They say the best things come to those who wait Woodgreen! I'm banking on mine saving me some money; not because I'm growing things to eat, but because I don't want to go on holiday and miss out on my greenhouse time!
Ooooh, and isn't it fab when it starts raining outside and you're all tucked up with the tomatoes?!
Hi, hello Reiver. Good size greenhouse. Don't bother with tea, make a shady area under racking for a glass of wine.
I don't have flowers in mine other than to germinate, and to overwinter tender ones. How about sewing a planter / trough of cut & grow lettuce, good time to do it and it can go outside pretty soon.
I have marigolds pelagoriums,cerinthe(dead easy), and some unamed house plants that needed rescueing.
I have raised ,zinnnias, antirrhinums,rudbeckia, schithanus (grand-daughter shows off with that one), asters,achillae, gypsophilia and marigolds. Early potatoes are well away, onions, garlic and leeks coming along nicely. The chives and salad onions are a production line and we are on our second pot of carrots(G-daughter loves to eat these straight from the pot) I would not garden if I could not grow beetroot and we had suprise, in that the rhubarb I killed last year is thriving!!
I have very little space in my garden and have planted pots en masse in one space. Hostas add foliage and I hope the taller flowers will enhance the overall effect. The neglected lilies are again ready to bloom. It seems that I would do better by developing a hands-off approach.
The real success has been the heucheras and alpines I bought(Plantsagogo.com)
They are thriving. I need to rearrange the heucheras next year but they are lovely.
I will take some "Work-in-progress" pix and will probably have to ask my 8yr old foreman how to upload them
KEF- I love the way you think.
TOOTLES- I agree, I do have a small radio, a birthday gift from my son(He was feeling guilty for promoting his daughter to be my foreman). I either listen to the glorious music of Classic FM or or argue with the RADIO4.
No gardening today-wet miserable. Family away to York. Not for me , not at half term Definitely "Grumpy Grandad"
Rose "Darcy Bushell" is budding up nicely and the cinnaria is going to give a silver base to allow her to show her best(I hope).
Chrysanths are 50/50. I may have to resow or buy plants.
I look forward to the warmer days when I can sit and listen to the music or the TEST and make amateurish blobs with my watercolours.
Retirement is great- No annual reviews- no targets(Except self set).
I can enjoy being selfish ( I suspect I always was).
Back to the books- I need to select plants with perfume for the G/H and More insect friendly types for next years garden. Trouble is -- I WANT THEM ALL.
Hey reiver - I'm trying to grow gypsophila this year for the first time (for daughter's wedding in our garden, I need industrial quantities of the stuff!!!)
Can you give me any advice on it? My plants are now outdoors in pots, about 12 inches high, looking terribly floppy and no sign of anything that looks like flowers yet - do you think I should worry?
The Gypsophilia I have I grew from seed. It seems to be the most recalcitrant and uninspiring seedling. It flops around like a truculent teenager and sulks if moved , transplanted, watered or neglected.
I had some crowded in a pot -- died.
Some in individual pots -- look like sad weeds and making little progress.
I have some in the garden- they sulked initially but now seem to be ready to do their thing.
All I can suggest is patience and have lots of spares.
Isn't being "Mother of the Bride" stressful enough without opting to do the flowers I recommend a benevolent, proud and slightly tearful smile, accompanied with a glass of champagne
Thank you Reiver - so good to know that my gyps are not the only ones that are sulking! I shall give them a stern talking to and tell them that they will be grounded if I don't see an improvement in their attitude soon. Perhaps I shall move their pots next to the cosmos, who are being entirely delightful and obliging, to show them the sort of behaviour I expect in return for all my TLC.
Oh yes, the DIY flowers concept seemed like SUCH a good idea at the time! To be fair, we are getting a professional to do the really important bits (bouquet etc) but I thought I'd have a shot at the table centres and so on. The reception is in a marquee in our garden, so it seems like a good idea to bring the garden into the tent! But I am only too willing to fall back on local florist at the last minute if it all provesc too much. More importantly, I have been practicing the proud and tearful smile in front of mirror since January, and am now looking to get in some serious practice with the champagne. I think a few bottles between now and the end of July should be enough - just - to perfect the 'raise to the lips and sip with right degree of mother-of-the-brideness, don't you think?
All great fun! Right, now I'm going outside to have a chat with the gypsophila.... .
I to live in gods country Durham I find if I put my finger into the compost and it comes out with compost sticking to it they dont need watering and vice aversa BOB
Don't forget to plant some french marigolds amongst the toms to ward off white fly and add a couple of sticky strips to make absolutely sure they don't get a hold, easier to prevent than cure.
Basil also works and smells divine when you touch it. But don't forget to cut it back as it starts to grow as it easily flowers, then goes all woody and horrible in the warmth.
As for flowers, I struck a cutting from a pretty red carnation from a supermarket bunch and have that planted in one corner, so I have some cut flowers right through the summer. When it gets old and woody, I just choose another bunch and strike a new cutting. Just select a strong side shoot from the bunch and root in a small pot or even a jar of water. They root really easily this time of year. Most of my flowers go outside during the summer, but the GH is invaluable to plant up tubs and baskets early then keep them warm until they go outdoors when it warms up.
PS I agree with somewhere to stand your mug of tea and space for a radio!
Posts
They say the best things come to those who wait Woodgreen! I'm banking on mine saving me some money; not because I'm growing things to eat, but because I don't want to go on holiday and miss out on my greenhouse time!
Ooooh, and isn't it fab when it starts raining outside and you're all tucked up with the tomatoes?!
Hi, hello Reiver. Good size greenhouse. Don't bother with tea, make a shady area under racking for a glass of wine.
I don't have flowers in mine other than to germinate, and to overwinter tender ones. How about sewing a planter / trough of cut & grow lettuce, good time to do it and it can go outside pretty soon.
Enjoy your retirement, what a pressie!
Thanks all-
I have marigolds pelagoriums,cerinthe(dead easy), and some unamed house plants that needed rescueing.
I have raised ,zinnnias, antirrhinums,rudbeckia, schithanus (grand-daughter shows off with that one), asters,achillae, gypsophilia and marigolds. Early potatoes are well away, onions, garlic and leeks coming along nicely. The chives and salad onions are a production line and we are on our second pot of carrots(G-daughter loves to eat these straight from the pot
) I would not garden if I could not grow beetroot and we had suprise, in that the rhubarb I killed last year is thriving!!
I have very little space in my garden and have planted pots en masse in one space. Hostas add foliage and I hope the taller flowers will enhance the overall effect. The neglected lilies are again ready to bloom. It seems that I would do better by developing a hands-off approach.
The real success has been the heucheras and alpines I bought(Plantsagogo.com)
They are thriving. I need to rearrange the heucheras next year but they are lovely.
I will take some "Work-in-progress" pix and will probably have to ask my 8yr old foreman how to upload them
KEF- I love the way you think.
TOOTLES- I agree, I do have a small radio, a birthday gift from my son(He was feeling guilty for promoting his daughter to be my foreman). I either listen to the glorious music of Classic FM or or argue with the RADIO4.
No gardening today-wet miserable. Family away to York. Not for me , not at half term
Definitely "Grumpy Grandad"
Rose "Darcy Bushell" is budding up nicely and the cinnaria is going to give a silver base to allow her to show her best(I hope).
Chrysanths are 50/50. I may have to resow or buy plants.
I look forward to the warmer days when I can sit and listen to the music or the TEST and make amateurish blobs with my watercolours.
Retirement is great- No annual reviews- no targets(Except self set).
I can enjoy being selfish ( I suspect I always was).
Back to the books- I need to select plants with perfume for the G/H and More insect friendly types for next years garden. Trouble is -- I WANT THEM ALL.
Now then, where is the corkscrew?
Hey reiver - I'm trying to grow gypsophila this year for the first time (for daughter's wedding in our garden, I need industrial quantities of the stuff!!!)
Can you give me any advice on it? My plants are now outdoors in pots, about 12 inches high, looking terribly floppy and no sign of anything that looks like flowers yet - do you think I should worry?
Hi Rosie31
The Gypsophilia I have I grew from seed. It seems to be the most recalcitrant and uninspiring seedling. It flops around like a truculent teenager and sulks if moved , transplanted, watered or neglected.
I had some crowded in a pot -- died.
Some in individual pots -- look like sad weeds and making little progress.
I have some in the garden- they sulked initially but now seem to be ready to do their thing.
All I can suggest is patience and have lots of spares.
Isn't being "Mother of the Bride" stressful enough without opting to do the flowers
I recommend a benevolent, proud and slightly tearful smile, accompanied with a glass of champagne
Thank you Reiver - so good to know that my gyps are not the only ones that are sulking! I shall give them a stern talking to and tell them that they will be grounded if I don't see an improvement in their attitude soon. Perhaps I shall move their pots next to the cosmos, who are being entirely delightful and obliging, to show them the sort of behaviour I expect in return for all my TLC.
Oh yes, the DIY flowers concept seemed like SUCH a good idea at the time! To be fair, we are getting a professional to do the really important bits (bouquet etc) but I thought I'd have a shot at the table centres and so on. The reception is in a marquee in our garden, so it seems like a good idea to bring the garden into the tent! But I am only too willing to fall back on local florist at the last minute if it all provesc too much. More importantly, I have been practicing the proud and tearful smile in front of mirror since January, and am now looking to get in some serious practice with the champagne. I think a few bottles between now and the end of July should be enough - just - to perfect the 'raise to the lips and sip with right degree of mother-of-the-brideness, don't you think?
All great fun! Right, now I'm going outside to have a chat with the gypsophila.... .
Well done. May I please request pictures of the floral display --- and --- The Hat
I to live in gods country Durham I find if I put my finger into the compost and it comes out with compost sticking to it they dont need watering and vice aversa BOB
Don't forget to plant some french marigolds amongst the toms to ward off white fly and add a couple of sticky strips to make absolutely sure they don't get a hold, easier to prevent than cure.
Basil also works and smells divine when you touch it. But don't forget to cut it back as it starts to grow as it easily flowers, then goes all woody and horrible in the warmth.
As for flowers, I struck a cutting from a pretty red carnation from a supermarket bunch and have that planted in one corner, so I have some cut flowers right through the summer. When it gets old and woody, I just choose another bunch and strike a new cutting. Just select a strong side shoot from the bunch and root in a small pot or even a jar of water. They root really easily this time of year. Most of my flowers go outside during the summer, but the GH is invaluable to plant up tubs and baskets early then keep them warm until they go outdoors when it warms up.
PS I agree with somewhere to stand your mug of tea and space for a radio!