Gran/Grandads Gardening Corner

Just come back from Wilkinsons with a pack of THREE pom-pom dahlias for £2.50. Whilst there I got chatting to an elderly man who was also looking at the dahlias. We compared dahlia notes and he told me had lost all his last year tubers when they became too damp to lift. Anyway, it occurred to me that we gardeners are a friendly lot.

It doesn't look like DH us going to get my new greenhouse up for a while yet. He still has to level the ground and put down some paving slabs. I just hope it doesn't get too late to plant my seeds. Have others already planted theirs?

Good old Wilkinsons, if you get there at the right moment there are some great bargains.
I'm also waiting to get my greenhouse, but it depends on the new fence which can't be put up till after Easter.in the meantime, I've sown some seeds in the cold frame.

Yes, gardening is a friendly activity.

Thanks for the link Shysal. I'll have a look at it.
Everything is suddenly growing so fast now!
Remember June is busting out allover? And this is only March.

We'd like to grow something easy from seed with GD who is 2. Any suggestions?

Cress? Up in a couple of days and you could sow it on kitchen paper and she can see the roots etc. And then eat it in an egg sandwich!!

Mustard and cress!!
We used to grow it on blotting paper.
And kidney beans - put some blotting paper wound round the inside of a jam jar and put the kidney bean at the bottom in some water and watch it grow.
And sunflowers (but they are a bit slower)

What I did with GS when he was small was to take three egg shells (from boiled eggy breakfasts), write nanny on one, grandad on another and GS's name on the third (draw faces on them too), line them with damp kitchen paper and grow cress seed in them. Then you see whose grows the biggest 'hair'! GS thought it was great fun to see it germinating and then sprouting.

We always do sunflowers in pots for the children, they love seeing how much they have grown, although you will need to stake them with tall bamboo canes.
A spare patch of earth could have hardy annuals sown in it.

I have bought some sunflower seeds called 'Teddy Bear' this year

How tall will they be?

Just went out into the dark, dark garden, into the dark, dark shed, went back because I forgot my torch, went back with my torch and fought the cobwebs and found the packet:

They grow to 1 metre

ps just kidding, they were in a drawer in the utility room

I don't have much success with sunflowers. They get eaten right down to the ground by slugs. Have tried the usual preventative measures to no avail.

Radishes are a quick crop for children, or pot them up a Tumbler cherry tomato plant each. My GCs had their own herbs in an old galvanized tub. They used to make 'herb soup' (not edible) with water, and serve the adults in their pretend café. They did, however, enjoy making and eating home-made pizzas topped with their own tomatoes and herbs.

Beans are good to grow with children - especially if you start them off in a sheltered place. They soon pop up through the compost.
And any pumpkin-type veg.

I do try to plant mixed veg patches Tricia e.g. Sweet corn with dwarf beans and underplanted with courgettes, but never tried beans and children. Do the beans use the children as support and how long does each take to pop up out of the compost?

Haha!

Human Beans?

Greyduster love your idea of the cress egg shells will be doing this with our two

The DGD did the cress egg shells last year, I remember now, they must have done them with Daddy.

(not grin) - trust you Anya.
My neighbours grow maize and beans together and the beans climb up the maize!

ps - Amazing!

At last my lawn treatment is here. I have mowed the grass today and will spread the stuff tomorrow in readiness for the predicted rain on Tuesday. The grass at the front of our houses which my neighbour treated a couple of weeks ago hasn't turned black, but the moss has lightened a little and seems raised. It is then supposed to get digested by the bacteria in the product and not need scarifying. It looks promising so far. Fingers crossed for mine. Has OH done yours yet Roses?

He will do it on Tuesday morning ( moss treatment) as will be busy until then.Do hope it works!

Growing maize, beans and zucchini together is called The Three Sisters. The maize provides support for the beans which climb up them, and the spreading habit of the leafy zucchini keeps the moisture in the ground by protecting it from the sun's rays Tricia

I think it was an Aztec or Inca (always get these muddled) form,of agriculture.

Now I have an ear worm!

'Oats and beans and barley grow
Oats and beans and barley grow
Do you or I or anyone know
how oats and beans and barley grow'.

I thought covering the ground with bark chippings would be a good idea and we did this on one side of the garden.

I regret this now, birds/squirels/cats I don't know which, love to dig in it and toss it everywhere.

Won't be putting it elsewhere.

A rose in pot at the fron of our property seems to have black spot. I looked this up on my friend the internet and a suggestion was, 1 third milk to 2 thirds water then spray. Hurrah very simple and seems to have done the trick.