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The Potting Shed – October
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Message 1.Â
Posted by David K (U14115317) on Friday, 1st October 2010
Good morning and welcome to October’s Potting Shed from a very dull, dismal & wet part of Staffordshire.
This isn’t my most favourite time in the garden - a time for collecting the last of the season’s crop, removing summer bedding, planting bulbs and tidying up for the winter.
There is the consolation that later in the month I’ll be sowing my sweet pea seeds.
This year Eagle Sweet peas have introduced a new variety named ‘Julie Ann’; I’m really looking forward to growing this one, as I have a daughter of the same name.
Well done with those chillies, apprentice. -
Message 2
Posted by Mother of Grendel (U10657865) on Friday, 1st October 2010
Morning, David.
I'm new to the potting shed, so greetings.
I have one courgette plant remaining and will pick the last lot this weekend then dig over the bed.
Now, why haven't my nerines put in an appearance this year? Plenty of leaf, no flowers...
And my Cordyline, assumed to be dead, put out three new shoots from the base last month so I'm very glad I left it rather than throw it out in the summer. -
Message 3
Posted by David K (U14115317) on Friday, 1st October 2010
Hello, Essie, welcome to the Potting Shed.
Re your Nerines. Not easy to know why they haven't flowered, but I do know that they do occasionally miss a season.
I've always found Cordyline a bit sensitive to harsh winters too; particularly the red ones. -
Message 4
Posted by dens canis (U1983532) on Friday, 1st October 2010
Maybe the nerines will come out soon, apprentice. I always associate them with the autumn term at university, so October. Do they have buds?
I need to get on with the jobs David's outlined above (though I don't usually grow sweetpeas: may I should give them a go ...) but the forecast for this w/e isn't very encouraging.
But one of the things I like mst about gardening is that you're always looking ahead to the next season. I'll be sowing my broadbeans soon, and I've already staked the purple sprouting broccoli ready for the winter winds. -
Message 5
Posted by David K (U14115317) on Friday, 1st October 2010
Hi, Dens - It's just a little early to sow sweet pea seed anyway....I'll do a step by step if you wish.
Good luck with your autumn sown broad beans..maybe you could grow some autumn sown onion sets too. -
Message 6
Posted by dens canis (U1983532) on Friday, 1st October 2010
I'll have a word with my gardening partner, David. Our main consideration is space: we don't have a lot of it.
And Essie, I'm so sorry I gave you the wrong name just now. -
Message 7
Posted by Miftrefs Laura in Lothian bufily ftitching (U2587870) on Friday, 1st October 2010
Fri, 01 Oct 2010 09:55 GMT, in reply to David K in message 1
This isn’t my most favourite time in the garden - a time for collecting the last of the season’s crop, removing summer bedding, planting bulbs and tidying up for the winter.Â
Oh, aren't we all different - David, I love "putting a garden to bed" and seeing it all ready for spring! I think I'm also the kind of person who got great pleasure from spending the last evening of holidays covering school textbooks in neat brown paper covers (which wasn't actually required, I just liked doing it...) and having two different colours of ink in bottles on my desk even though nowadays I rarely use a fountain pen... I like the preparation, I suppose! All that potential...
then again, I'm not always successful with the growing part, so maybe that's why i enjoy seeing it before things have started dying on me!!
I would like a step-by-step for sweet peas, please. I would like to grow some next year in my kitchen garden, and would greatly enjoy trying my hardest to get them right. I will order the seeds this week so I'm ready.
I have a bench in the garage at the back in front of a big window - would that be a good place for them? No greenhouse here, and the scullery windowsill is only cool when Mum hasn't got the tumble-dryer going; when she has, the windows drip condensation and the whole little room is boiling hot like a small sauna!
laura -
Message 8
Posted by GuzziNut (U6364582) on Friday, 1st October 2010
morning all thanx for opening up David
and welcome to Essie
its finding time to tidy stuff at pres, we had a big blitz on the massed hedges of the Guzzinut hut the other weekend. Scaffold tower was hired, but there is still so much to do, including prodding the lawn and clearing the greenhouse - help -
Message 9
Posted by David K (U14115317) on Friday, 1st October 2010
Morning, Guzzi, hope you're well.
Laura - please forgive me I'm sure the weather out there influenced my opener.
Sweet peas..we'll need to know where we're 'stepping'. Three options; sow directly into the soil in the spring or autumn, or (my preferred method) in growtubes in a couple of weeks time for overwintering in a cold frame. -
Message 10
Posted by Miftrefs Laura in Lothian bufily ftitching (U2587870) on Friday, 1st October 2010
Fri, 01 Oct 2010 10:25 GMT, in reply to David K in message 9
David, the great thing about this weather (assuming you have the same as me: gusty blowy rain in big fat drops splattering rowdily on the window?) is that it just means you'll have to come and sit over here on the pile of old sacks with a mug of hot chocolate and help me go through these seed catalogues!
I do think I'm lucky, as this time of year is when I feel at my best... late spring is awful, when everyone else goes on about how lovely it all is but I can think only of the horrible airless hot summer forthcoming!
Sweetpeas - I'd like to grow mine not-in-ground because I want to work out exactly where I'm doing what* and have to do some making sure that finally I've got that wretched ground better drained.
I have used toilet-roll tubes before. Would they be okay? Then I just plant out the entire tube and it quietly disintegrates below ground-level and there's no root disturbance, which I think is the point of grow-tubes?
I'm not planning on a lot of SPs, my beloved Cupari, but would like them to be really healthy, and get the most out of them, so autumn-sowing would be ideal!
laura
*I'm about to convert my "everything all in together" approach to a three-bed crop rotation system with everything else all in amongst it! The SPs will have to go into the legumes bed, I presume -
Message 11
Posted by Miftrefs Laura in Lothian bufily ftitching (U2587870) on Friday, 1st October 2010
Fri, 01 Oct 2010 10:28 GMT, in reply to David K in message 9
Cold-frame... I don't have one... would a bench in front of a big window in an unheated old garage be okay? As much light as being outside against a wall, I reckon (it's a big window).
laura -
Message 12
Posted by DeeKay Bee - Disenfranchised (U236881) on Friday, 1st October 2010
Some toilet roll tubes are treated with chemicals, I think that's probably why it can be a bit hit and miss.
-
Message 13
Posted by Mother of Grendel (U10657865) on Friday, 1st October 2010
Ta for the welcome, all - I thought being called apprentice meant I had to progress through the ranks by posting photos of magnificent sweet peas and runner beans, until finally being addressed as 'most honoured and respected gardener'!
Ah, my red cordyline turned to mush so I knew it was beyond redemption but so pleased the green one is alive. I lost so much last winter in spite of fleecing.
Does anyone grow asparagus? We had a bumper crop this year and no asparagus beetle - anyone else experience this? -
Message 14
Posted by David K (U14115317) on Friday, 1st October 2010
Laura - A cold frame or cold greenhouse is a requirement.
However, gardening is always about improvisation & compromises, so if you can protect them from icy winds, they should be okay.
Once the seed has germinated, they will prove to be as tough as old boots; in fact coddling is out of the question.
I’ve never used those toilet roll middles myself, but those who have, have reported good results…though I think the damp cardboard is prone to hosting fungus growth. [you'll be delighted to know]
Basic requirements then, seed (not multipurpose) compost and /good quality/ seed.
Btw, I’m a SAD case, so please bear with me. -
Message 15
Posted by GuzziNut (U6364582) on Friday, 1st October 2010
crumbs no, Essie, we welcome everyone into the potting shed
Laura, I have a collapsable cold frame, put it up when I want it and pack it flat when I dont, maybe you could use one like that?
Thinking about it, I like all the seasons really, from freezing in the winter, thru to really warm in the summer
cant say I'm relishing going out this afternoon tho, but thats coz I forgot I was out and came to work in office clothes, not my work combats - doh! -
Message 16
Posted by Miftrefs Laura in Lothian bufily ftitching (U2587870) on Friday, 1st October 2010
Fri, 01 Oct 2010 11:08 GMT, in reply to David K in message 14
I'll try our garage-bench then and hope... a collapsible cold-frame would probably be hopeless. Our small garden is scoured by winter gales for much of the winter and either I'd have to put it onto a veg-bed and anchor it with massive stakes, or drill bolts into the stonework of the house which I don't much fancy doing!
Our compost bin always spent late winter at the far end of the garden eventually where we would just fill it with stones on its side to keep it in our possession til spring. Eventually we sank some stakes 5-foot deep to tie it to and also have horizontal bands of fence-wire to bolts fixed deep into the stonework and now it stays put... but any kind of shed or greenhouse or coldframe is going to need the same anchoring because when it blows, it blows!!
David, you be SAD for the coming seasons and I'll keep you supplied with hot soup and hugs, if you'll provide a cool shady seat and iced drink for me through my summer misery!!
laura -
Message 17
Posted by Leaping Badger (U3587940) on Friday, 1st October 2010
Morning all. Loads of posts already this morning!
I had a brainwave yesterday: had been thinking of getting an enormous sheet of thick see-through plastic to cover my tomatoes, so that it would act as a cloche and give them a few more warm weeks, but decided it would probably be too expensive to be worth it. Yesterday I suddenly remembered that there is the bag that my new mattress came in, which I had thrown away but hadn't been collected yet. Grabbed that and put it over them, perfect fit, and they looked happy and warm inside it.
Then of course, last night, loads of rain and strong winds, the whole lot has blown over. Also my sweet peas blew over - I just stepped out the back door quickly, pulled the pot upright, only to find that the plants had become detached from the canes and flicked over my head and back, giving me an unwanted shower.
Oh, the joys of October. Still, can't complain, it's been a long and fantastic summer.
'Ö' -
Message 18
Posted by David K (U14115317) on Friday, 1st October 2010
David, you be SAD for the coming seasons and I'll keep you supplied with hot soup and hugs, if you'll provide a cool shady seat and iced drink for me through my summer misery!!Â
Now there's an offer hard to resist!
I think those little plastic mini-greenhouses retail at about £20...though Aldi & the like sell them cheaper off peak.
I agree they are prone to storm problems, though I've managed to keep mine static by resting a paving slab across the lower metal frame parts. -
Message 19
Posted by halftidy (U8567554) on Friday, 1st October 2010
Thank you David for opening up. Eagle Sweet Peas delivered a nice package yesterday so all geared up for the last week in October? Just got to get the seed compost now and tidy up the greenhouse. Do we germinate in the house and then move to greenhouse? It is pretty chilly round our way at the moment at night. I must sow salad leaves in the tunnel and harvest the rest of the tomatoes etc etc. Hey ho for autumn. My OH is a SAD person so I do understand. Lots of hot chocolate and crumpets (with butter and salt) is my recipe!!!
-
Message 20
Posted by GuzziNut (U6364582) on Friday, 1st October 2010
take your point about the gales, Laura.
gales here in the Deep South tore the plastic greenhouse I had, David K
I took all my green toms off Badger and put them in the airing cupboard, whilst this doesnt make them nice enough for salad, they work for sauces, and hey, who wants salad when its blowing a hooley and pouring?
mmmmm crumpets, sounds like a plan Halftidy, with or without SAD -
Message 21
Posted by David K (U14115317) on Friday, 1st October 2010
Hi, Halftidy
Do we germinate in the house and then move to greenhouse?Â
In the greenhouse from scratch. Germination usually takes between 7 to 21 days.
21 days is preferable to 7, as the latter would indicate too much heat and this will manifest itself later by them becoming leggy & weak. -
Message 22
Posted by David K (U14115317) on Friday, 1st October 2010
gales here in the Deep South tore the plastic greenhouse I had, David KÂ
I take your point, Guzzi, though I think most of them now have reinforced plastic sheeting. -
Message 23
Posted by GuzziNut (U6364582) on Friday, 1st October 2010
I dont think living on the side of a hill in the Sticks helped the plastic greenhouse, David, if I'm being honest.
what are folks thoughts on planting onions now? doe that give you bigger onions next year? Mine are great, but a bit tiddly, so a faff to peel -
Message 24
Posted by Mother of Grendel (U10657865) on Friday, 1st October 2010
Guzzi, I've been given a tip for peeling small onions - I'm going to try it this weekend when I pickle my shallots.
Cut off root end and top end, then pour boiling water over for four minutes. Drain, then peel and the skins come off really easily. I haven't tried this yet but anything to make small onion/shallot peeling easier! -
Message 25
Posted by SussexCornflower InTheFinalCountdown (U13833966) on Friday, 1st October 2010
23 posts already for the October thread!
I am just bookmarking for later.
(Hope the Potting Shed will withstand all this wind and rain!) -
Message 26
Posted by sue (U8059472) on Friday, 1st October 2010
Well I think it about time to introduce my big winter project
I have 2 acres and I am planting a forest Garden also a no dig annual bed. I have just finished shovelling tons of sheep poo from the old tractor shed
Tree planting to be spred through the winter with the wind break going up first -
Message 27
Posted by Kate McLaren etc (U2202067) on Friday, 1st October 2010
Fri, 01 Oct 2010 18:58 GMT, in reply to sue in message 26
May I repeat the second post about the anthuriums? In response to yours in which you said, among other things, that they need six weeks of 15 degrees in order to flower profusely next season, I posted "I've never been in the flat and am never likely to, but since it is a traditional Edinburgh tenement, I'd guess draughty, high ceilings, icy.
So you think they'd be happier in a slightly colder atmosphere than in one that changed a lot? "
There's an awful lot more than six weeks of freezing cold in an Edinburgh tenement in winter.
Did I ask whether horticultural fleece would be any use? -
Message 28
Posted by sagethyme (U5272261) on Friday, 1st October 2010
bookmarking. Lots of good stuff here but no time now.
-
Message 29
Posted by Nomadnomore - XNo - Quiz Queen (U3180380) on Friday, 1st October 2010
Wave to everyone. Thank you David for opening another month.
The courgettes and runner beans are still going. The tomatoes are on their last few fruits. There is celery that I guess I need to harvest before the frosts and fennel that bolted so I am growing for seed. -
Message 30
Posted by Sea Nymph (U1474682) on Saturday, 2nd October 2010
Gardening numpty here.Just got a plot of land (1.8m x 3.6m) and thought Id try growing a few veg.I realise there's not much I can do now, but I've put a load of compost down and thought that covering it with matting might be an idea for the winter.
What do you reckon? -
Message 31
Posted by David K (U14115317) on Saturday, 2nd October 2010
Hi, SN - Covering the plot is a good idea to suppress weeds, though there is still time to sow broad beans and winter onion sets.
Not all broad beans are suitable for overwintering, so I would suggest the variety 'Aquadulce Claudia'. -
Message 32
Posted by David K (U14115317) on Saturday, 2nd October 2010
SN - Further to my previous message I would also ask that you give some thought to growing a short row of autumn fruiting raspberries; these will provide you with some succulent fruit from August onwards.
A very good and reliable variety is 'Autumn Bliss'. These will require no staking and the pruning technique is very easy. -
Message 33
Posted by Kate McLaren etc (U2202067) on Saturday, 2nd October 2010
Sat, 02 Oct 2010 17:22 GMT, in reply to David K in message 32
Hallo...see message 27...please...I promised my colleague that ML would come up with a definitive answer.
Ta. -
Message 34
Posted by Sea Nymph (U1474682) on Saturday, 2nd October 2010
Sat, 02 Oct 2010 17:52 GMT, in reply to David K in message 32
Thank you, David.We got very excited here about raspberries so we've ordered some canes.I hope they don't grow too high because due to the proximity of other plots we aren't allowed to pinch all the light.
We're going to give the broad beans a try as well.
Keep the teapot warm.I can envisage me coming in here quite often in the forthcoming weeks. -
Message 35
Posted by Miftrefs Laura in Lothian bufily ftitching (U2587870) on Saturday, 2nd October 2010
Sat, 02 Oct 2010 18:03 GMT, in reply to Drystane Dyke in message 33
Drystane,
I'd answer your query but I've never even heard of a... wotyoused.... so your google-guess is as good as mine, I'm afraid!
laura -
Message 36
Posted by Miftrefs Laura in Lothian bufily ftitching (U2587870) on Saturday, 2nd October 2010
Sat, 02 Oct 2010 18:07 GMT, in reply to Sea Nymph in message 34
We got very excited here about raspberries so we've ordered some canes.I hope they don't grow too high because due to the proximity of other plots we aren't allowed to pinch all the light.Â
Once they reach your particular Maximum Permitted Height, just use fingernail and thumbnail to pinch the tip of the main stem off, SeaN. It will stop the main stem growing any further up, without harming the plant, and may also prod it into being a bit more energetic with the bushing-out-sideways and extra fruit-branches!
Same with all beans I've ever grown, too - ours sometimes over-grow the top of their cane teepees and wave around all tentacley (you'll enjoy that...) until I pinch 'em out!
The shed usually has something to drink on the go, or a thermos if everyone's out for a while!
laura -
Message 37
Posted by GuzziNut (U6364582) on Saturday, 2nd October 2010
welcome to the potting shed seaN, like the sound of the raspberries and the new plot. Dawrf runner beans like hestia and pickwick might work well for you next year. There is a great load of dwarf french jobbies out there too, I grew purple yellow and green ones this year
been far too wet and manky here to do much in the garden - boooo but I niped out and picked a pocket of beans and a courgette earlier and threw a big plastic cloche thing over some squashes, hoping to fool them into growing a bit bigger -
Message 38
Posted by David K (U14115317) on Saturday, 2nd October 2010
SeaN - You'll never know how much pleasure it gives me when people get the bug!
We got very excited here about raspberries so we've ordered some canesÂ
Crikey, no point hanging around! At the moment garden centres a stocked-up with some cracking raspberry canes, both summer & autumn fruiting
Eventual height...4ft I would suggest, though you can keep them in check in the way Laura suggests.
Look forward to having you aboard. -
Message 39
Posted by carrick-bend (U2288869) on Saturday, 2nd October 2010
Sat, 02 Oct 2010 20:42 GMT, in reply to GuzziNut in message 20
I've been, this morning, to the council's plant sale, where they sell their old bedding plants for charity, and got some cannas, at a pound each, and a "fill a sack for £1" of big begonias, which had looked fantastic but which they didn't overwinter.
I've planted them in trenches, so that they can do a little more before the first frosts (not for a little while yet, in Cornwall) kill off the foliage before I dig up the tubers/rhizomes and store them before starting them in the greenhouse in Spring.
There were vaios methods of overwintering them, but I chose the way that works, and that I'm used to with my dahlias, which are still going strong.
The cheapness of this satisfies the miser within me, also the way that the begonias are a hot orange-red, which'll look good as an accent amongst my mostly greens, silvers and whites, largely sort of architectural planting. (I didn't have a choice; this summers council colour scheme just fits.) -
Message 40
Posted by SussexCornflower InTheFinalCountdown (U13833966) on Saturday, 2nd October 2010
I have just been looking back over the months but cannot find it - I know someone was giving details of how and when to try growing lavender from seed.
Can anyone remind me? Please! -
Message 41
Posted by DeeKay Bee - Disenfranchised (U236881) on Saturday, 2nd October 2010
I was wondering about a polystyrene fish box as insulation, though you'd have to watch out for condensation I suppose. It might be useful for the colder times or overnight and could perhaps be opened or left ajar at other times. This is just musing though, I have no experience of either anthuriums or Edinburgh tenements and I would hate to suggest something that causes more problems than it solves.
-
Message 42
Posted by David K (U14115317) on Sunday, 3rd October 2010
Well I think it about time to introduce my big winter project
I have 2 acres and I am planting a forest Garden also a no dig annual bed. I have just finished shovelling tons of sheep poo from the old tractor shed
Tree planting to be spred through the winter with the wind break going up firstÂ
Sue, sorry no one has picked up on your post yet.
It sounds to be a daunting project, requiring a lot of forward planning and energy...something I would have been inclined to tackle a few years ago.
Please keep us posted on developments. -
Message 43
Posted by chicken_hot_pot (U8480346) on Sunday, 3rd October 2010
Can some one ID these plants berries etc. for me please?
1st: Black and red berries/fruit, on the same tree.
2nd: What plant/flower is it please?
3: A type of palm?
4: This is in the garden at the moment - loads of them.
Many thanks.
Oh and if any of you remember the triffid in my neighbour's front garden. It's of the Aloe Vera family and normally grows well in the South of France. Seems to like it here too. :O)
The owner explained to me that if it flowers the plant will die. Hope it doesn't flower. Plus that they have to clip the spikes off the leaves from time to time as they are really sharp and getting to the wheelie bins is a painful experience. :O) -
Message 44
Posted by Miftrefs Laura in Lothian bufily ftitching (U2587870) on Sunday, 3rd October 2010
Sun, 03 Oct 2010 17:03 GMT, in reply to chicken_hot_pot in message 43
Hope someone comes along who can help, chp - I can't, except to say none of them are common native British or classic "cottage garden" or typical British herbal-use plants...!
"Exotics" is, I think, the phrase...
I would love to grow aloe vera, indoors or out, but I am unfortunately the kiss of death to it. It's supposed to be very very good on psoriasis, specifically when used very fresh, direct from the plant, and I'd love to try that, but, er, well, it was getting expensive keeping on trying so I gave up!
laura -
Message 45
Posted by chicken_hot_pot (U8480346) on Sunday, 3rd October 2010
Hi Laura,
I can't, except to say none of them are common native British or classic "cottage garden" or typical British herbal-use plants...!Â
You're right; they're all in France. :O)
My neighbour loves the plant, but it does cause people to stop and ask about it. She joked that maybe she should start charging people. ;O)
I'll keep an eye open to see if anyone can tell me what the photos are. -
Message 46
Posted by carrick-bend (U2288869) on Sunday, 3rd October 2010
Sun, 03 Oct 2010 18:08 GMT, in reply to chicken_hot_pot in message 45
3 is definitely banana - they grow in this end half of Cornwall and one along my road had bananas on it last year.
1, if the black berries hadn't been visible, I might have guessed crab apples - there are lots of colours and shapes, like proper apples.
(These look a bit similar -
) -
Message 47
Posted by sue (U8059472) on Sunday, 3rd October 2010
Gosh that all looks very familiar. I have just returned to the UK from 10 years in Agde are you close?
I used to see lots of those long spines of black berries no idea what they are though
Look out for Neflars they come into the fruit shops briefly and are wonderful also custard apples and Karkais later in the year. Do not try the prickly figs the spines stay in your fingers for days -
Message 48
Posted by carrick-bend (U2288869) on Sunday, 3rd October 2010
Sun, 03 Oct 2010 18:15 GMT, in reply to Laura in Lothian in message 44
I would love to grow aloe vera, indoors or out, but I am unfortunately the kiss of death to it.Â
Laura, I keep a pot of aloe vera on my kitchen windowsill, as the sap from a broken off leaf is brilliant for all sorts of burns and skin things - mine keeps multiplying, outgrowing it's pot and having to be divided, so I'm always on the lookout for people who'd like some.
If you come to Cornwall again, you can have a load. -
Message 49
Posted by chicken_hot_pot (U8480346) on Sunday, 3rd October 2010
Hi sue,
I have just returned to the UK from 10 years in Agde are you close?Â
No. Miles away from there. Lovely area though.
Hi carrick-bend,
We thought crab apples when I saw some this morning, but this afternoon there were black and red berries on the tree. Which was when I started having doubts. Though they do look like the link.
Is that really a banana tree? Cor, I've never seen one before, or not that I remember from childhood trips to Cornwall, thought we were stayed in the north not south. -
Message 50
Posted by SussexCornflower InTheFinalCountdown (U13833966) on Sunday, 3rd October 2010
I keep a pot of aloe vera on my kitchen windowsill, as the sap from a broken off leaf is brilliant for all sorts of burns and skin things,Â
Carrick - you are me and I claim my £5.
It is very good for burns. Mind you, it's always a shame to cut one of the leaves.
chp: the plant in your picture with the long stems and flowers looks a bit like a Chaenomeles (Japonica)?
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