WHAT ARE WE DOING IN THE GARDEN TODAY 2023

Cut the old leaves off some of the hellebores and weeded around them.

 

Sowed my first seeds today . Bit later than normal.

 

What did you sow @Perki ?

 

Sowed 3 lots of Pelargoniums - Ivy leaf trailing - black velvet and quantum mix they have more pointy foliage and flowers . Some wax Begonia - coleus mix and Dichondra silver falls . They are all really for pots and baskets, I'll probably sow some more this weekend .

 

Dug up 2 old currant bushes, they were difficult to get out but i did it.

 

I moved some slabs which I put down last autumn to hold pots of Fuchsias. The Fuchsias have been inside a shelter since December so the slabs were not needed now. I knew there were Snowdrops planted there somewhere and I found them coming up under the slabs.

 

Don't know where to post this, but think it is a great idea. |Because we live in the orchards there are always lots of pallets going free ...

 

Started bagging up the worm compost from the worm compost bin.....remembered why I have a no dig policy....noticed how all old people seem to be the same age as me!
Will mix up the seed and potting mix tomorrow, I'm creaking too much today

 

All I've done is start stripping off all of the marking on my plastic plant labels/spikes. I use Isopropyl alcohol to do this and today I discovered if I pour some alcohol in a shallow long dish, I can soak the spike for a little bit and it is even easier to wipe off the old names.

The sad part is wiping out the names of last year's failures that I did not buy new seeds to try again this year. I gave up on Cleome, Delphinium, Lacy Primula and Lunaria. I have tried several times and it is a waste of my time and money.

 

Oh how I wish I was like you Lori..... I'm flexing my muscles ready to face battle with Cleome for about the 8th year running!!. I am determined to find the best method, everywhere I go on my research travels it's claimed they are easy but can have low germination outcomes......I would be happy with just a few more that my normal success rate of 1 !!!!

 

I find magic sponge (melamine) from pound shop, works well too, though the main problem with labels is they seem to snap after only a year or two.
This week I have been cutting back in the garden, and digging out seed packets that really should be sown.

 

For labels i cut up 1ltr Ice cream containers, it's very good for that.

@Upsydaisy have you tried giving the Cleome a cold spell in the fridge?

 

What a coincidence you posting after me @CarolineL !!!! I'm sure the Cleome seeds you kindly sent me with be stars performers .......I can smell the sweet aroma of sucesss


@Logan oh yes...I 've tried every possible way!!!!.The annoying thing is that I use to grow them quite successfully years back!!!
Cold stratification still usually only results in one viable seeding. This time with Caroline's advice her seeds have been in my fridge since Oct....so will test if long stratification works best. I bet they can't wait to get out and warm up!!!

I use plastic clothes legs as labels, they don't go AWOL as much as the ordinary ones do..

 

Had a walk around today and we have a couple of Crocus in bloom.