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The Potting Shed - May
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Message 1.Â
Posted by David K (U14115317) on Saturday, 1st May 2010
Good morning, welcome to this May edition of The Potting Shed.
This is a busy month for sowing most veg seed such as french & runner beans, beetroot, broccoli and calabrese, cabbage and cauliflower, chicory, kale, kohlrabi, peas, turnips and swedes.
Also remember to make successional sowings of salad crops such as lettuce, radish & spring onions.
Happy bank holiday weekend, however you wish to spend it.
Link to previous PS: -
Message 2
Posted by GuzziNut (U6364582) on Saturday, 1st May 2010
sneaking in from planting coz its raining - yay!
thanx for opening up, David, hope the nose continues to improve and the sense of smell is still returning
the cat problem, that used to drive me spare in my old garden... in addition to what DeeKayBee
suggests you can also try
glass bottles half full of water
mothballs
strategically placed spikey off cuts
making the top of the fence as unfriendly and unstable as poss, to stop them from getting into the garden (but as drystane has cats of her own she might not want to do that... *muses* anyone else find it ironic that a catophile wants to deter the critters?)
you can get a squirty hose thing that is activated when the cat crosses a beam, firing a jet of water at the creature
I have other ideas too, classes as "direct action" like ambushing them with the hosepipe... but maybe I wont go there just yet -
Message 3
Posted by sagethyme (U5272261) on Saturday, 1st May 2010
boomarking before going out for gardening action
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Message 4
Posted by Miftrefs Laura in Lothian bufily ftitching (U2587870) on Sunday, 2nd May 2010
Sun, 02 May 2010 11:53 GMT, in reply to sagethyme in message 3
First sowings gone in of spring onion, salady-lettucey mix, carrots, lambs' lettuce and beetroot! It feels WONDERFUL to be growing something again!!
tiny patch as it was the only ground really ready for sowing - the rest needs digging, and soil improving so it doesn't grow a viridian crust like last year!
Plenty of homemade compost ready plus some grit for the top layer.
I'll be mostly offline in May, but should pop in on a Saturday afternoon, i hope!
Good gardening, all!
laura -
Message 5
Posted by halftidy (U8567554) on Sunday, 2nd May 2010
freezing here - off to work in France this week, so have done as much as I can and hope all survives in my absence - the garden begins to take shape but so much to do - David - I hope nose continues to heal and your garden thrives -
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Message 6
Posted by Miftrefs Laura in Lothian bufily ftitching (U2587870) on Sunday, 2nd May 2010
Sun, 02 May 2010 15:13 GMT, in reply to halftidy in message 5
I'm very excited - we may have a New Gardener here!
Via the extensive roadworks, I got to be on first-name chatting terms with a little boy of 3 or 4 and his Dad. They live in a flat (hence no garden) but have cleared and dug a small veg patch behind some derelict buildings - sadly the local teen thugs have made merry with it, but they persevered, but now the new building is going ahead there so it will all be bulldozed shortly... we have a small patch of unused ground in our front garden, really not much more than a square yard or a bit more, kind of sitting dormant - four years ago it was the huge mulch-pile from our trees being chopped down and chipped, but we've not got round to doing anything at all with it.
I didn't think the Aged Ps would agree, but they have - so over the next few days I'll clear the weeds (not bad, not perennial), and go along to see the young chap's Dad and offer it to them as a tiny replacement veg plot.
Hurrah for keen persevering youngsters who love digging and growing!!
I'm so pleased!
laura -
Message 7
Posted by Nomadnomore - XNo - Quiz Queen (U3180380) on Sunday, 2nd May 2010
Oh it is lovely to hear of a new gardener. I'm very much looking forward to introducing my Grandson (18 months) to gardening.
Thank you for opening David. I have indeed sown lots of seeds today, including many of the ones you mention.
I love this time of year. -
Message 8
Posted by SussexCornflower InTheFinalCountdown (U13833966) on Sunday, 2nd May 2010
Is it May already?!
You all seem to have been very busy over the last week. I have been away and come back to a garden where everything seems to be twice as big as it was before I left - obviously good growing weather.
Hope to get out there tomorrow as it is Bank Holiday and have a proper look. -
Message 9
Posted by David K (U14115317) on Monday, 3rd May 2010
That's really very kind of you, Laura....you really are my kind of person. I never miss an opportunity to kindle the interest of youngsters myself.
I think it stems back to when I was about 8 years old when my teacher (Mrs Harper) took me into her greenhouse & cut a lettuce for me....hmmm, I can still remember the beautiful fresh & unique smell.
Sorry you're not going to be around much during the month ahead..this place isn't the same without you. xx -
Message 10
Posted by LemonTree (U14305071) on Tuesday, 4th May 2010
Haven't really done much in the garden recently so haven't had much to post about. Just going to bookmark to keep up with what everyone else is doing!
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Message 11
Posted by David K (U14115317) on Tuesday, 4th May 2010
Having visited a couple of the major garden centres over the weekend, I have to say I was appalled by the quality of some of the plants on sale….particularly sweet peas & tomatoes.
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Message 12
Posted by Leaping Badger (U3587940) on Tuesday, 4th May 2010
Do you think that's because the spring has been so cold that they've had to be 'forced', David?
My tomatoes are looking good, and my sweet peas are putting on new growth apace since I repotted them last week. Thanks for your advice on this.
'Ö' -
Message 13
Posted by David K (U14115317) on Tuesday, 4th May 2010
I don't think so, Leaps. They are just very substandard quality. The sweet peas in particular were dire. Just a small handful of seed in a 3" pot...they will never make plants of any note.
Also, 2 potato tubers in a 6" pot - £4.99. Ouch! -
Message 14
Posted by LemonTree (U14305071) on Tuesday, 4th May 2010
Oh, something I keep meaning to ask here .. there is a v.large, well-established elaeagnus by the communal parking area near my house. It got quite massive by the end of last year, taking over one of the parking bays, so some neighbours had it cut back .. but I've noticed a lot of stems are now dying back. I've googled for diseases and all I can find is coral spot .. and had a look on the stems but can't seem to find anything at all, so not at all sure what it is .. anyone got any ideas what it could be? (I think my neighbours are really worried they had it cut it back incorrectly/wrong time of year, but as far as I know they are fairly tough plants .. I used to be hacking mine back constantly!)
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Message 15
Posted by David K (U14115317) on Saturday, 8th May 2010
I’m usually not one for panicking, but in view of the present (more like March) weather, I'm getting a tad concerned about the 'wedding sweet peas'. My own are at a stage I would normally expect a month ago.
Many of the exhibitors at Malvern report having unprecedented problems in bringing on blooms this year. -
Message 16
Posted by Leaping Badger (U3587940) on Saturday, 8th May 2010
My sweet peas are no putting on growth, but they're still only 4-5 inches high. Can't wait til they start flowering.
My potatoes are now about 4 inches high as well, with lush growth from the soil up. Should I earth up now, or leave it? I've read two conflicting piece of advice: earth up continuously, or wait until the plants are 9-12 inches high and then earth up to within 3 inches of the tops. Which is better?
First pea shoots seen finally in the past couple of days. Everything does seem to be reluctant to grow this year. I'm glad I'm not relying on the things I'm growing for my food this year.
'Ö' -
Message 17
Posted by SussexCornflower InTheFinalCountdown (U13833966) on Saturday, 8th May 2010
I wouldn't dare to think that my advice is correct on potatoes, Badger, as this is my first year too.
But, I have been earthing up as they grow. Mine are now close to the top of the bucket and making lots of leaf. I just keep putting more soil on to make sure there are no tubers (if there are any!) showing. -
Message 18
Posted by Miftrefs Laura in Lothian bufily ftitching (U2587870) on Saturday, 8th May 2010
Sat, 08 May 2010 13:08 GMT, in reply to Sussex Cornflower _ happy Spring is here in message 17
Our new gardeners came yesterday and cleared their little allotment themselves - we'd said we would but heard voices later in the afternoon and there they were, mum, dad, little lad and the baby, grubbing out the self-seeded stuff - not only did they put it all in the brown compost wheelie-bin, but they also did some tidying-up for us: a big sack of stuff we had said, oh just ignore that, we just haven't got round to putting it in the brown bin yet - and now it is in!
My own kitchen garden is starting to get organised. Some digging done, some mulching of perennials. The redcurrants look like being the heaviest crop in years!
Not impressed by the seeds I put in last Sunday, though. Nearly a week and no plants. Maybe I sowed the seeds upside-down? Perhaps i should dig them up to look?
(not really - you know how impatient we can get!)
laura -
Message 19
Posted by politebirder (U4482231) on Saturday, 8th May 2010
Earth up now & keep doing it. Stimulates growth of the spuds & protects the haulm from late frosts.
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Message 20
Posted by Leaping Badger (U3587940) on Saturday, 8th May 2010
Cheers, both. How much haulm (see, I'm picking up the lingo) should I leave showing above the soil? Just a couple of leaf tips? And do I have to pluck of the leaves before covering them with soil, or just leave them on?
'Ö' -
Message 21
Posted by Miftrefs Laura in Lothian bufily ftitching (U2587870) on Saturday, 8th May 2010
Sat, 08 May 2010 14:08 GMT, in reply to Leaping Badger in message 20
Leaps, the best description I got about earthing up potatoes was to think of the plant as the body of whoever is currently driving you up the wall - you've just murdered them and need to hide the corpse....
so just cover it totally!
I was told you do it once there are about four inches or so showing. so the leaves get to photosynthesise, but then you bury it to make them sigh exasperatedly and start shoving upwards to find the light again.
laura -
Message 22
Posted by Leaping Badger (U3587940) on Saturday, 8th May 2010
Cheers, Laura. Done. I also left a giveaway clue for Inspector Barnaby to find. Did I do right?
'Ö' -
Message 23
Posted by Miftrefs Laura in Lothian bufily ftitching (U2587870) on Saturday, 8th May 2010
Sat, 08 May 2010 15:28 GMT, in reply to Leaping Badger in message 22
That's the style, Badge. Did Mrs Barnaby happen to have joined some amateur society of which the victim was also a member?
See you next Saturday (unless I have a day with nearly no work emails and have a few minutes leftover of my 30 mins/day self-imposed limit!) - happy gardening!
laura -
Message 24
Posted by halftidy (U8567554) on Saturday, 8th May 2010
just back from airport - will post pics of sweet peas tomorrow - they have grown this week, especially the ones that are still wind protected - about 2'6" and looking very strong (the ones bought in as plugs are utterly useless and pathetic) - so I am not panicking yet but will await yr judgement!!! broad beans looking good and so much in tunnel wanting to go out: cerinthe, cosmos, begonias, geraniums, french and runner beans (can I put the french out now??) lots of squashes just germinated - and nicotiana sylvestris in airing cupboard looks like anaemic water cress - oops!! A sweet pair of partridges seem to have taken a liking to my leeks - hmm . Peas happy out now and beetroot/carrots and radishes all germinated. Have more tomatoes germinated (striped and yellow pear shaped ones) just for fun - and 5 cucumbers. We are eating asparagus and PSB tonight - yum yum - just stop this rain would you .... someone???
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Message 25
Posted by David K (U14115317) on Saturday, 8th May 2010
Halftidy - If we have SP buds anytime in the next 3 weeks, we are on schedule.
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Message 26
Posted by Penstemon (U4429639) on Saturday, 8th May 2010
I have 'volunteered' to plant up the an ornamental boat that adorns our village green. It is owned by the Sea Scouts and is about the size of a large rowing boat.
Tomorrow some of the scouts and me (including my children) are going to weed it and add garden compost, plus fertiliser.
I have a budget of £50 to plant it up and would like to do some permenant planting plus some colourful bedding. I got some annual and perennial trailing pants today but would appreciate any ideas you may have.
Thanks -
Message 27
Posted by Katyagain (U6449139) on Saturday, 8th May 2010
I wish to share a celebratory glass of something nice - how about sloe gin? To mark the fact that I now have an actual potting shed!!!! With a potting bench built by my son. Granted the door's falling off the shed but hey! That can be fixed! Soon I hope! I have tomatoes peppers, tarragon, basil, all kinds of stuff growing away. Chiz! KatyX
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Message 28
Posted by Ruthy Tu (U14432555) on Sunday, 9th May 2010
Chiz Katy!
I have a shed but hardly dare set foot in it, being an Olympic-level arachnophobe. I will insert one limb at a time, grab what I need, and nervously retract the limb.
But I'm here to pose a silly question which has niggled for some time:
Leeks. Why do we *have* to transplant them? What's wrong with sowing them where you want them to stay, thinning the seedlings, and harvesting them X months later, as with other veg, onions included? But no, it seems we have to sow in nursery beds, and then move them, when they are "pencil thick". Right pain for those of us who love leeks but don't have room for nursery beds and planting on..
Can't find any explanation in the books, where transplanting is always just taken as read.
Can anyone offer an explanation for an idiot?
- ruthy -
Message 29
Posted by Penstemon (U4429639) on Sunday, 9th May 2010
Apologies for the typo it should of course read 'plants'... Sigh
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Message 30
Posted by David K (U14115317) on Sunday, 9th May 2010
Sausagesrus - What an interesting project and good luck with it.
It would help to know if there is a theme or what plants you have already decided upon. Personally, I think the tremendous range of colours available in primroses make them a must as an edging plant. -
Message 31
Posted by David K (U14115317) on Sunday, 9th May 2010
Leeks. Why do we *have* to transplant them? What's wrong with sowing them where you want them to stay, thinning the seedlings, and harvesting them X months later, as with other veg, onions included?Â
Ruthy - This is cos the main part of the leek we eat needs to be blanched and therefore grows below the surface of the soil. Onions & shallots etc grow on the surface so consequently don't require the same treatment.
A nursery bed of leeks about 3' x 1' will provide all the plants needed to feed an average family all through the winter.
When they are about the size of a small spring onion, make a hole with a dibber about 6" deep. With a pair of scissors, reduce the tops and roots by half.
Place them in the hole and fill it with water...no need to back fill in the hole. -
Message 32
Posted by Kate McLaren etc (U2202067) on Sunday, 9th May 2010
Sun, 09 May 2010 08:49 GMT, in reply to David K in message 31
I have an elder tree which I want to keep (actually it is in the next door neighbour's "garden" = blasted heath so I probably shouldn't kill it although he never goes out there so wouldn't notice) as I make stuff from the flowers and berries. However it is so large by now (I've only been in the house a year and a half or I would have attacked it sooner) that it is shading half of my tiny garden. I therefore want to reduce it considerably.
I gather they are pretty hardy so can I simply take a pruning saw to it and hack the branches off? -
Message 33
Posted by David K (U14115317) on Sunday, 9th May 2010
Morning, DD - Elder can be pruned as hard as you like, but is best done in the autumn.
No issues about fruiting on new or old wood as far as I know. -
Message 34
Posted by Kate McLaren etc (U2202067) on Sunday, 9th May 2010
Sun, 09 May 2010 09:20 GMT, in reply to David K in message 33
So, were my pruning saw to be big enough (which it ain't) I could almost treat it as one treats buddleia? -
Message 35
Posted by David K (U14115317) on Sunday, 9th May 2010
Thinks - Buddleia flowers on the current year's growth, hence I cut mine down to about 2ft above the ground in late Feb....are you thinking of being so drastic? -
Message 36
Posted by Ruthy Tu (U14432555) on Sunday, 9th May 2010
Ahhhh...I see, about the leeks. Thanks David.
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Message 37
Posted by carrick-bend (U2288869) on Sunday, 9th May 2010
Sun, 09 May 2010 14:17 GMT, in reply to Drystane Dyke in message 32
DD, you could probably do a little hacking (say 15%, a few branches hacked cleanly from an inch from the main trunk, or get rid of the most annoying 15 or so % of the branches now, before the really hot dry weather sets in, then do a bit more radical pruning in Autumn, when the leaves fall and the tree goes dormant for Winter.
They can stand being quite hard pruned - but as you both want to get rid of as much shading as quickly as possible and also make sure you keep the thing alive, I'd advise caution and doing it over a few years. -
Message 38
Posted by sagethyme (U5272261) on Sunday, 9th May 2010
What an interesting selection of questions and answers while I have been away. It is good learning this way.
Katyagain, congratulations on your shed.
I thort chiz was Molesworths's opposite to cheers?
Learn from Old Mother Thyme's experience: the rest of the family will try to use your shed for dumping bits of old computer, cardboard boxes which might come in handy, redundant sports equipment, etc, etc. -
Message 39
Posted by Kate McLaren etc (U2202067) on Sunday, 9th May 2010
Sun, 09 May 2010 21:11 GMT, in reply to carrick-bend in message 37
Perhaps I will do a small prune after (or indeed as) I nip off the flowers to make my elderflower cordial. In fact that would mean I could get more of the flowers and make more elderflower cordial, as it vanishes rather fast.
And then, as you suggest, prune a bit more in autumn.
David, I'd love to hack it down to 2 feet but I only have a small pruning saw and it is an old and hefty tree. Also I am not as young and fit as I was when I was looking after a few acres of forest in Kent and cutting down all the dodgy trees and hacking them up and burning them...happy days... -
Message 40
Posted by halftidy (U8567554) on Monday, 10th May 2010
sweet pea images - must be an easier way to sort link surely? Am I being silly?? -
Message 41
Posted by David K (U14115317) on Monday, 10th May 2010
You coulda done it like this:
They're looking good, HT!
Did I spot the 'plug' ones in the background?
Have they had their seaweed tonic yet? -
Message 42
Posted by halftidy (U8567554) on Monday, 10th May 2010
ahh it seems to have worked after all!!!!!
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Message 43
Posted by Leaping Badger (U3587940) on Monday, 10th May 2010
Quick spud question: I'm going to plant my second batch of three seed potatoes in a couple of days. These are the ones which started sprouting in the fridge. Two of them have a load of very healthy looking shoots, but the third has none. It has gone soft and shrivelled, and it's only in the last week that the first signs of buds (two or three of them) have shown at the rose end.
Am I all right to plant this with the other two? I feel I might as well, as otherwise the space will go to waste, unless planting it will affect the other plants, eg if it goes rotten and passes on some problem to them.
Peas have finally started to show, what a relief.
thanks in advance.
'Ö' -
Message 44
Posted by halftidy (U8567554) on Monday, 10th May 2010
In the background are actual peas (Ne Plus Ultra and some mange tout type) plug plant sweet peas are pathetic. Everything had a seaweed tonic yesterday. Silly question, but how much should each plant get? I was using a watering can with a rose on it. The only reason they are looking so good is your kind advice - you are known locally as my internet guru!!! Really hard frost last night and geraniums under front porch and those in the unheated greenhouse seem unaffected. Got back from France on Saturday and yesterday:
Seaweeded everything.
Planted out cabbages, calabrese, brussel sprouts.
Put geraniums in greenhouse
Sowed more broad beans in tunnel.
Erected anti pigeon netting over brassicas.
Hoed onions, potatoes, asparagus.
Did some edging.
OH dug trench for french beans.
Ate PSB and asparagus.
The netting cage OH built anti pigeon for the PSB took off and flew over the fence!!! Small breakage now mended!
Now need to weed around those poor sweet peas and do a lot more weeding generally.
Beetroot have germinated but still no sign of parsnips, tho the radishes I always sow with them are safely up! Please can we have some warm weather now.
PS The bottoms of some of the sweet pea plants are yellow and with bitten lOeaves, but as you see the tops are fine - is this K??? -
Message 45
Posted by halftidy (U8567554) on Monday, 10th May 2010
PPS what a fab slide show - how did you do that????
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Message 46
Posted by David K (U14115317) on Monday, 10th May 2010
Sorry, Leaps! Fraid the squidgey one is a write off....good news, the other 2 will produce more because of the extra space.
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Message 47
Posted by David K (U14115317) on Monday, 10th May 2010
Halftidy - Just follow the seaweed instructions re strength of mix. Application - no fears of giving too much, but its best considered as a booster/tonic.
Btw, what week in June is the big day?
Photobucket? I'll explain praps in the winter potting shed. -
Message 48
Posted by halftidy (U8567554) on Monday, 10th May 2010
Sat June 12 - just heard that YD (bridesmaid) has got TB - she works in a hospital with infected patients - I am so shocked - sorry to be off thread - just shaking a bit.
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Message 49
Posted by sagethyme (U5272261) on Monday, 10th May 2010
cutting down all the dodgy trees and hacking them up and burning them...happy days...Â
Drystane
You reminded me of the best holiday of my penniless youth long ago. A bunch of us went to a National Trust property to help with similar forestry tasks. We received free lodging, a year's NT membership, good tuition which is still helpful in my tree pruning, and a tremendous sense of achievement. Just had to pay something towards food.
The NT still encourages volunteering for all levels of fitness. -
Message 50
Posted by sagethyme (U5272261) on Monday, 10th May 2010
Halftidy
Just read your bad news which crossed with my frivolous post so wanted to post again. I know YD will have the best of care and you know we wish you all well.
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