February Favourites!

Good Evening!

Apologies for it being such a long time since I posted, I didn't realise that I hadn't wrote a post since January. Luckily February is one of the quieter months so you didn't miss too much that's been going in my garden! I thought I'd share with you my favourite pictures that I took last month to get you all back up to speed ...

Let's start off with more heavenly Hellebores! I know I shared a few in my last post but you can never have too many Hellebores!

Helleborus x hybridus 'Harvington ... Apricot' 'Picotee' and 'Single Yellow Dark Eye'

Helleborus 'Anna's Red'

Helleborus 'Pink Beauty'

This particular variety always flowers prolifically in my garden each year and is one of my 'forever' plants.

Of course the Snowdrops were displaying their delicate blooms last month, as soon as I see them peeking through the soil I'm seriously impatient for them to flower lol

Galanthus 'Flore Pleno'

Of course another Spring bulb that you can't be without at this time of year is the Crocus. Even though the heavy rain that we've had gave them a little battering the little golden blooms were a pleasure to see.

Meanwhile over in the Greenhouse where the conditions are a bit more bearable the annual routine of sowing the Tomatoes and Sweet Peas is well underway! As you can see from the following photo you can tell what I'l be doing on my next day off ... pricking out Tomato seedlings!

The varieties I've sown this year are ... 'Gardener's Delight', 'Sungold', 'MoneyMaker' 'Tigerella' 'Maskotka' and 'Black Russian'.

 Lathyrus odoratus (Sweet Peas) 'Fragrantissima' and 'Heirloom' Mix

Before I go I'd just like to mention that this year all my seedlings are being sown and potted on into an Organic Peat Free Compost. There really is no excuse not to go Peat Free nowadays due to the impact that Peat farming has on the environment, and so far I can say that the particular compost I've chosen to use is performing just as well as a regular Multi-Purpose! (No connection just a happy Gardener)

Thanks for stopping by, I promise I'l be back soon with more news from my garden!

HAPPY GROWING!

Garden Checklist ...

Good Morning!
Yet again it's been a while since I've posted here, due to work or feeling unwell I just haven't had the time to sit down let alone venture out into the garden!
Here's hoping that changes soon and here are a few suggestions of what you can be getting on with in the garden today ...

1. Tomatoes  - Your Tomato plants should've reached a height that you're happy with and setting plenty of fruits by now. To help focus the plant's energy on the fruits trim away any foliage restricting light to the ripening fruits, you can be pretty drastic with this but make sure that you leave some foliage on the plant. Continue giving them a weekly feed and you should be feasting on your tomatoes in no time!   

2. Wildlife - If like me you also like to look after the local wildlife in your garden make sure that you clean any bird baths regularly and maintain that water levels are always topped up. It can soon evaporate in hot weather! 

I also like to give bird feeders a good wash out when they need filling up to make sure that they are kept disease free and in a good condition for the birds.

3. Collect Seeds - If there are any plants that you've been particularly impressed with this year in the garden and you'd like more of next year then now is the time to start thinking about collecting seeds! 

Plants such as Foxgloves will be setting their seeds now and the seed can be sown as soon as collected in preparation for plants next year!

4. Deadheading - As always make sure that you keep up with the deadheading to prolong the flowering of your favourite Summer plants such as Dahlias, Pelargoniums and Basket Plants!

5. Watering - Keep up with the Watering, especially of pot plants. In hot weather plants may need a good drench daily to keep them happy and healthy.

6. Paperwhite Narcissus - If you want some Paperwhite Narcissus in flower this Christmas then it's time to start thinking about the bulbs and getting them potted up! The perfume can be love or hate but I think they make a great centrepiece for a table when in flower.

Thanks for stopping by, don't forget you can find all the previous Checklists on the page tab above.

HAPPY GROWING!

XXX

Bumper Garden Checklist ...

Good Morning!
Are you looking for something to do in the garden this weekend?
Well here's a few suggestions that should keep you busy ...

1. Tomatoes  - If like me you are growing tomatoes make sure that you keep removing the side shoots produced on the Cordon varieties. Simply snap them off first thing in the morning to make sure the plant focuses all it's energy elsewhere. Your tomatoes should also be starting to set fruit so it's time to give them a weekly feed with either diluted tomato feed or liquid seaweed.

2. Roses - The weather has been rather variable over the past weeks and rain battered Roses are a frequent sight in my garden! Keep up with the deadheading and if you see any rose buds that haven't opened yet with brown outer petals, gently tease away them away in a downwards movement and your rose might just get the chance to bloom! If left more often than not the decaying brown petals prevent the bud from opening.

A Rose in the centre ready for dead-heading

3. Sweet Peas - Another plant that could do with a little care is the garden favourite Sweet Pea. 

Give them a weekly feed and keep up with tying them in to the their supports. Pick flowers every few days and make sure you remove any seed pods once seen to prolong flowering. 

Summer Bedding in Pots and Hanging Baskets will also benefit from a liquid feed once a week to keep encouraging blooms and healthy growth.

4. Winter Cabbages - If you sowed some winter cabbages last month such as January King into pots it's time to plant them out into their final positions. If like me you sowed them under cover gently acclimatise them to the outdoor positions by hardening them off over 7 - 10 days. Once this has been done plant them out with a distance of approx 50cm in a sunny position and provide protection from birds in the form of netting or fleece. You can also place a collar around the stems to protect from cabbage root fly.

5. Bulbs - It's time to start planting Autumn bulbs such as Nerines into Pots & Borders and whilst your doing so why not start thinking about the Spring Bulbs that you would like to have next year. Plant companies are starting to send out catalogues so if you know what you want it's best to order them now before they're out of stock! The same goes for Spring Bedding.

6. Watering - Even if it rains make sure you keep up with watering, some plants such as Celery, Beans, Peas, Tomatoes can be extremely thirsty and will suffer if they do not get adequate water.
Newly planted Shrubs, Tree's and Perennials this year will also benefit from extra watering to help them become established.

7. Apples & Pears - If the weather is warm and not too wet you can prune out any branches on Apple & Pear Tree's that may be crossing, damaged or diseased. 

You can also thin out the apples on trees that may be malformed or damaged to encourage a healthier crop.

8. Cuttings - Plants such as Fuschias, Pelargoniums and other tender perennials can be tricky to over winter if you only have a small space. Why not take some cuttings now from your favourite plants? This way you only have to over winter a smaller plant reducing the amount of space needed. 

Even if over wintering isn't something that you've considered cuttings are great for if you simply want more of a particular plant for free! Simply click HERE for a variety of posts on Cuttings.

9. Hedges -If you have any Hedges or Confiers that are needing a trim then now is the time to do it, however always make sure that there are no nesting birds before starting.

10. Ponds - Finally if you have a garden pond keep on top of removing any blanketweed or algea. Make sure that you leave it on the edge of the pond for atleast 48hours afterwards so that any creatures within can make their way back into the pond or water feature.

Thanks for stopping by, don't forget you can find all the previous Checklists on the page tab above.

HAPPY GROWING!

XXX

Garden Checklist ...

Good Morning!
It's been a little while since I've been able to post but here's a few things that you can be getting on with this weekend in the garden ...

1. Tomatoes  - If you are growing Cordon Varieties of Tomatoes this year then right about now they will be needing a little help. Cordon varieties need to have something to climb up which is where Bamboo canes usually come into use! Simply place them into your Tomatoes final growing pot (making sure not to damage the roots) then tie the plant to the cane using string. It is also recommended that you tie a cane across the top of the canes to provide support for the canes which will be needed once the plants get growing!  

TIP - Make sure you remove any side shoots produced by the plant as soon as they are visible and don't worry if your plants develop curly tops, this is a perfectly normal things for a healthy plant to do!

2. Climbers - On the subject of support, climbing plants will be putting on a lot of fresh growth right now (e.g. Sweet Peas & Clematis) and the young shoots will need tying in. This is also one of the easiest times to do this as the new growth will be fairly flexible.

3. Faded Foliage - Foliage might be looking a little tired on plants such as Pulmonaria and Hellebores, cut back any of the foliage affected which will promote new growth and reduce the risk of disease.

4. Stronger Growth - Encourage stronger bushier growth on bedding plants by pinching out the growing tips. This will delay flowering for a couple of weeks but will prolong the flowering period for the year and the plant will be much bushier!

5. Biennials - In the Greenhouse now is the time to start sowing Biennials, these are plants which will develop vegetative growth in the current year then flower the next. 

These include plants such as Foxgloves & Wallflowers.

6. Hedging - Finally if you are planning on trimming or pruning any hedges this weekend make sure that you check them for any nesting birds first to ensure that you don't disturb them.

Thanks for stopping by, don't forget you can find all the previous Checklists on the page tab above.

HAPPY GROWING!

XXX

Garden Checklist ...

Good Morning!
Here's a few things that you can be getting on with in the garden over the coming week ...

1. Borders  -If your borders are showing a few gaps due to plants that haven't survived the winter, now is a good time to fill the gaps! As long as the ground isn't frozen you could fill the space with plants such as Hellebores or Snowdrops which have been divided into smaller clumps. 

2. Tomato Seedlings - If you have sown Tomato seeds and they have reached a height of around 2.5cm it's time to pot them on. When doing this make sure you hold the leaf, not the stem. Pot the seedlings into small pots such as 7.5cm and bury the whole of the stem.

3. Feed - Carrying on from the first tip mentioning borders now is also a good time to give your plants situated there a good feed.Sprinkle some Fish, Blood & Bone feed onto the ground and work into the soil. A mulch will also help improve your soil but make sure you add it when the ground is moist and not dry. 

4. Summer Flowering Clematis - Prune any Summer Flowering Clematis, cutting back to a pair of healthy buds. It will also soon be time to prune any early flowering Clematis as the best time to do this is after they have finished flowering. 

5. Roses - If you haven't done so already it's time to finish pruning roses over the start of this month. 

Thanks for stopping by, don't forget you can find all the previous Checklists on the page tab above.

HAPPY GROWING!

XXX

Garden Checklist ...

Good Morning!
Here's a few things that you can be getting on with in the garden over the coming week ...

1. Hydrangeas  -If you have some Mophead or Lacecap Hydrangeas in the garden and you left the flower heads on over winter as recommended you can now cut these off and prune back to a pair of buds.
Along with this you can also remove any faded / dead flower stems left on perennials over winter such as Sedums that you have forgotten to do!

2. Pot Displays  - Why not create a decorative feature using an item that could be up-cycled as a plant pot this weekend! 

Here you can see that I have used an old vase my Father found for me. Make sure you drill some holes into the bottom for drainage if your container doesn't have any. I added a layer of grit at the bottom to improve this even more and potted up some Snowdrops into John Innes compost, topped off with a layer of grit.

3. Seeds - Thinking of growing some Tomatoes this year? If you have a heated Propagator you can get them started today! Fill a seed tray with some seed sowing compost or Multi-Purpose, place into a gravel tray of water and leave until you can feel that the water has soaked into the surface of the soil. Sprinkle the Tomato seeds over the surface then add a layer of compost on top. Place into a Propagator with a base heat of 20-24c and the seeds should germinate within 10-14 days.

Along with tomatoes you can also start your Sweet Peas off this weekend. 

Sow these into deep 9cm pots (3 seeds to each) or in root-trainers using multi-purpose compost. Simply sit these in a warm sunny position on a windowsill, in a GH or heated propagator (at around 15c) and these too will germinate over the coming days. 

These are the Tomato seeds that I have chosen to grow this year - 'Sungold' and 'Gardeners Delight' which are old reliables for taste and size along with a new variety 'Tigerella' purely for the decorative aspect!

4. Weeds  -It's not the nicest of jobs for some but now is the time to make a start on the weeding! Remove any weeds as soon as you spot them, if left they can soon take over and will compete with the plants that you do want around for the nutrients in the soil. 

Thanks for stopping by, don't forget you can find all the previous Checklists on the page tab above.

HAPPY GROWING!

XXX

Garden Checklist ...

Good Morning!
I know it's been absolutely AGESSSSS since I last posted and I certainly didn't plan it to be. What with work, course work and rubbish weather I haven't really had the chance to get much done in the Garden recently apart from the occasional dead-heading over the past few weeks.
However I'm back today with my Checklist and a few other photo's for you!

1. Feeding - What with the low temperatures this Summer my Tomatoes haven't really got going until recently. There's still a few weeks left for them to ripen so don't despair too much! Carry on feeding them once a week and remove excess foliage to allow plenty of light at the fruits. If the weather turns and we have yet more cooler days keep an eye on your watering and make sure you don't give them too much.
You can also give your Chilli's a feed to help give them a bit of a boost too.

2. Pests & Foliage -Keep an eye out for Pests and Foliage problems. For example just yesterday I spotted Viburnum Beetle all over my Viburnum Tinus, the little blighters!

In a GH you may come across Aphids which can be dealt with simply by squashing them.

Make sure you remove any yellow / brown or mouldy leaves on plants as this can help spread grey mould. Don't forget to keep an eye out for Caterpillars too which can be found hiding between leaves!

3. Winter Bedding - If like me you ordered some Winter Bedding and planted it up in trays a few weeks ago they will soon be ready for potting on. All you need to do is pot them on into bigger trays to all the plant to grow and develop a good root structure before eventually being planted out.

4. Plan Ahead - You may not want to hear it but now is a good time to take note of what did and what didn't perform well this year. This will help you decide what to have in your garden next year. For example I really liked the Cosmos that I grew this year and although I have decided to cut back on the amount of Annuals next year, if there is only one that I grow it will be this one!

'Cosmos - Double Click Snow Puff'

My 'Agapanthus - Queen Mum' will also be sticking around as after sharing no flowers last year it made up for that with not one but three giant blooms this time around, they haven't stopped flowering for weeks! I have the plant in a pot next to the back door and is at a perfect height to greet me at eye level every time I go past.

5. Cyclamen - If you have been looking after last years Cyclamen then now is the time to start giving them a water after their Summer break.

TIP - With Cyclamen it's always a good idea to water them from below instead of the top as this can cause the corn to rot if it's left wet.

6. Bulbs - Now is the time to start thinking about buying and planting next years Spring bulbs!

As you know I bought 60 - 'Narcissa Thalia' which all need planting in the borders. I'm hoping to do this soon when I give the borders a good mulch!

Thanks for stopping by, don't forget you can find all the previous Checklists on the page tab above.

HAPPY GROWING!

XXX

Weekly Garden Checklist ...

Good Morning!
Apologies for being MIA the past few weeks, I didn't mean to abandon the blog! I had an increase in work hours which left me with barely any time to go outside and then I ended up with Migraines and Headaches, so all in all it has't been great over the past few weeks lol Anyhoo I am here now and here are a few bits that I will be getting on with in my garden this week that you can do too.

1.Sempervivum - If like me you have a couple of pots of these lovely plants you will have noticed that in recent weeks they have started producing offsets. To give yourself more plants and to stop the pots becoming too congested, simply tease each of these away from the main plant and pot on into individual pots of gritty compost. You will notice that each of these already has it's own root system making them a good plant to start with when learning how to propagate.

2. Tomatoes - I'm not sure about you, but my Tomato's have been rather slow to ripen this year, with the weather blowing hot and cold it seems to have held them back! However some of them are slowly starting to ripen on my 'Sungold' variety. Make sure you pick them as soon as they are ready to avoid the fruits splitting and don't forget to give them a weekly feed. 

Hopefully my other two varieties will start ripening soon!

3. Pond Weed- Even in a Half Barrel like mine, Pond Weed can soon appear! Make sure you keep on top of it by removing it as soon as you spot it. However don't forget to let it rest at the side for 24 hours to allow any little critters caught up in it to get back into the pond. 

4. Eyesore - If like me you have a part of the Garden that you enjoy looking at less than the rest, why not try make a feature of it? 

For example we lowered the top off the Raised Bed and placed the off-cut behind the Bins until we'd decided what to do with it. Weeks later it's still sat there (due to my indecisiveness, lack of space and the fact our home is a Rental so we can't really do much) and with Bins being an eyesore anyway I really didn't like looking over at the space.
 I placed some little pots of Alpines along the top of the ledge using it as a shelf to cheer it up a little bit! It's only a little change but it makes a big difference!

5. Weeds - Keep an eye out for Weeds popping up where you might not expect it. At first glance you might not see them but as the picture below shows they can grow right in the middle of your plants undetected, for example this one blended right in between my Cotoneaster and Astrantia!

6. Carrots - Finally you may remember a few weeks ago I sowed some Carrot Seeds in the Raised Bed. Well if you also did that at the same time then they should be about ready! I harvested my first Carrots yesterday morning.

Thanks for stopping by, don't forget you can find all the previous Checklists on the page tab above.

HAPPY GROWING!

XXX

Weekly Garden Checklist ...

Good Morning!
It's time again for my Weekly Garden Checklist, I know it's been more than a week, apologies!
Okay, let's get started!

1.Feeding - Plants such as Strawberries & Roses would benefit from a liquid feed right now with something like Tomorite or Liquid Seaweed. Not only will it give the Strawberries a boost but also the Roses will appreciate it once they have started flowering.

Another plant you can start feeding now are Tomatoes, make sure you wait until they have started setting fruit and give them a weekly feed. Summer Hanging Baskets & Pots can also be fed weekly now too.

2. Deadhead - Cut down the faded flower stems on Euphorbia's that flower in the Spring. 

Do this with care as the milky sap can be an irritant on skin.

3. Pinching Out - Keep pinching out the growing tips from plants such as Dahlia's and Fuchsia's to promote bushier growth. Don't let the tips go to waste though as you can use them for Cuttings. With Fuchsia cuttings cut the stem to beneath a leaf node and remove the lower leaves. Place down the side of a pot holding watered compost and within a few weeks you should see some new growth which will prove that it's rooted.

4. Plug Plants -Plants that arrived as Plugs a few months ago are putting on good growth and so should yours. Hopefully you have done the same as me and planted them in 9cm Pots upon arrival, gradually working up a pot size as they grow. They should now be ready to be planted into their final pots, here you can see that I have done this with one of my Dianthus Plugs. 

Also just like I have mentioned in no.3 you could also take some Cuttings from the non - flowering shoots to give yourself even more plants! 

Thanks for stopping by, don't forget you can find all the previous Checklists on the page tab above.

HAPPY GROWING!

XXX

Weekly Garden Checklist ...

Good Morning!
Apologies for not managing to stick to posting this weekly, along with work I haven't been feeling too well but I made sure I had something to share with you today.
Okay, let's get started!

1.Hanging Baskets - Hopefully everyone will now be making a start on their Hanging Baskets, as I mentioned last time it's a good idea to plant them a few weeks before going outside to help them become established. I did this myself a fortnight ago and I have just given them a liquid feed to help them along.

2. Earth Up Potatoes - Potatoes will be putting on good growth and will now need keeping an eye on. When you see fresh foliage poking out you need to cover them with soil. This helps them spread and produce more potatoes along with protecting them from any late frosts we may get. 

At the start of the year I mentioned I purchased a Growing Kit from T&M as I do not have the space to grow them in the ground. I have to admit that when the kit arrived the 'bags' were smaller and different to what was advertised. Nevertheless I'm still giving them a go and it'l be interesting to see what the harvest is like.

3. Dahlia's - If like me you are growing Dahlia's from Tubers this year they will have sprung into action over the last few weeks. It's time to plant them into their final pot's or if you are planting them into the ground it's a good idea to start the process of hardening them off.

4. De-Budding - It may seem cruel but if you want your Summer plants such as Dahlia's, Basket Plants etc to focus more on producing good foliage and a fuller shape then it's time to pinch off any emerging flower heads to help focus the plants energy elsewhere.

5. Tomatoes - If like me your Tomatoes are in their final pots and growing strongly you will have also noticed that they are producing side shoots on Cordon varieties. These need pinching out as soon as you spot them.

Thanks for stopping by, don't forget you can find all the previous Checklists on the page tab above.

HAPPY GROWING!

XXX

Weekly Garden Checklist ...

Good Morning!
Apologies for not posting sooner, the past week or so has been pretty busy.

Here are just a few suggestions that you could be getting on with this week ...

1.Hanging Baskets - Plant up Summer Hanging Baskets indoors to get them established before going outside. I like to add some Slow Release Feed and Water Crystals to help reduce the chance of them drying out in the Summer. As you can see I have planted 4 main basket plants in each 14" Basket. There is a Diascia in centre surrounded by Nepeta, Surfinia Petunia and either a Trailing Fuchsia or Begonia. Make sure you plant your main plants in the gaps between chains. I will also be adding some fillers such as Lobelia in the spaces inbetween ... I just need to get some!

2. Pot On Seedlings - Keep potting on seedlings that you've sown. You can also start to slowly harden them off in the coming weeks by placing them somewhere sheltered outside during the day, then bringing back under cover on a night.

3. Prune - Now is the time to prune Spring Flowering Shrubs such as Ribes once they have finished flowering. This is also the time to go out and buy some! I recently treated myself to a Ribes which I have planted in a large pot.

4. Feed - Once your Spring bulbs have finished flowering and you've dead headed them, they'll benefit from a liquid feed.

5. Tomatoes - Pot up your Tomato plants into their final pots, I like to stand mine on a tray of gravel and water. You can also add their growing supports and tie them in. However as you can see the tomato I sowed myself last month is a little while off it's final pot! lol

Thanks for stopping by, don't forget you can find all the previous Checklists on the page tab above.

HAPPY GROWING!

XXX