Recent Posts

My Paper Bark Maple has been in the ground just short of a year, and it too is looking a little battered by the warm, dry windy weather we've just had. Paper Bark Maples are slow growers too (It might take 10yrs to double its current size!), so i'm not expecting very much new growth at all for...

Well what do you know, I can stick a label on mine now(about 10 years old!)

I have grown lithops from seed years ago, I still have a fair few plants.They are easy, but slow and can take about two years to get bigger than a pin head mostly.I used sharp sand mixed with peat based multipurpose. scatter seed thinly on the surface and water from the bottom.A lot will...

I brought my Rangemaster with me from Belgium @Meadowlands - 5 gas hobs but leccy ovens, grill and warmer. Too big for the new kitchen bu very handy as backup when needed and the ovens come into their own when I'm doing the annual cake production line for the garden club's plant fair.We...

I sowed mine about a month ago and have now pricked them out. They are about 1in high now. I used seed I had collected myself and germination was good. They don't like it too hot to germinate in my experience. So sowing them now they would germinate OK, but with cooler weather soon they may be a...

I've always had to overwinter rosemary undercover as it can't cope here well enough, but the way things are changing, climate wise, that might become easier in future. The more upright varieties might be ok in the OP's site and location. I think the site will need some good prep, regardless of...

Thanks I might try that. The shed is bone dry now, even after the amount of wet stuff we've had, and as long as it doesn't then get too cold as well as wet, they might be ok in there.

I found that to be a problem with jiffy pots if I didn't remove the mesh before planting out. I have often grown on newly purchased plants, where ever from, in a larger pot in a mix of garden soil and potting compost until I see them growing away and roots popping out the drainage holes.

I find the quickest way to get them incorporated into the soil is to leave the worms to it. They drag the down where they will add some benefit. The rest get put aside for leaf mould but I don't use an open heap because they seem to attract weed seeds and it's far less of a problem if you sack...

I've tried and failed propagating this using cuttings and layering. I'd be very interested if it works using a really gritty mix. I have managed to split big clumps into smaller chunks and found that works provided you take chunks with plenty of roots.I like them but they are slug magnets...

Perhaps you need the shelter of a walled garden, styled on Rivington perhaps?

The trio ...

If you want area for veg, consider constructing raised bed(s) across the slope as terraces, aim to get average of 250-350mm soil depth, cut the turf and use to form lower edge as if a wall.Drive chestnut stakes (40mm dia) to 'nail' it in place. You will be able to introduce (good )topsoil and...

I'll take a look. Thank you.

Wrapping a cucumber in plastic does extend their shelf-life by 60% which is why supermarkets do it. Despite the use of single-use plastic it still makes economical/environmental sense to wrap them rather than let them rot.

I agree with Busy-Lizzie, dig it out, it's too old and oddly shaped now to ever look very attractive and personally I would never plant a red rose against a red brick wall - cream or white would look so much better as a contrast.Most modern roses have better disease resistance than the old...