Talkback: Bank holiday gardening jobs

Gardeners' World Web User

I will be planting "In The Green" lots of lovely tulips. narcissi, fritillaries, pink chionodoxa, etc. brought to me by my friend who has a small garden like you, Kate, but likes to ring the changes in his pots every season. he knows they will have a good home with me. Watering is a top priority as the long, hot, dry spell is threatening the health of a lot of the perennials like primroses, primulas and epimediums I have divided this spring. I am keeping an eye on the potatoes now up and the newly planted leeks and broad bean plants water wise as well. Otherwise it is war on the dandelions and bindweed and gathering great bunches of lily of the valley and anemones for the house now that my beautiful Mother's Day flowers have wilted.

Gardeners' World Web User

Hope to get out there at some point this weekend,probably Monday(as from this evening most of the weekend spent in Mass as we're practising Catholics, & friends round for dinner on Sunday), so hoping the weather doesn't break!

If I'm not too tired to do anything other than enjoy watching the bees & drinking a glass or 2 of Pimms, have a mini lilac to re-pot & need to sow my runner beans. Plus a couple of euphorbias that need a new home.

My little plugs have arrived today for my hanging baskets, so will definately pot them up.

And am hoping my hubby will use Monday wisely to make me some window boxes

Ooo. And I have to finish cutting out my material & machining my cushion covers for my garden chairs.

So much to do! Now, where's that Pimms?????

Gardeners' World Web User

Have been busy today emptying my compost bins - have changed the soil in greenhouses ready for my tomato plants -the rest to go on veg plots ready for all my plants which I am itching to plant out [but dare not yet in case of frost] I started my runner beans, courgettes and spaghetti squash in pots and they are all well away in greenhouse. I guess I am just going to have to content myself with weeding, tidying up and moving things around

Gardeners' World Web User

Kate, you have just reminded me that I am always behind on what I should be doing, but I also have planted up loads of goodies and passed some stuff on to nieghbours and my daughter, heavy clay is my problem as I find it impossible to dig it so along with my home made compost I buy bags and bags of compost.Oh! well better get on with it then or I'll be getting nothing done and yes I will be out there this early in the morning. Keep at it all you gardeners.

Gardeners' World Web User

Thought of a couple more jobs to do this weekend. I grow mainly shrubs and perennials[apart from veg] as my garden is small - except for companion plants. Just back from long walk with my dog and have pricked out a tray of marigolds specially for tomatoes. I also have another tray to pot on of nicandra [shoo fly] Then my bright orange honeysuckle has really gone to town so needs some serious attention as it is pulling down its support. I just remembered that my May issue of Gardeners World was delivered yesterday so sometime this weekend when it gets too hot I might sit under the willow tree and read it [along with a glass of chilled white wine]

Gardeners' World Web User

Nobody was using the school greenhouse, so I have cleaned,tidied and sown seed since end of march and everything now needs potting on. I can only manage an hour or two every couple of days. The free sunflower and sweet peas are coming on a treat. I need to plant outside but the raised beds have not been tended for about three years and are full of bindweed, bramble and couch grass in clay soil - so i will approach with the no-dig (lasagne) method but i am waiting for it to rain....

Gardeners' World Web User

ASs spring is here and the sun shines consistantly for the first times in what seems like years, its so wonderful to see these images and tips. I was so enthused that I started a small blog of my own, hoping to chrionicle the little bit and pieces in my own garden. Dotn know if its right, but I want to share and hope to pick up on other peoples' blogs too?
http://thepatchygardener.blogspot.com/
If this seems like spam, please forgive. it's not meant to be.

Gardeners' World Web User

Unfortunately, sorting out the broken bench has taken priority. Bit of an eyesore at present.....

Gardeners' World Web User

Where to start! I promised myself I wouldn't get so behind this year, but the jobs have crept up quickly and I find myself trying to catch up again. I have lots of planting to do, I need to sweep and clean the patio and step areas, weed, clear out the shed, varnish the bench, uncover and clean the patio furniture, and mow the grass, to name but a few.

Gardeners' World Web User

lijemc, youhave drawn up your list. now you need to prioritise. Will the plants deteriorate if not planted till later? Is the dirty patio and step area a dangerous hazard? can you combine weeding and planting i.e. stick to one area and weed and plant that area? Saves retracing your footsteps. Can the cleaning of the patio furniture wait a bit? Would it not be more sensible to clean the shed on a rainy week-end? You see what I mean. use all your common sense on health and safety, time and motion and you'll know instinctively where to start. Or you could say to yourself "Well, it is a holiday I'll start with the things I like doing best." But START!

Gardeners' World Web User

Last year for the first time,I grew Nicotiana Mutabilis from seed.I dug some up at the end of the season and over wintered them, they are already in flower and waiting to be planted out in a few weeks. I very much recommend growing this variety of tobacco plant, they are pink and white and beautiful, my new favourite before Sylvestris.
Saved seed from last year too and now have loads of babies to sell on our plant stall when we open under the NGS next month!