What are we doing in the garden 2024

Something similar happened about 20 years ago to a nursery, that was moving from Dartmoor to France, they loaded everything up, the transport set off and then there was some delay and a sudden cold snap, result they lost most of their stock. They sold climbers by mail order, don't know what happened after that, the name just disappeared.

 

@NigelJ , I keep it under a table in the polytunnel, for a bit of shade. But if it’s going to be cold overnight I put it on the table with the fleece over it. It’s going on the patio under a bench in a month or so.

From what you say, @Busy-Lizzie, it sounds like it will survive the current temperatures though!

 

Saw the weather forecast was saying rain again today so postponed the bark chippings until tomorrow. It wasn't a day completely devoid of progress, I did some more seed sowing. Phlox Crème Brulée/Whipped Cream, Nasturtium Milkmaid, Malva Mystic Merlin, purple sprouting broccoli and Tumbling Tom tomatoes all got started and I dared to plant out my sweet peas. Of course, just as I was planting my sweet peas it started raining, then came the thunder and lightning and the hail. Was intending to pot on the Irish Moss I'm going to use as a lawn replacement in the front garden but I didn't want to spend too much time outside today. Our cat isn't well and I genuinely thought we were going to have to take him on his last trip to the vet but he's perked up. Not at all sure what tomorrow will bring, just keeping my fingers crossed. I can say for certain I'll be gutted if I go out there in the morning and find my sweet peas nibbled.

 

Today I planted up some more courgette seeds and rubbed some greenfly off two of the roses.

 

I’ve been in the garden for most of the day! Tidied rockery and added a Sedum, tidied potting area and planted strawberries (from last year’s runners), re-made sweet pea support, potted-in two Lavenders (from cuttings), bit of weeding and loads of cuppas.

 

Distraction gardening today .....start doing one thing, see something urgent, dash back up to toolshed, see something else on the way, promptly forget 'urgent' job, start doing something else, strimmer battery needs re-charging so start on something else while it's charging which takes me down to the asparagus row, so start weeding/picking asparagus... Meanwhile, my heap of mulch sits there looking reproachful, waiting to be spread! Instead of fiddling about with daylight hours, couldn't the PTB organise an extra 5 hours or so to the day?

 

I think my "helpful" fiddling has had dire consequences. Thought I'd help the ipomoeas seedlings along by separating the edges of the leaves and having just taken a look, they aren't looking wildly happy about it. Hopefully in the morning they'll have perked up a bit otherwise I shall have to start all over again

 

Oops @Februarysgirl ...
I sometimes get that with Ipomoeas - the leaves don't clear the pod completely, and just stick, but you have to be very careful about opening them up!

 

I started what I thought was going to be an easy job this afternoon, mulching the other main border in my upper garden with bagged farmyard manure bought from one of my local garden centres. When I started to clear the few weeds, leaves and litter away beforehand I noticed that one of my bamboos was planning a runner attack! I got three runners out with a spade and loppers and also took some canes out as they’ve been getting caught up in the soffits and guttering with all the recent high winds. The bamboo is now a lot tidier and I won’t be getting any visits from my neighbours! I also cleared away several perennials that didn’t survive the winter and now have lots of space for several varieties of Heleniums which I ordered yesterday and should arrive on Friday. No more gardening efforts planned until then!

 

What's heleniums did you get @Plantminded ? I couldn't be without them sign of summer.

 

I agree @Perki, it’s my favourite perennial! I’ve ordered Moerheim Beauty, Baudirektor Linne, Dauerbrenner, El Dorado and Flammendes Kathchen from Hardy’s when a few came back into stock. I’d been watching their website for a few weeks! Do you know these varieties? I’ve grown Sahin’s Early Flowerer for about three years now and have always been impressed. Good for bees and good with grasses!

 

I potted the only Cosmos plant that I got from my seeds. I had ordered a non-white/pink variety but only 1 germinated and survived. As long as I get 1 out, I don't mind, but I have the impression that the non-standard versions of many flower plants are much harder to germinate respectively to grow.

 

At last able to cut the paths in the orchard. Grass very lush but the mower coped thankfully. The robin was about 6inches in front all the time!

 

I read once that if you buy seed that has mixed colours, the weaker seedlings are likely to be the better and more unusual colours, so I always prick out some of the smaller ones to grow on.

 

Our elder son bought Christmas crackers which had seeds in the cardboard cracker. Have just planted the crackers into the old wheel barrow in the orchard. Gave them a good soak. We now wait and see what will germinate and what flowers we have.