the main drive, rock garden path on the north front, courtyard and outside the gardeners cottage.

Spray weeds in raised bed
Back steps to the summer house
Mon 11/05/2009 10:15
Mon 11/05/2009 10:30
Walled Garden
Sprayed in the raised beds and any other places in need in the walled garden.

Break for tea
Home
Mon 11/05/2009 10:30
Mon 11/05/2009 10:50
Misc

Tie in new rose shoots in the rock garden
Rock Garden
Mon 11/05/2009 10:50
Mon 11/05/2009 11:00
Public Gardens
Tied in the new shoots of the climbing roses.

Planting
Rock Garden
Mon 11/05/2009 11:00
Mon 11/05/2009 11:20
Public Gardens
Put some Aubrietia and Sempervivums that I had knocking around in to he rock garden stones,

Fed and hoed the roses
North Front
Mon 11/05/2009 11:20
Mon 11/05/2009 12:45
Public Gardens

Fertilise the bedding beds
Mon 11/05/2009 12:30
Mon 11/05/2009 13:00
Public Gardens

Break for lunch
Home Mon 11/05/2009 12:45
Mon 11/05/2009 13:30
Misc

Hoe
Rose Garden
Mon 11/05/2009 13:30
Mon 11/05/2009 15:55
Walled Garden

Weed marigold bed
Lily Pond
Mon 11/05/2009 15:55
Mon 11/05/2009 16:10
Walled Garden

Thin the parsnips
Veg garden
Mon 11/05/2009 16:10
Mon 11/05/2009 16:30
Walled Garden

Pull up the old leeks
Veg garden
Mon 11/05/2009 16:30
Mon 11/05/2009 17:00
Walled Garden

Watering
Rock Garden
Mon 11/05/2009 17:00
Mon 11/05/2009 17:20 Public Gardens

Jasmine & Pelargoniums

This week in the conservatory the Jasmine is in full bloom so you can imagine the scent that greets you as you open the doors. I have two plants growing in there, below is one of them.

[Click the pics to enlarge]

Also worth taking a look at are the Pelargoniums which are just starting to come on now.

Louise and Strawberry Ripple

Lord Bute

The Orchard (Week 18)

I think tonight we will have a little look at whats going on in the orchard. As you will see the Apple blossom is almost coming to an end, hopefully this will be followed by some baby apples. There are seven apple trees in all, some have set fruit already and then there are a couple that are still quite in blossom.

The Strawberries are just coming in to flower. I grow these in a narrow strip of soil at the base of the west wall so the plants face east and get all the morning and early afternoon sun. This strip of ground is where the previous gardener did the standard council spraying thing around everything the mowers can't reach. I prefer to till the ground instead and so grow strawberries there. Its a bit more work keeping it clean but it looks better and tastes better! By the way, talking of Strawberries. If you grow new plants its best if you can avoid having them produce any fruit in the first year. This is a very hard thing to do but it apparently helps the plant to fruit better in the next years. Strawberries should be grown for three years only as after that they fruit less and smaller so the idea is to replace a third of the strawberry bed each year. You can replant in the same ground and you don't need to buy in new plants every year as the runners the strawberries produce in abundance every summer can be used as replacement plants. Either let them root around the mother plants or root them in to small pots.
On the same wall, in fact the strawberries grow around the base of this cherry tree. This is the second year of fruiting and looks like it will have plenty of fruit on it later.

Fri 08/05/2009

MY WORK BOOK

See to the greenhouses
Greenhouse and Conservatory
Fri 08/05/2009 08:20
Fri 08/05/2009 10:00
Glasshouses

Sweep drive
Main Drive
Fri 08/05/2009 10:45
Fri 08/05/2009 11:15
Public Gardens
Was only able to give it a quick sweep as it was way to windy to make a good job.

Strim round
Fri 08/05/2009 11:15
Fri 08/05/2009 12:00
Main Garden
Also took off some of the weeds down the sides of the main drive and enterance.

Harrow the gravel
North Front
Fri 08/05/2009 12:00
Fri 08/05/2009 12:45
Public Gardens

Remove a branch to the burn pile
Back Drive
Fri 08/05/2009 13:30
Fri 08/05/2009 14:00
Public Gardens
A branch blew down across the drive so had to cut it up and drag it down to the burn pile.

Remove primula's
South Front
Fri 08/05/2009 14:00
Fri 08/05/2009 15:15
Main Garden
Lifted, split and replanted primula's from round walled bed on south front.

Hoe and feed
Memorial Gardens
Fri 08/05/2009 15:15
Fri 08/05/2009 16:10
Walled Garden
Hoe and feed the roses beds.

Hoe round the fruit trees
Veg garden
Fri 08/05/2009 16:10
Fri 08/05/2009 16:30
Walled Garden

Clean and put away the tools
Fri 08/05/2009 16:30
Fri 08/05/2009 16:45
Potting Shed

See to the greenhouses
Fri 08/05/2009 16:45
Fri 08/05/2009 17:15
Glasshouses

See to the bins
Hall
Fri 08/05/2009 17:15
Fri 08/05/2009 17:30
Misc
Took back the four bins to the hall and pumpend

Mowing Day

MY WORK BOOK

See to the sheep
Field Thu 07/05/2009 08:00
Thu 07/05/2009 08:20
Misc

See to the greenhouses
Thu 07/05/2009 08:20
Thu 07/05/2009 09:00
Glasshouses

Mow the grass
Courtyard
Thu 07/05/2009 08:30
Thu 07/05/2009 09:30
Public Gardens

Mowing
North Front
Thu 07/05/2009 09:30
Thu 07/05/2009 09:50
Public Gardens

Break for tea Home
Thu 07/05/2009 09:50
Thu 07/05/2009 10:10
Misc

Mow the lawn Main Lawn
Thu 07/05/2009 10:35
Thu 07/05/2009 12:15
Main Garden

Break for lunch
Home Thu 07/05/2009 12:30
Thu 07/05/2009 13:15
Misc

Mow all the lawns
Thu 07/05/2009 13:15
Thu 07/05/2009 15:30
Walled Garden

Mow all the rough grass
Thu 07/05/2009 15:30
Thu 07/05/2009 17:15
Public Gardens

See to the bins
Hall
Thu 07/05/2009 17:15
Thu 07/05/2009 17:30
Misc
Put out 5 black bins

In The Flower Garden (Tree Peony)

I think that this week in the flower garden the Tree Peony is the plant to see, its something you have to make the most of while its here because it won't be here for long and it will be a long time returning to flower although the foliage can be enjoyed in the mean time.

If you ever buy a tree peony you have to give it time to develope, don't expect flowers for three to four years after planting. You probably won't get any buds in the first year and even after that its best to remove them for a couple of years as this helps the plant in future years of which there will hopefully be many. You will need to plant it up to six inches deep, about half that if grown in a pot and before back filling work some blood fish and bone in to the hole and after planting water in and don't allow to dry out during the next year. They will grow in most soils as long as they don't dry out or become water logged. They will also thank you in their own special way for a mulch of blood fish and bone meal mixed with some compost every October. If you have a plant already and feel the need to prune it this should be done in February, take out any dead or diseased wood back to a new bud, or if your Peony is old take out one old stem a year down to a new shoot or bud that is about twelve inches above soil level.

[Click on the pictures to enlarge]

Shading

It’s coming to the time of year when people lucky enough to have a greenhouse have to think about shading it to protect the plants from the scorching sunlight. You can go to the garden centre and buy a packet of that white stuff you paint all over the outside of the glass. This works fine and I’ve used it myself in the past. Whilst applying it isn’t really a problem taking it off again isn’t such fun, also once it’s on that’s it, if you get a cold dull spell you have to live with it so these days what I use is a green mesh, take a look at the picture below.

[Click the pictures to enlarge]

It’s soft and pliable and just folds up when not needed. I have mine on the inside of the greenhouse because it works better that way for me.

At the bottom edge of the netting I've fastened a bamboo cane, this is mainly to stop the edge of the netting dropping and flopping about.

The vertical cane attached to the horizontal wires is an aid to sliding the netting and cane up out of the way when hading isn't needed on a dull day or in the evening.
The top edge of the netting is secured to the horizontal wire with twine or similar. When not in use the netting can be dragged to the top and left there until needed again when it's a simple job just to slide it down the vertical in to position.

I realise of course that not many of you will have a greenhouse such as this, the norm these days being a aluminium framed structure but don’t worry because you can still use this netting without incurring any inconvenience, instead of fixing it inside just fasten one end to a piece of broom handle or similar and attach the other end to one end of the greenhouse roof on the outside then all you have to do when you want shade is to roll out the netting along the roof of the greenhouse, you will need to secure the broom handle when the netting is rolled out to stop it slipping down the roof. Before I fixed my netting on the inside I used the roll out method on the outside and it worked fine and would probably keep on with the latter method but it just looks a bit better if the netting is fixed to the inside.

Anyway I hope that is of help to someone, and as I say I much prefer it to the white paint on stuff both for ease of use and flexability when it comes to shading the greenhouse.

Roadside Grass

MY WORK BOOK

See to the sheep
Field
Wed 06/05/2009 08:00
Wed 06/05/2009 08:20
Misc

Dead head the pansies in the troughs
Wed 06/05/2009 08:20
Wed 06/05/2009 08:35
Public Gardens
Dead headed all pansies on the north and south fronts.

Check around the gardens
Wed 06/05/2009 08:35
Wed 06/05/2009 08:45
Misc
Made sure everything is okay.

Checked round the greenhouses
Wed 06/05/2009 08:45
Wed 06/05/2009 09:05
Glasshouses
Took off some dead leaves and tied in the Cala Lily

Potting up
Wed 06/05/2009 09:05
Wed 06/05/2009 09:30
Potting Shed
Potted on rooted Geranium and Dahlia cuttings.

Took some cuttings
Wed 06/05/2009 09:30
Wed 06/05/2009 10:10
Potting Shed
Took 30 Border Princess Dahlia cuttings.

Pull out the weeds along north front wall
Wed 06/05/2009 10:10
Wed 06/05/2009 10:40
Public Gardens

Break for tea
Home
Wed 06/05/2009 10:40
Wed 06/05/2009 11:00
Misc

Cut the roadside grass
Roadside
Wed 06/05/2009 11:00
Wed 06/05/2009 12:45
Misc

Break for lunch
Home
Wed 06/05/2009 12:45
Wed 06/05/2009 13:30
Misc

Hoe the flower border
Wed 06/05/2009 13:30
Wed 06/05/2009 15:30
Main Garden

Grass cutting
Main Lawn
Wed 06/05/2009 15:30
Wed 06/05/2009 16:15
Main Garden
There were some long bits of grass so I went over it with the tractor to make things easier for tomorrow.

Weed the wall borders
South Front
Wed 06/05/2009 16:15
Wed 06/05/2009 17:15
Main Garden

Clean and put away the tools
Potting Shed
Wed 06/05/2009 17:15
Wed 06/05/2009 17:25
Misc

See to the greenhouses
Greenhouse and Conservatory
Wed 06/05/2009 17:25
Wed 06/05/2009 17:35
Glasshouses
Close the vent and take in the trolley

A Look In The Greenhouses.

Today has been spent transplanting seedlings and tidying up the rock garden. I had a couple of lots of Petunia, some snapdragon and Canterbury bells to pot on plus the geranium cuttings are ready for potting up so I did a few of those to take me up to lunch time. All afternoon has been spent in the main rock garden. It’s been wanting some attention for a while now but it’s one of those out of way places that tends to keep on getting put to the bottom of the list. Anyway it’s done now so now I can move on to something else without having to think about it any longer.
Tonight I will show you a few things from the greenhouse. Just in case you’re wondering Emily I’m not bragging about anything either, I’m old enough now to realise what follows pride so simply show you the kitchen garden, greenhouses and anything else in the hope it might be of interest and inspiration to someone.

This first one if from the far greenhouse and shows some of the older Petunia’s coming on well, it’s surprising how fast they grow once they get going

These next two pictures are from the first house in the picture are the Dahlia’s grown from seed and at the far end are some African Marigolds for the courtyard.

In the greenhouse border I have growing some Potatoes in pots, then some Cauliflower and Cabbage and out of sight behind these are some Dwarf French Beans and Broad Beans. I think the potatoes are ready to be eaten and there is a cabbage just hearting up, I can’t see anything of a cauliflower yet though.

Shopping & Potting

MY WORK BOOK

See to the sheep
Field
Sat 02/05/2009 10:10
Sat 02/05/2009 10:30 Misc
Check and counted the sheep.

See to the greenhouses
Sat 02/05/2009 10:30
Sat 02/05/2009 10:55
Glasshouses

See to the greenhouses
Sat 02/05/2009 17:00
Sat 02/05/2009 17:30
Glasshouses
Did some watering, closed the vents and took in the trolley.

Check the sheep and lambs
Field
Tue 05/05/2009 08:00
Tue 05/05/2009 08:20
Misc

Check around the gardens
Tue 05/05/2009 08:20
Tue 05/05/2009 08:40
Misc

See to the greenhouses
Tue 05/05/2009 08:40
Tue 05/05/2009 08:55
Glasshouses
Took off some dead leaves and flowers.

Train the sweet peas
Conservatory
Tue 05/05/2009 09:00
Tue 05/05/2009 09:20
Glasshouses
Tied in where needed and put up some netting against one wall.

Go for compost
Markham Grange
Tue 05/05/2009 09:15
Tue 05/05/2009 10:00
Misc
Bought 2x 75 ltr bags of compost, weedkiller, sand and a ball of twine.

Break for tea
Home
Tue 05/05/2009 10:00
Tue 05/05/2009 10:20
Misc

Pot on yellow petunia
Tue 05/05/2009 10:30
Tue 05/05/2009 11:10
Potting Shed

Pot on white petunia
Tue 05/05/2009 11:10
Tue 05/05/2009 11:35
Potting Shed

Pot on snap dragons
Tue 05/05/2009 11:35
Tue 05/05/2009 12:00
Potting Shed

Pot up Canterbury Bells
Tue 05/05/2009 12:00
Tue 05/05/2009 12:10
Potting Shed

Pot on Geranium cuttings
Tue 05/05/2009 12:10
Tue 05/05/2009 12:45
Potting Shed
Potted up the Geraniums cuttings for Pumpend window boxes.

Break for lunch
Home
Tue 05/05/2009 12:45
Tue 05/05/2009 13:30
Misc

Tidy up the japanese garden
Japanese Garden
Tue 05/05/2009 13:30
Tue 05/05/2009 17:15
Main Garden

Clean and put away the tools.
Potting Shed Tue 05/05/2009 17:15
Tue 05/05/2009 17:25
Misc

See to the greenhouses
Tue 05/05/2009 17:25
Tue 05/05/2009 17:35
Glasshouses
Took in the trolley and did some watering.

Kitchen Garden.

People often ask me what I grow in the kitchen garden, in fact to my surprise I was talking to someone the other day who didn't realise that you could grow your own veg from seed. I always tend to assume that people know this stuff and thats why the statement came as such a surprise. I explained that most veg can be grown from seed and is actually easy to grow from seed. So today I will show you some of the veg I grow for the family at the big house, all of which I have grown from seed or in the case of the Onions and Garlic, from bulbs.

[Click on the pics to enlarge for a better view]

Below are a row of Peas on the left, then a row of Broad Beans and to the right two rows of Garlic. There are another row of Peas and one of Broad Beans just out of the picture.
Next up we have six rows of Onions, two rows each of brown, red and white skinned. They came as a collection from Marshalls Seeds.

In this next picture s a row of Parsnips to the left and a row of Beetroot. You will have to look close for the Parsnips as they're only just showing through. The Beetroot were started under glass and planted out as seedlings when the weather improved.

A few of these plants can be seen growing as seedlings Here

Rooting Water Or Compost.

Tonight I'm going to show you some busy lizzie cuttings I took a few weeks ago. I usually root this sort of thing in water as it works better that way for me but just as a little experiment I put some in to water and some in to compost just to see which turned out the best. First of all though I will show you how I root them in water. In this instance I used an old 35mm film canister but the top of something else works okay.
As you can see when removed from the container they have all rooted well and are ready for potting on.

For this I used six pack containers but three inch pots would work just as well.
Right, now back to the experiment. These are a different sort of busy lizzie but are much the same as any other. The one on the right has been rooted in compost and the one on the left in water.


The one rooted in compost has a better root system although this was the best one of the lot, the rest being no better than the ones rooted in water. The main difference with the two ways being that several of the ones rooted in compost had rotted off whereas none of the ones in water rotted at all so for me rooting these kinds of plants in water is the best way. Fuchsia's along with Begonia's and no doubt several other kinds of plants can be rooted in water. In fact it would be interesting to hear what sort of plants you've manage to root in water.

The last thing to say about this is that when you plant them up just fill the pot with compost and prod a hole in it with your finger and insert the cutting and then work some compost back around the cutting and then just tap the pot on a hard surface. Don't go doing a lot of pressing and firming as you could damage the roots and that would be shame after you got this far. Just a gentle tap and a little watering in is enough to settle the cutting in to it's new home. It might be helpful to shade it a little from the hot sun for a few days until its roots develope.

I will have more on shading your greenhouse in a future post.

Bob