Lessons learned 2014

Planning where things go better mostly. Like not putting delphiniums that grow to 7 foot plus and a buddleia in the MIDDLE of a bed so that you can't see what's at the back. And labelling seeds trays with waterproof ink so that I know what I've sown after a couple of waterings. And making a note of where I've planted things so that I don't dig them up or plant over them next year. Not buying things on a whim because I really want it, but then can't find a good place to put it. Basic organisation really.

As for things I don't have much luck growing - Sunflowers (kids might be able to grow them but I don't have much of a success rate), delphiniums - always die on me so I'll stick to plug plants from now on. Most other things I'll give a try.

ETA - might be a tad too early to say what has been a total failure yet, it's only the beginning of July. Although we had a mild winter and a warm spring and plants seemed to gallop ahead I think some of the summer plants are coming through at their normal pace. When I compare my seed grown plants with those from garden centres they seem miles behind but the garden centre ones are actually forced and mine will still be blooming in October when theirs have stopped (I hope!)

 

stop buying plants that I have no space to put them in and now have pots galore all over the place , also to label plants up straight away (Garden Label printer) which I bought so I did not have any excuses !!!

 

Lesson this year get my shade planting correct - if a flower does not want to grow in the shade it blooming well won't listen to me and grow ! I have planted trailing begonias as usual , but also a few trailing and bush Fuchsia . These are doing well this year , for some reason I have ignored Fuchsias for years .
Learn how to reseed grass - why can't I get it to grow !!
Forget Cucamelon for 2015 !

MORE - Petunia Wave Lilac and Laurentia 'Avant-Garde F1 Hybrid Pink and Blue , lovely planting together.

 

Where do I start?! Being new to this growing stuff lark, I'm constantly learning and thinking of how I'll do things better next year. This daftest mistake I made was with the spring bulbs, I spaced them too far apart and they look horrible. I have lifted some and will add more to the others. I would also start hanging baskets from scratch in future, and incorporate the water retaining gel. I tried to rehash last years liners and I think I would have had better baskets if I hadn't. Also, I will put more plant supports in before they start spilling over, as it's very difficult to support them once they reach that stage. Oh, and I will aim to use F1 seeds for veg, I can definitely see a difference when you buy better quality seed.

 

Less-
forget direct sowing apart from in my wild area, it's too hard to tell apart weeds from wanteds. Don't try to dig up bindweed bit by bit after leaving it too long to establish itself. Ended up emptying the whole raised bed to get it out.
Space out dahlias and lobelias more as they've all grown quite big and are squashing each other a bit.
Don't hard prune daphne in February- got rid of the flowers! :-(
Don't move roses too much due to keeping changing my mind. In fact don't bother with cheap B&M roses. My waltz time is pink!
Don't plant hostas in too much sun- had to move them.
Don't leave seedlings in the propagator too long or they go leggy and die!
Make sure clematis has shade on the roots.
Go easy on the liquid fertiliser (managed to scorch a whole load of things)
Don't bother with aldi plants or t&m plugs.

More- dahlia cuttings (will label them next time!)
Keep up the pruning as researched as it stops the shrubs taking over.
My super cheap seed disc did well, would like some success with seeds.
Keep sprinkling foxgloves, poppies and aquilegia in my wild area and cross my fingers!

As you see I've made a fair few mistakes...

 

Just a few then , I want to see your list this time next year , I could tick all those you have listed at one time or another

 

Lots of mistakes this year.....

12 inch baskets are too small. Even with water retaining gel in them, they still need a lot of watering. Also don't site them too close together! They have exploded with flowers but now look a bit squashed. I wouldn't plant trailing nasturtiums in baskets again. As I put Miracle Gro 100's & 1oo0's in, I've ended up with lots of nasturtium flowers but huge leaves too which shade and hide everything in the basket. I have to keep cutting leaves back which is a pain.

I still need to pay attention to how tall things grow. I've got some plants which are shorter at the back of one raised bed. To be fair though some plants have grown taller than it says on the seed packet....maybe I've over fed them.

If I'm going to grow tomatoes again, I need to learn how to remove side shoots properly! I've lost control of my Sunbaby. I'm now wondering if I should stick another cane in the pot or will I damage the roots? Also, I didn't realise how wide bush tomatoes grow! The seeds I bought were advertised as suitable for growing on a patio. All I can say is some people must have whopping big patios! I've only grown a few and they are taking over the garden.

When direct sowing annuals THIN THEM OUT!! I've even done a trial with some thinned out and some not. Instead of saying oh they'll be fine like last year, I now know how much difference thinning them out makes. The thinned out plants are sturdy and flowering well, while the others are tall, weedy and sickly looking with hardly any flowers. Lesson learned!

Don't buy anymore pots/containers. There's no more room at the inn. I'll stop now!

 

Hehe thanks Spruce, my problem is when I start doing something (only started gardening in February this year) I want to do well. Hence loads of research and mistakes along the way. I feel I've learned a lot and hopefully the negatives list will be shorter next year. :-)

 

Struggled with amarantus tricolour this year but will have another go next year.
My nicotania sylvestris are starting to move at last though.
Bedding wise else seems to be on course.
Looking back through pic from this year and last all the trees and perennials are way ahead in terms of size compared with last year.
Toms and cucamelons looking good too.

 

These "cute window box tomatoes " are becoming anything BUT. They hide any gap to poke a watering can or hose in.They are so root bound already that by mid afternoon on a sunny day, they are all hanging down like dead sheeps wool. 3 in a trough = too many. 2= one at either end will be enough,
Jenny

 

Ballcocks - you ain't a hope in hell of sticking to that!!!
Buy first, think later! If you think first you'll deprive yourself of something really good!!!

Those that have made no mistakes haven't done anything! Anyway, gardeners don't make mistakes, we just have failed experiments!

My "failed experiments";
I didn't keep an eye on the dormant bulbs in the shed.
Once again, I've planted things too close.
Should have taken one of the Acanthus out over the winter.
Bought more tender plant seeds than hardy.
Bought more garden waste sacks instead of going to the dump more often.

So next year I'll reverse the above (again)!

 

I've learned heaps and heaps this spring thanks to all the help I've been given here at GC But the season is young, too soon to draw conclusions yet about my tomatoes. I think in future I should only grow coriander outdoors -- it produces so much better, if more briefly.