WHAT ARE WE DOING IN THE GARDEN TODAY - 2022

The Comice is in a C pollination group, Andrea, and seems to be good for pairing up with across the A-C groups. If there’s none of those in the vicinity you probably will struggle to get fruit bearing, but the blossom will still be great.

Once you get something matching though, shouldn’t be a problem. That said, I’ve had a lot of blanks fired between the Conference and the 2 Bon Chretiens outside here, and a quite pathetic harvest for the last 2 years. So got a Beth and kept it in a container since the autumn, and will move it to snuggle up to the others when they’re in the mood, nudge them along to deliver in a via..gra sort of way. See what happens anyway, but pears can be infuriatingly dependable to not deliver what you expect them to. I’ll see how I get on with the mobile Beth anyway, and hopefully avoid headscratching outbursts of frustration in a couple of months.

 

Have you ever considered a career in in-vitro fertilisation à la Robert Winston, MA?

 

I made some more soil blocks and have sown my coleus, petunia and zulu warrior seeds.

I got an email from a big box store telling me about a clearance on outdoor products. So I followed the link and found they had allium bulbs on for $2. So I went over and I knew that it was most likely last year's stock and probably not many would wake up but thought, what the heck for $2 or 20 little bulbs, even if only one grew, it was still okay. Grabbed two bags. Got to the self checkout and they were not $2. They were 2 pennies. Yes- still may not get anything but I'll still get my 2cents worth trying. How fun is that?

 

Ohh... that’s annoying and why it was just £6 I guess. Our neighbours also have some of the original orchard and I think he has a pear tree from 30+ years ago, I’ll have to have a chat over the fence to see what his tree is, but maybe I’ll just settle for the blossom. We probably don’t have room for two, so might just pop it in a pot on the patio.
thanks for your helpful advice everyone.

 

Yeah all of my trees are in 90l pots @Tinkerbelle61
but you might be okay if there is another pear tree about.

 

Nothing today it's raining

 

Now how did I know you were going to say that?

 

Long distance fertilisation eh.
I pollenated one of my palms last year with pollen that was sent to me by mail, from 20 miles away, I bet you cant beat that.

 

Is that the palm of your hand?

 

We received some Begonia Cascade odorosa bulbs today so we planted them up in large pots until we are ready to plant them in the hanging baskets.

 

Started some more seeds. Lupin and primulas.

Is it just me or has anyone else got the same thoughts that seeds sometimes show whether I will get the dark or light coloured flower pictured on the packet? The seeds seem to have different shades. Even little nicotiana seeds are like that. White are light and the coloured ones are dark. Or is it just me..

 

Never tried it out, but I do know what you mean.

 

How tall were your trees when you potted them @Andrea Youll ?

 

Andrea YoullGardener
From the size of 30 to 60 cm, teeny little twigs they were but they've certainly grown a hell of a lot in just over a year