What jobs are we doing in the garden today 2016

Bright but cold here today, stuck indoors waiting for a delivery (which never arrived), but did manage a quick burst in the garden this afternoon while Mrs Trunky was in.

Dug up and relocated a Salvia 'Hot Lips' shrub which was quite happy in its sunny spot in the middle of the herbaceous border, but just looked wrong in that position, so I moved it to another bed. Also dug out a sickly Echinops which has never really performed very well anyway.

This was all to make room for planting out 25 Dutch Iris 'Purple Sensation' bulbs, which were in a tray of various 'cottage garden' bulbs recently given to Mrs Trunky for her birthday. They needed to go in as they had begun shooting. Should look great in summer.

 

I'm soaking some Asparagus densiflorus 'Sprengeri' seeds today ready for sowing tomorrow. A nice ornamental plant from the looks of photos.

 

I kick started my old electric propagator into life today. Over the last three years I've been waiting for it to fail as it's a minimum of 10 years old, but it's still going strong.

Not exactly in the garden, but I've been potting in the greenhouse and now have a number of seeds underway - the first this season. In the propagator there are Lupins and Antirrhinums, started early because they need a long growing time. Nigella and Echinacea. In the greenhouse I've potted more Iris seeds that have been stratifying in the fridge through the winter. Also, Heuchera seed which I collected in Scotland last year. They are unlikely to grow true but it'll be interesting to see what, if any surprises they have in store.

 

Went to the cold frame today where Ive been growing various garlics and elephant garlic in rootrainers.
I had put some straw in there as a mulch the end of Dec to protect them from freezing solid like last years. Removed the straw to prevent rot setting in.
No sign of any slugs what so ever,must be the strong smell of garlic putting them off,really pungent.
All looking good but Ive only got some containers to plant all 180 ish of them

 

Had to work most of the day so just got some more soil blocks made so that I can do some more sowing tomorrow.

 

In areas that are dry, will be raking.

 

Today, I have been mostly making a moss garden

 

I decided to get the wiring for my heat mats on the floor of the greenhouse sorted out. They cover only about 13 square feet but it's better than nothing (last year). Counting down the days until I turn on the heat and start moving things in there. It is still too cold at night to affordably heat it until about the 3rd of March. It was hot in there today. No heat but the sun was blasting it. The autovent opened and I worked in my shirt sleeves. Well, I had the rest of my shirt on too

 

I decided to again sell some of my Snowdrops on Ebay and give the proceeds to my local hedgehog sanctuary. As people still like to buy the bulbs (in the green which isn't really necessary as long as the bulbs are fresh), I did a listing yesterday. I didn't think I'd get a massive response very quickly....wrong sold 3 x 100 and have 2 enquiries for 1000 and 3000!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It's flaming freezing here with a wind that cuts straight through you. I'm going to have to go out and lift the bulbs for the 300. I think I'll say to the ones who want loads that I'll supply them but later on into March as lifting that kind of number will take me hours as I only sell the flowering sized bulbs and replant the rest. This doing my bit for a little charity seemed a good idea while parked next door to the wood burning stove, in reality I'll probably get hypothermia.

 

Could anyone volunteer to help you lift them or will they cause more damage than good? What a good thing to do though... If not for your warm hands, then for the hedgehogs.


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Im constantly amazed at the prices for these things. A few years ago a bunch of thieves raided a wood near us and removed thousands of them,i was gobsmacked
The gulley at the bottom of my garden is full of them along with bluebells, KERCHING !

 

That is so sad, theft like that doesn't seem to match up with plants and gardening. But when they're selling for £12-15 / per 1-2 bulbs I guess people wise up to it.


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Good idea @JackJJW except I'd need someone who vaguely knows a little about Snowdrops as I have both singles and doubles. I only sell the doubles as they seem to command a higher price but have to careful I don't lift singles by mistake. I'm just in to defrost and get my feet to be felt again! Daughter is "available" so could perhaps persuade her to at least do the bulb washing and counting tedious bit. I've got another 2 orders this morning so better get off here and get digging!

 

Oh how I wish I had THOSE variety of Snowdrops! I'm selling mine for £14.50 inc P&P per 100 which is pretty reasonable in comparison to shops. I too Wee Tam am up to my eyeballs (altho my eradication programme is having an effect) in Spanish hellish Bluebells. I think anybody selling those dreadful things should be jailed! They are my absolute pet hate, really difficult to get rid of and I'd rather tackle a Couch Grass infestation than those bu..... If anybody would like some in blue, pink or white (yup have the set) I'd pay you to come and dig them up. Off out now as just got ANOTHER order!

 

Hellish Bluebells are the bane of our flower bed too. I spent days digging them out last year. This year they're back with a vengeance! I need to wait till they flower so I don't mistake them for alliums.


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