Lessons Learnt 2019

This year I've learned:-

1. Sweet Peas and Cosmos prefer to be in the ground rather than in large pots.

2. Agapanthus prefer being in pots rather than borders.

3.My favourite pelagoniums "White Apple Blossom" don't like being outside. They go brown round the edges.

4.If a plant isn't happy or if I'm not happy with it - get rid of it (thanks @Verdun)

5. I should avoid re-buying the plants that have previously disappeared in the borders. I'm still learning that lesson - I've just bought another toad lily with hope

6. Wear a hat in the garden to avoid my hair drying

and another one that is difficult for a busy person - look at the big picture and don't concentrate on a few measly weeds. Embrace and enjoy the garden.
.

 

Agree with most everything there Alana Esp that great bit of advice for number 4
.
....but pelargoniums actually grow better down here outside, even over winter. Indoors, in the conservatory, they need constant watering and feeding....oh, and tidying up! Outside they grow bigger and very little attention.

Lessons for 2019.....to not be lazy and net the blueberries. Thought I could outwit Mr. Blackbird by picking daily and early in the mornings but he soon got to know and picked even earlier Had a good crop though ....so did Mr. B!!
Also to remember to successionally sow more lettuce. I had a couple of gaps where lettuce had either gone over or were not quite ready.
To grow less in pots. There is enough colour and interest in the garden without growing too many in containers
To grow echeverias in a scree instead of in individual containers ....they survive well enough outside anyway

 

A wheelbarrow left on its feet gets filled with rain water.

G.

 

At the moment, this is the area of the garden that is looking the best. It will only get better as the plants fill out. I'm looking forward to see how it looks next summer.

Until recently I had no idea what I was going to do with this area. Most of the plants in the photo (lavender, gaultheria, heuchera, geum) I already had in pots that had all been moved around the garden several times. I avoided the urge to plant them out until I was happy I had found exatly the right place. I believe my patience paid off.

G.

 

I recently asked a question about a gooseberry plant cordon.


This is how it looks now. I want it to grow in the pot for now until its strong enough to support itself.

G.

Oops. I think I put this in the wrong place. Sorry.

 

Lessons learned 2019- 0 zero, none, zilch, nada

Lessons I should have learnt:

• Label, label and label! Especially seedling pots where the germination is expected to take a long time. No amount of clever "the Morindas are all together on this blue tray" will prevent things getting mixed up. I'll try my best with spring bulbs when the time comes, promise!
• Put supports in early. Large Dahlias, Gladioli and Cosmos will need staking before they bend and break beyond saving. I don't like the sight of bamboo sticks in my beds, but I'll try next year.
• Buy a sturdy enough vase to hold the broken Dahlia and Gladioli blooms without toppling over.
• Fertiliser makes things grow. Not so great if it means that the hedge must be clipped at least twice a summer before the Council fines me for blocking the pavement.
• I do NOT need any more houseplants, even if they are offered cheaply as exiting seeds. Put that seed bag down at once Selleri!
• Wilder garden, especially in such an urban setting is good. But some weeds must be removed or there will be trouble. Respect the thugs.
• A T-shirt is not thorn proof.

This is so very true. I have to learn that I don't need to feel any guilt or stress if the lawn misses it's cut or a pile of dead rubbish stays in place for weeks. It's ok, the grass will be just fine and the neighbours are not judging, and garden is not something I must achieve. It's a joy and a hobby.

 

Weeds make up a substantial part of my garden. I can't worry about them. I will pull them up when the time and the inclination occurs.

G.

 

@Selleri amen. Labels. "I'll remember that" is the biggest lie of all time!

I also learned not to get hyper over losses. I've got about 7 perennials that suffered sever damage when a tree needed removing and I realize to just sit back and wait until next year to see what's forgjven me.

 

Slugs and snails eat pink Platycodon (Balloon flowers) but won't eat the blue and white ones.

 

I learnt to have no sentimental attachment to any particular plant, it's the knowledge I'm gaining that counts and nothing can take that away from me.

Nick

 

Gary, you can’t really train that as a single cordon unless you dramatically cut it backl
Either grow it as a bush.....remove lowest branches to form a clear “leg” or train it as a double cordon, I.e. take 2 strongest stems and tie them in at 45 degrees. Next late summer cut back those stems to upward facing shoots for them to grow as a U shape. Then it’s about spur pruning for the biggest fruit.

 

The lesson I've learn't is to give up growing Clematis in containers...no matter how much feed and water they get they're just not having it..so in the ground they go...Ifffff I can find somewhere to plant them.

 

Don't say that.
I bought a Clematis Justa yesterday to grow in a pot up an obelisk.
I googled the plant and it said it's ideal for a pot. I hope so.

 

No worries Pushkin ,most people successfully grow Clematis in containers..just not me.