The "Grow Your Own" Thread

[lemonjelly]

Oh, been collecting seeds - cosmos, marigold, balloons, rudbeckia and sweet peas ( some of which I have sown for an over winter head start) and so on.

 

[Sniffer]

Dahlias still producing new flowers this late in the year.

I potted 3 dahlias early in the summer and they still haven't flowered. They are threatening to now but I fear that a change in the weather will mean that they won't.

A question for you LJ. I got caught out by a late frost a couple of years ago that all but killed a couple of potted hydrangea's but they just about survived. This year I re-potted them and they've grown well with excellent foliage but neither flowered. Will they in the future?

 

[lemonjelly]

I potted 3 dahlias early in the summer and they still haven't flowered. They are threatening to now but I fear that a change in the weather will mean that they won't.

A question for you LJ. I got caught out by a late frost a couple of years ago that all but killed a couple of potted hydrangea's but they just about survived. This year I re-potted them and they've grown well with excellent foliage but neither flowered. Will they in the future?

Honestly don't know mate, but would hope there's every chance. Covering them or taking them into a cold frame or greenhouse over winter & one would hope a usual growing cycle resumes next year.
Sounds like you did an amazing job rescuing them. They probably put most energy into rebuilding their main infrastructure, as opposed to reproduction, for next year.

 

[Hereford Wolf]

Just completed a little Autumn planting. Garlic and Shallots. First time we have tried these.
We also have Lemon and Apple plants on our kitchen windowsill which we have grown from seed...looking very healthy at the moment.

 

[lemonjelly]

took the tomato plants down at the weekend - windowsills full of green tomatoes.
greenhouse now has the spring onions and lettuce in. will be moving in some pots with bulbs to over winter.
climate change is MAD! I have plants I think Irises?) that are sprouting at the wrong time of year. wonder how that will affect them in spring?
Oh, and mrs jelly got fed up of the raspberries encroaching on a path, so I have moved them. Hopefully they take, though we accept we might not get lots of fruits next year if they don't like the move...

 

[b3h]

Saaaze on um

Partners Grandad grows stuff like this and shows them at Malvern each year

Also grows normal size stuff that has to be as "perfect" as possible to win

 

[The Bear]

View attachment 8665

Reminds me of that scene in Alien.

 

[EpsomWolf]

Almost in tears today

Roses.

Have a nice little rose bed the previous owners had put some effort into, which gave a nice display throughout the summer:



Was a little conservative pruning them last year so got some advice this time and was told they could probably go again, but are getting very ‘woody’ and might be best if willing to start from scratch with new plants.

Wanted to do it right so off to a local specialist rose nursery for new plants, cleared the old bark and membrane, prepared soil with manure, then added new membrane:



Dug holes, added fish bone and blood to the bottom, and planted. When it started really pissing it down called it a day with the intention of doing the bark tomorrow (today). Probably quite an amateurish job, but… I reckon a decent effort so far:



Absolutely gutted to wake up this morning to find the fucking fox has been in and mullered them. All but two have been dug down to the roots and three pulled clean out altogether. Had no idea that might be an issue but Google suggest it’s the fish bone and blood they were after. Seriously, seriously pissed off:



Not really sure what to do next but could only repair and replant as best as possible. Then cut circular sheets of membrane to go tight around the base of the plants, then covered with a decent amount of bark:



Not sure what else I can do but I’m going to be pretty sick if I wake up to the same thing tomorrow

 

[leedswolf]

I'd like a constant supply of new potatoes this year.

I've no idea where to begin - any help or tips please?

Cheers

Move to Jersey

 

[Wolf Hunting]

You've put a lot of work into that EW, but from what you said, I'd brace yourself...
If dogs can smell drugs through layers of sealed plastic I'm pretty sure a fox can smell fish and blood through bark shavings.
That said you can buy some stuff called 'Silent Roar'. It's actually a Nitrogen based fertiliser. But they're pellets soaked in Lion's dung/urine. I used it successfully as a fucking cat deterrent. it's fairly dear at around €15 and it's a truly shocking smell at first but it did work.

 

[lemonjelly]

@EpsomWolf all you can do with any gardening project is the best you can, then cross your fingers!
Plants want to grow, so there is a chance some of them will grow in spring & establish.

 

[EpsomWolf]

Wow, made it through the night. Yes baby.

Meanwhile, went back through the cameras and bingo. If anyone knows who this is or the whereabouts please call 101 or DM me. Cheers.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

You should try having a fucking dingo in the garden like I did last night

 

[EpsomWolf]

Starting to see the other side of wildlife so I’ll pass on a dingo thanks!

‘Samantha’ visits most nights and I used to think she/they were beautiful to see but that fades when they try to get in the bins and all sorts. We’ve got a common full of infected ticks and a neighbour the other day had an adder in her garden. The common has “loads of them” apparently. Okey dokey.

That’s quite enough for me, must take a bit of adjusting to when you’re catapulted into a world where you’ve got to quickly learn how to live alongside things that can do you proper damage.

 

[EpsomWolf]

I’ve had enough of this.

 

[lemonjelly]

RIP Wilko's!
Mom asked for some seeds & garden stuff (her birthday & mothers day are the same week).
Popped into a b&m, but they didn't have their seeds in stock yet. Odd & a bit late.
Went to b&q this morning.
Almost £4 for a packet of 12 seeds? Ludicrous!

 

[Loki]

RIP Wilko's!
Mom asked for some seeds & garden stuff (her birthday & mothers day are the same week).
Popped into a b&m, but they didn't have their seeds in stock yet. Odd & a bit late.
Went to b&q this morning.
Almost £4 for a packet of 12 seeds? Ludicrous!

I used Premier Seeds (online) last year. They were reasonable. I haven`t looked this year though.

 

[Mel Evo]

Suttons and Dobies used to have decent offers online. Also not looked this year yet. Reminds me I should!

 

[EpsomWolf]

After the trials and tribulations with the foxes ripping out the new roses last year didn’t hold out much hope they’d survive. They were all dug out about 3 or 4 times in total and each time I tried to replant them carefully as soon as I woke up. The very last time it happened I was out there at about 6.30am, in dressing gown in the pissing rain, just shoving them back in with sloppy mud, demoralised and ready to give up.

Couldn’t believe it a few weeks ago to see signs of growth and it looks like they’re all going to recover. Well chuffed about that. Still a long way to go but looks like might just have got away with it:

 

[lemonjelly]

I took some cuttings last summer from some rose bushes where we play bowls. They're all looking good over winter.
Will pot them individually in autumn hoping they take, as they're bushes which have multiple flowers.