Thanks for that - already have an established herb garden, so will have a look into the onion idea Mmmm - yummy red onions, methinks!

It must be a really good year for sycamores. We have a couple of big sycamores in the back garden and always get a few unwanted seeds germinating in the lawn, but this year there must have been a well over a thousand (I've been told off millions of time for exagerating - but not in this case).

I've just mowed them all

I believe you. Out neigbour on the west side and the farm on the north side of our property have sycamores all round the border of our property. It is a constant battle against millions of seedlings every year. But I don't want them to cut the trees down as they are pretty and give much needed shade.

Our composter is up and started. Our shredder worked very hard yesterday afternoon and even the incinerater had one turn! The ivy is being cut back under control (well - a bit). The primroses and bell hyacinths are nearly over, the one azalia (spelling?) is beginning to bloom and the grass is full of celandines, daisies and dandelions. The lawn tractor has just spluttered into life after having a flat battery for days.We are working hard in the sun today before the rain tomorrow and the cats lying in the sun are supervising.

Salad? Lettuce doesn't like being baked




Someone once said that after the Big Bang the only surviving plants would be sycamore and buddleia

I started digging over my raised beds - far too late by most people's timetables but pretty early for me (ie before June)

Also weeding and clearing flower beds, planting allium, re-planting osteospermum (24" apart and not the 6" I had gone for last week - I never allow room for plants to spread ) and hoeing the moss off my path - it's a very long path and I got about one quarter of it done, but it's a start.

Excellent - you've made me laugh (and I needed something to make me laugh today).

Well, I've got the marigold seeds in, and the seed trays indoors so no danger of coldness holding them up. New diversion = sweet peas seeds in the greenhouse in large pots, and am thinking about some tomato seeds that I got free with a magazine, and some hollyhock seeds too (didn't read the packet thoroughly so will have to buy a couple of hollyhock plants/maybe delphiniums to have flowers this year).

How long do pepper seeds usually take to germinate?

I've got some that I sowed almost two weeks ago, some 'normal' peppers and some jalapeno chilli peppers. Both were open packets, seeds I bought last year.

I can't remember how long they take and whether I am being impatient yet...or whether it is time to give in a buy fresh seeds (most seeds are fine the next year, or for many years in the case of the beans I've grown, but I know some get fussy)

They are in our living room, on the windowsill, in a heated propagator but it's not switched on most of the time (it was only a cheapy one, so I don't trust it to be left on without supervision!)


PS I have just bought some Flower Sprout seeds - cross between a brussels sprout and a kale:

I'm not sure, but I suspect 2 weeks may be a bit on the short side. Don't give up yet.

Lovely looking purply-green stuff!

Done 2 hours this morning - just tidying up more of the winter debris. Accompanied by the birds - shouting their heads off out there.

Bet theirs some buttercups left, don't get me wrong I love them - on commons and in meadows but they are a nuisance in the garden.

Maizie I had some of these to eat a few weeks ago and they were lovely - and we all liked them! Who produces the seeds? I'd love to try some out

Maggiemay, I've just done a stint too I've come in for a cuppa and something to eat - possibly chocolate then I'll go out and have another go.

Mine were starting to sprout within about 3-4 days, the longest probably took a week. That was in a similar situation to yours but with the propagator on constantly, so there may yet be hope - fingers x'd!

Purply things look interesting - will have to look out for them...

Hooray - marigold seeds have sprouted and in record time too! (Just went to have a look - I'm currently working on the theory of a watched pot never boils - record time about 5 or 6 days.)

As regards the pepper seeds - give them a bit longer - some of the seed packets I have say that germination can take up to a fortnight.

Thompson and Morgan make the seed, and Marshall's sell it too. I bought it at Groves due to no P&P for seed orders but it is the T&M seeds apparently.

There is only one variety available at the moment, so searching for "petit posy" or "flower sprout" makes them easy to track down at the moment!

Another hooray - just been out for a quick check of veggie/fruit plot - clusters of flower buds on blackcurrants and redcurrants. At last!

Pepper seeds are notoriously fickle in their germination rate. Can be up to 4 weeks depending on conditions!

Thank you

I got out again this afternoon and prepared a seed bed - I usually skip that bit and usually go straight to stick it in the ground and see if it grows I also did a lot more clearing and digging. I dug up two elephant hawk moth caterpillars, but fortunately didn't hurt them so just popped them back - bit of a surprise, though! There was a third one on the surface that had been dead a while Unfortunately I don't know that I'll have any rose bay willow herb this year, which is what they like - does anyone know if they feed on anything else? I also have hundreds of ladybirds and had to keep rescuing them from where I was digging, and also from the green bin. If Rosemary and Thyme had to deal with all these interruptions they'd never solve any of those daft murders (let alone complete the perfect garden in 24 hours)

Is it too early for a G&T?

too early? you are joking??

Ladies, I'll drink to that!

Cheers.

Don't faint, especially Bev, this really is me posting on the Gardening Thread .

I just wanted to say that in view of the exceptionally good weather today, I decided to cut the grass. The fact that this was the first time this year tells you how much I normally enjoy gardening. It was very long, clumpy in places, and took me over three hours --- and we don't have a large garden. But at least it was dry, although where the rain has continually run off the patio since last year there are some dead patches.

But I had a really nasty turn - I actually enjoyed doing it . I even tidied up some of the other parts that were in need of a bit of care and attention. I expect it was being able to be out in the sun in short sleeves that contributed most to the pleasure, so if this weather keeps up this year, I might even do more than cut the grass. If so, I will post here, but please don't anyone hold their breath

I'm not well, I think I had better go and have a lie down....

In the gardening shop today we saw a tiny pale mauve geranium in a plastic pot. So we took it along to the check out with the three azaleas we had chosen . We were politely told to either put it back or buy the remaining nine as it belonged to a tray of plants that had to be sold together. My partner said "No way am I planting ten geraniums. Too much work!" So the poor little plant went back and we just bought the azaleas.

The only gardening I have done today is to put the azaleas on the patio and sit looking at them with a glass of scotch in my hand. Howezer, tomorrow we are promised fine weather again so there will be no excuse.
I'll have to plant them.

Not so hooray - the first dandelion flower appeared from nowhere today

I've got a few of those already - fortunately the rabbit loves them

I finally got around to planting some veg and salad seeds today

Bet Mrs G fainted clean away then Gerald.
Remember, she said she wanted a garden like mine.

But this is the Year of the Dandelion!!

We have a prevailing wind which comes from the west and every year one weed predominates and gets sown right across our garden. We have had mallow and sorrel in recent years but this year the dandelion has blown in in force. Our garden is covered, so are the surrounding fields and I noticed yesterday that the roundabouts on the main road look as if they are covered with snow.

Has anyone ever grown a goji berry bush, I have a new one in a pot on the patio, I'm not sure whether to pinch out the end to encourage lower growth or whether it has a more vine like quality and I should give it a stick to climb up any suggestions?

Hope to see lots of replies to this one - we've got approx 20 seedlings of goji berries coming up at work,and no idea what to do with them.

Copied from the web-site of a well-known seed company ... so far nothing specific about pinching out though.

The Goji Berry is one of nature's best-kept secrets. Although this nutrient-rich superfood has been treasured by the Himalayan people for over 2000 years and praised for its unrivalled nutritional properties, it has remained unknown to the Western world until now.
Our 9cm potted Goji Berries will fruit within 2 years from planting.

How to grow
As easy to grow as tomatoes!
Grow in any well-drained soil in full sun
Drought tolerant & self-pollinating
Plants are hardy down to -15C!

How to use
Berries are sweet and tasty - eat anytime as a healthy snack
Add the berries to juices and smoothies
Use dried berries for highest nutritional benefits
Brew them into a refreshing tea
Soak dried berries in water for a tonic
Add to cereals and muesli mixes

Thanks Maggie,

I've only been able to unearth similar things, some sites say the tomato thing, others mention a bush but few pictures or specific help.

I've reposted on an allotment forum I use occasionally to see if they have any suggestions.

Haha, caved on Saturday and bought some new pepper and chilli seeds. This morning, one of my jalapeno seedlngs I've been impatiently waiting for is poking through...
Still, now at least I have new seeds ready for next year!

http://chat.allotment.org.uk/index.php?topic=54655.0

This is a link to my allotment thread - It seems general car advise on Goji Berry bushes is pretty poor but this was far more helpful than anything else I've found on the web - so I've decided to go for the stick option.

Well my patience has paid off. Of the pepper and chilli seeds in my propogator...one finally poked through on Monday. No sign of any of the others yet.

I think tonight I will have a poke at where I sowed them, to see if they are on their way, or if the seeds have just disappeared. I have newly bought seeds of each to sow in case.

Looks like my broad beans - on their fourth year since buying the packet - are now giving up as well!

I am so excited. The tagetes are through..............first seed I have ever grown too. They are tiny but perfect.
Waiting for the Californian poppies, Begonias and Nastyturns.

Hurrah

I haven't planted any Nastyturns (I like that ) yet - must get some going

In the greenhouse, beans, pumpkins and calendula are all starting to poke through, and outside, radishes, rocket and lettuce are making an appearance. I always feel so surprised, and very clever, when my seeds start to come through

Excellent stuff. My marigolds are coming on a treat, and my sweet peas are in the greenhouse - I haven't grown those before either. Just received some "free" bulbs so I'm going to investigate those now.

When I was busy planting seeds I just thought how brilliant it was that you could do something like gardening where you don't have to be accurate (well, not for my level of gardening) and the little seeds will grow joyfully and make a good show anyway.

I'm very tired of feeding the local (national???) slug population - can anyone suggest some pretty flowers/bedding plants that they DONT like?

W

I'm waiting for peas to start growing. I'm so impatient I have daydreams about digging them up to see if anything is happening (or if something has eaten them already.... ). Raddishes. lettuce and onions are on their way, I did think I saw some corriander seedlings but it must have been a mirage because there are none there now. When do asparagus shoots appear or has someting eaten them as well?

Anything onion related - so if you after flowers aliums, or just wait until the plants are a little more mature, they only really like the new shoots. Carnations, Paeonies, Sweet Peas (once they're big enough) are usually ok.

To be honest, I am very non-organic where slugs are concerned, but if you want to be organic, try putting broken egg shells around the base of the plants you're trying to protect (you need plenty it's amazing what they can hop over. Or go round removing them all in the early evening.

They dont like pelargoniums or fucsias.

Or you can resort to biological warfare......... the organic and safe biological control for slugs are nematode worms that kill 'em from the inside. You just stir them into the watering can and sprinkle on. It costs but it does work. (Google "Wiggly wigglers" and look for "Nemaslug").

They didn't eat my MArigolds or Lobelia last year.

They eat my marigolds every year...

W

I'm a nemasluggie too - it arrived yesterday and is waiting until the weekend to water in.

Only thing coming up here are tree seedlings, on a scale resembling a biblical plague and second only to the annual bindweed battle. Anyone else inundated with tree-weeds?

Yes - my OH dragged some cut-off buddleia branches through the side gate at the end of the summer a couple of years ago - we now have a forest of baby buddleias growing all along the side path. If you try to weed most of them break off. grrr.

Blank blank ash saplings are the bane of my life. They tend to grow up along the fence and sometimes they don't become obvious until they are too big to dig up.

In my front garden are 2 enormous horse chestnut trees. Every year I must pull up 300 plus tree seedlings, even though I have membrane and a thick mulch on the garden!

I harden off my marigolds as early as possible. One year I had to buy marigolds ready-grown and the slugs had a field day! But my home-grown marigolds are in the greenhouse which is unheated and they seem to grow quite slowly but also seem to look quite tough so I don't think the slugs regard them as "young and tender shoots" so I don't usually have too much of a problem!

I ate my 1st ever piece of homegrown asparagus yesterday.

oh I'm so jealous.

We have rhubarb - tons of it Can't find enough people to give it away to!!!

Blackcurrant & redcurrant bushes and apple tree are all laden with blossom so promising a really good crop to look forward to :yum:

Greenhouse has lettuce, tomatoes and peppers coming on well, along with cosmos, mesembryanthemums and annual climbers for the flower beds. Still have some green beans (variety cobra - soooo tasty) and spring oinions to sow.

The grass is growing, spring has well and truly sprung!

Would love to grow asparagus, but we're hoping to put house on market so can't really plan anything long-term.

I've got a couple of self-seeded hawthorn plants growing nicely. Usually I grub up all my self-seeded bits and pieces (yew, holly, beech...), but I quite fancy a hawthorn tree. If I just let one of these plants grow on (it's over a foot tall now) will it miraculously turn into a tree, or should I be doing things like taking off side shoots?

I was googling info on hawthorn (instead of getting off my backside and actually looking in my gardening books) and found this site that tells me all its magical properties

http://www.shee-eire.com/Herbs,Trees&F.../Factsheet1.htm

Thank you for that link.

We have a quite lot of hawthorn round the edge of our property. So I suppose, having four cats - I must be a witch!!. I like the bit about no evil spirits!!

Our semi-wild garden is glorious at the moment. There are meadow flowers in the parts we don't cut and by the house wisteria and "boule de neige". The cherry trees are at the end of their blossoming time and their leaves are appearing. The only sad thing is the lack of bees and butterflies.

Does anyone know what I should do with the crocusbulbs now? They were given to me in a bowl and I don't know if I should leave them there - they are rather crowded - or plant them now the flowers and leaves are finished.