Starved of gardening talk

craftyone what a wonderfully productive time you've had! Congratulations! It's good to get on with preparatory chores at this time of year isn't it, while watching the early plants emerge. Though here in the west country I'm merely watching the mizzle fall, keeping everything nice and wet.

The sites I used last night
primrose
greenfingers
two wests and elliot
garden4less

and

I ordered my summer plugs, only 2 easy beautiful varieties these days, for pots. Non stop begonias and sun patiens. From Brookside nursery to be sent from april 20th

This has got the best rotation guide I have ever seen
www.growveg.co.uk/guides/crop-rotation-for-growing-vegetables/

Next rainy day I will be sitting with my new notebook, just waiting for my 3 single tier ergo beds to be delivered, low beds for my potager,so I can dig down in specific areas to remove yet more hardcore and also to define where to add my hotbin compost

I kick myself for having given so much gardening stuff away, that time when I was in a panic about moving to a smaller house with much less outside storage. One large bag of various gardening bits also vanished in transit,that included items like outside tap covers and very nice haws watering can spray heads.

So basically I started again last night, very easy to spend via online however much easier to shop for the best prices. I spent £250 total last night on 4 sites, including a rootrainer stand. I used to have one ( crying) and my husband made slats so it was supreme for trays of seeds, seedlings and pots, they stood on the slats and the rootrainers hang down. The slats were wood and had become weather worn so had to go anyway. I have ordered 2 sets of rootrainers gave 12 away, (more wailing) and I will wait for that stand to come and then cut more slats, good job I have a jig saw and a saw horse. I `might` use decent plastic shelving as that won`t harbour nasties and rain will run off, not sure yet

I did order an electric thermostatic propagator, stewart at a bargain £62. I can find a storage shelf for that in my garage. All it took was a flashback to the last one (wailing again) sitting on a coffee table by the window. Maybe ok about giving that away as it was 11 years old

Today if dry, I will set to inside my outside storage box, I will need to find room for seed and gravel trays. Btw I ordered 2 hardwood greenhouses from wayfair a few weeks ago. £89 each and bargains, roughly 60 x 60 cm with a good slope down from the back. Very well made with minimum putting together. Rowlinson I think. I put them side by side on cut up rubber outside draining mat (amazon 9.99), to stop the feet sucking water. I covered with a 2 seater bench cover from primrose and what an absolute perfect fit. They should now last me a very long time without the winter weathering

I really feel like making room today, I have a big sack of buckwheat hulls in that box, don`t ask me why. I used to use them on my allotment, superb for stopping the soil surface caking in very dry weather. I will be scattering them today. I also have a sack of composted bark in there to feed my hotbin. Might have to store that sack outside, will have to work out a way of keeping the rain off

Sounds good Crafty have to post pics later in Spring.?

Oh it is good to get some gardening chat.
It was quite warm this afternoon with a lot of clothes on .I also noted the snowdrops just about sticking its white heads out.
That is a good sign.

The winter jasmine was moved and we were worried it would not survive but it's better than ever this year

sunny day here, fet magical with a bit of warmth and it attracted me out into the garden. Three tall stone pots dealt with, washed and moved. I always have trouble with planting these tall pots but today decided to put large pots or curved bowls into the tops. They are sorted and I have ordered some sun patiens which will arrive as large plugs in april

I have 2 massive patios at angles and simply moved a few bits of storage and pots and suddenly created another seating area. A bench outside the house, plant sideboard on left, planters in front and planters with trellis on the right. I am pleased and will be able to see my lovely tulips from the house. I am expecting a very nice show this year

Monty Don is on soon and I spent time doing my veg roatations in a notebook, bring on spring!!

Callistemon ... sounds lovely, little bright yellow stars. A precursor of the daffs!

Just bought myself some jonquil scented daffs for the hallway lovely

DH has chopped down some overgrown fuschias and now we can see the winter flowering jasmine in all its glory, it is lovely this year.

https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202001/medium-176229-20200110-142450.jpg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202001/medium-849027-20200110-142421.jpg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202001/medium-343290-20200110-141928.jpg

What variety are they loopyloo?

tessagee ... taking a leaf (no pun intended) out of your book!

I didn't realise the snowdrops had arrived!
If you look closely you will see the dreaded creeping buttercup is showing its leaves and a bit of ivy. I clearly didn't do a very good weeding job in the autumn!

These cyclamen are looking a bit past their best now, but boy are they hardworking plants. They gave been in continuous flower since Oct, and I dont do a single thing for them.
The leaves are glorious in their own.
Lots of jobs waiting to be done, but I will just potter for now.

My patio fruit trees have arrived. So today must zoom to the allotment to get some pots and must get some compost. John Innis 3? I don't think I can put them in big pots yet as they might swim.

Re pruning I’m never sure when is a good time. With some of the big shrubs/ trees I usually do them early before any birds start nesting in them, and Monty says that is one of his January jobs. I know some things are best left till later but I’m never sure what.

tessagee … I'll try to remember to do that, its a great idea!

I'm still planting up Tulips here! Bought them around Christmas time in a sale. I've planted Tulips late before and they've always come up ok.
These are different shades of red mixed together. Should be nice later on.

So wet everywhere!
Funny I've seen moss growing everywhere, but I cant keep it in the shady Japanese style garden no matter how hard I try.

Lovely snowy garden FlossieTurner

Ellianne … your cushion reminds me of the Oriental Poppies in my garden!

Yes, lots of bulbs peeping through the soil. For the last few years I've taken lots of photos of the various borders over the period from February through to November. I've kept them on my phone as well as my laptop and looking at them really cheers me up in the these dark dreary days. It's also a useful way of reminding myself what plants do well and where. Try it when the flowers start to appear again.

Thank you Gaunt47 I do aerate but obviously may need to do it more often and I'll try weed and feed.

My garden is still very wet and I don't really want to compress the ground much more.

Tete a Tete. They are lovely
Mine are nowhere near yet but my Graham Thomas roses have bearing flowers. Rather soggy and sad flowers when frost has got them.

I have started clearing the land at the side of our flat. A mass of shambles and buddhlea. Have a brilliant pair of thick gloves now so don't get pickles. But am aiming to clear a patch for a Base camp where I can sit and have a cup of tea.
Also need a potting table and some shelves. Am tempted to buy a little bistro set.
Will bring some plants over from the house and any roses DD doesn't want. Have ordered 5 patio fruit trees for pots to start off with. I must be mad. Will take some photos to show you.

LadyGracie - you have to keep at it and don't forget to aerate the lawn regularly to help drainage. A dose of weed and feed in the spring could help.
When - if! - it stops raining here in the south west I shall try moving some perennials. I've not done it during winter before, usually in the early spring, but as I don't get any frost in my sheltered garden I thought I'd try it.
Does anyone have any experience of doing this kind of work during the winter months please, and can advise?

It’s been so wet the last few months in South Wales that our front lawn is 75% moss, we succeeded in clearing most of it last summer, now it’s even worse.

Any tips?

I've just finished spreading 9 bags of 'farmyard manure' wonderful stuff? I wanted to finish it sooner but that dreaded virus that we all had put things back.

I've never enjoyed the look of daffs when they come to their end ( I know ☹️) but I'm a bit anal with untidy plants.
So, I've got 16 small pots with 5/6 daffs in each that I will place around the garden. That means when they are past their best they can go behind the sheds.

I've got Irises that are about a foot tall ? My lillies are showing. A new one for me this year is: Fratillaria imperialis. They have just started showing.

They only bad thing is: I lost one of my winter clematis. It all happened in one week?

Can I put a shout out here for those with a slug problem. Look at nematodes. You have to start using it in late march.
IT WORKS ?

In the meantime my cousin sent me a cushion for Christmas.

Thanks BradfordLass. It sounds like I should have been more patient. Will try again!

Our bulbs are all starting to show above the soil and some of my primroses are in flower. The violas i potted up in the autum are also in flower and theb end of last week i made up some feed for them as they are all in pots. Signs of spring on the way, we will soon be able to potter outside and enjoy longer days.

Yes! I have one in the garden, can see it from the kitchen window.