Gran/Grandads Gardening Corner

Oxalis adenophylla! Googled 'buy oxalis plants'. There are so many types of oxalis and most of them bear little or no resemblance to mine but this was an excellent match. The leaves are lovely - a bit like origami with their pretty folds.

Oxalis Ardenophyllia, apparently! I found a picture on the internet!

Oops! Crossed post, but the mystery is solved.

Thanks everyone. I'll watch its progress but think I 'd buy it again. Must do more googling to find out more about its little ways and habits!

The leaves might be a clue to what it is. Will try to find it in my gardening books.

I seem to be behind everyone else. Would never have thought of oxalis.

The leaves attracted me first. Tiny flower buds have now opened. Apparently it's also known as Silver Shamrock and is good in rockeries and for ground cover. Mine are just little domes in my window boxes.

I was going to help the DGC plant some sunflower seeds but it seems they have to be 'kept indoors' until June. They may not have room to do this so I could keep them here in the greenhouse which defeats the object of getting them to look after the sunflowers themselves.
Has anyone planted them in pots and put them outside in April? Will they be ok?

Sunflowers are one of the plants that the farmers around us use to fill their fields. For the oil. But the type they use never gets to be very tall.
I think they start planting the seeds about now, and harvest them for the ripe seeds in July-August. So in your cooler climate I would think they need protection at first.

Last autumn I absolutely mullered a rambling rose that had got completely out of hand "Paul's Himalayan Musk"

Just looking at it today, and it is looking full of vigour and so healthy. So it is a practice that I would definately recommend. I won't let it get to that state again though. It is the most beautiful powder pink fragrant rose that gets absolutely smothered in blossom.

Thanks TriciaF, yes, I have seen the fields of sunflowers!
I think I'll get them over to plant the seeds and keep them in the greenhouse until it warms up a bit. It has gone very cold here again.

Jalima, you could cut the tops and necks off some plastic bottles and cover each plant with a base, or even use plastic bags, to protect from any late frosts. I never have success with sunflowers, they always get eaten down to the ground by slugs and snails, so covering them when small might prevent this. Good luck, have fun with the GCs.

Thanks shysal, we could do that instead then they can keep them at their own house and do the watering!
Their garden is quite sheltered.

These narcissi were meant to be all pale, but have interesting apricot centres.

sue1169 I know what you mean about horrendous mole damage. Our lawn is in a terrible state following a mole visiting last year. Apart from having it (or possibly a whole family from the amount of damage done) trapped there seemed to be little we could do. We didn't really want to kill it but if it returns this year I am afraid it's days are numbered. Odd thing is none of our neighbours get them only us We are planning to even it up and reseed.

Just ordered a climbing rose recommended by Monty tonight, for against an east facing fence. It is Rosa Souvenir du Docteur Jamain. The soil there is pretty poor (blue clay, no top soil), so I would prefer to plant it in a pot. How do roses do in pots, and what size would I use to accommodate the tap root? The description says it would be suitable for a pot on paved area so guess will be ok. It is not as vigorous as the other, white, rose Monty was using.

Mcem. I think it's an oxalis.

Lovely Shysal I have never had much luck with rose growing!

I only have three roses now, but I am thinking of digging all of them up. The climbing rose, Aloha, has had rust for the past three years and spraying doesn't seem to make any difference to it. I noticed yesterday that, though it looks really healthy at the moment, there were signs it is coming back again, so I think it is living on borrowed time.

What a shame, Greyduster, but we have to be ruthless sometimes.

I have several roses in pots and they all do well. The size of pot depends on the Rose, but don't go too small. Small patio roses do well in quite large pots alongside bedding plants. I have a Golden Showers climber in a large trough and some hybrid teas in medium size planters.
I think the secret it to feed and water them well over the growing season. I use specific rose food pellets, but tomato feed is a good alternative.

Thank you J52, just the information I need! I shall try to find a lightweight large pot. I was thinking the fence was East facing, but just worked out that it is West, what an idiot! However, I am sure it will still do fine.

shysal I have Souvenir and have it planted on a north facing fence. It doesn't like too much sun so I might guess it doesn't like drying out either.

I have unfortunately neglected mine in as much as I have allowed other plants to crowd it and so it has struggled. This year I have cut back all surrounding stuff given it lots of tlc and keeping my fingers crossed.

Thanks, whitewave, I shall try to keep it well watered and fed. I hope you have saved yours with your efforts.

Last year I put large pots with geraniums on the north side of the conservatory, so they didn't get much sun but got a type of fungus on the leaves.

I've tried a large palm in a pot since then (too prickly, went brown, too much root and no leaves, so I need some suggestions for something bright and cheerful to grow in pots that doesn't mind being out of the sun.