General Gardening Discussion

Hi Pete, yes, I have tried this with Amaranthus, some of the tiny purple seedlings had a lovely dark colour. The big fat green ones weren't so interesting. Also try to save tiny dark coloured Love-in-a-mist seedlings. I'm always in favour of the underdogs!

Growing orchids from seed is difficult and requires specialist knowledge and skills. orchids raised commercially from seed are germinated in flasks of nutrient jelly in a controlled laboratory environment. they are some times also propogated by meristem culture: microscopic pieces of plant...

BeckW79 - don't worry over much about the watering, unless you can't get your fork in. That's what you need - not a rake - it has to ba border fork, dug in to its full depth, and the soil turned, checking every bit for weed-root, and get every piece removed!! Good clean fun!! I do it a lot...

many thanks for advice hubby wiil have to put up with the long grass a bit longer!

Trachycarpus is definately hardier than cordyline, and I would say its better for shade as well. Sometimes its winter sun that makes the difference between life and death. It all very well planting in a fairly sunny spot in mid summer but you need to think if that spot gets any sun at all in...

I'd like to see the tulip, if you have a digital there are detailed instructions on this site for posting pics

Thanks for the advice everyone. cheers

This one is a bit different and easy if you have a damp shadey garden. Oh and I HATE those white daffs! anyone want a load?

cool will get some seeds then.. cheers.was just worrying about the sun the plants will get... had it in my head because the area in front of the fence always gets lots of sun that the fence did.. Actually looking at it yesterday I noticed that it must be north facing as the sun was behind the...

agreed - there are times when I'd like to make it clear about ownership, although others are just snaps...

I agree with Pete - if a plant is dried out, it needs water - but not if it's in full sun. I'd put it somewhere out of direct sunlight and give it a light water, and keep checking on it and repeating, particulalry if it's something that has recently been planted or potted on, when it's at its...

simple test on any plant - brown = dead / green = alive - a mix = not long for this world!!

Pea of Sweetness - I presume you'd like some low-growing stuff to trail over the sides as well as stuff higher up? If so, there are lots of things that do the job. Do what I've recommende to lots of people, use the RHS plant selector. Follow the link, and fill in as many boxes as you like...

Yeah i thought id been smart when we di the garden makeover and spent an entire week on all fours gently digging it all out to a depth of nearly 2 feet. but no here it is as big and depressingly rampant as before. Its the deep root this time, and no i wont touch it at all, it can biodegrade into...

If it is below the surface it's probably a sucker (unless you planted the plum below the graft point) and should be removed. Try to tear it off rather than cut it as this will help prevent further suckers sprouting from around the cut. If it is below ground I dont think you ned to worry about...

I'm obviously a novice! If I'm trying to keep my vegetable plot organic, can I use fertilisers such as Growmore and Sulphate of Potash....or does it mean I can only use manure and composted material. Thanks.

OK,I CUT DOWN TO ABOUT 12 INCHES ALL FOUR. TO MY SURPRISE THE ROOTS ONLY STRETCHED TO AROUND 20 INCHES IN THE 14 FOOT TREE IN REAR GARDEN.HAVE REPLANTED HOPING FOR THE BEST.THANKS TO ALL ADVICE GIVEN.OBVIOUSLY THESE WOULD HAVE TOPPLED EVENTUALLY!!.

Will trim to suit. Thanks for your help. Steve & Susan.

An aquarium heater(cheap 50w-100w)with an adjustable stat would be much safer and economical to run.A shallow plastic tub with a lid (to recycle condensation) partially filled with water provides adjustable bottom heat for trays parked on top.Insulate the bottom and sides of the tub with...

yes dendy, i thot immediatly of potentilla but its a poor do in the winter, ericas mite be ok, but i had them pencilled in for somewhere else, i m going to try one or two potentilla, Rudbeckia, and Dahlia for a start , ive a slightly more sheletered bed for the Ceoanthus.