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The Potting Shed – August 2011
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Message 1.Ìý
Posted by David K (U14115317) on Monday, 1st August 2011
Greetings to this August session of The Potting Shed.
Like most of you I suppose, I’m getting a lot of stuff from the garden now, not least some huge & luscious Victoria plums.
A couple of jobs earmarked for this week is to nip out the growing tips of my runner beans & tomatoes. Regarding the latter, there isn’t much point in allowing more than 4 trusses per plant….this is about the amount plants can be expected to carry to full ripening. Of course, if you don’t mind a few green ones at the end of summer, by all means let them develop more.
Also if you haven’t planted out your leeks yet, it’s now approaching the end of the time when it should be done.
I’m out for the day in the Peak District, but will look in later.
Link to previous thread: -
Message 2
Posted by sagethyme (U5272261) on Monday, 1st August 2011
Hi David
You must have been up early to post this!
Bookmarking for all the interesting chat and useful advice. Our Victoria plums also having a bumper year. Pears and apples also looking good after severe pruning and talking-to, following poor fruit last year.
Flowers good, veg mixed fortunes as usual in this neck of suburbia. -
Message 3
Posted by SussexCornflower InTheFinalCountdown (U13833966) on Monday, 1st August 2011
I will return !!!!
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Message 4
Posted by halftidy (U8567554) on Monday, 1st August 2011
Back from a week in the sun with all 3 DDs and 2 SILs and OH - lovely.
Garden looking chaotic:
Leeks now bolting (its not fair - they were looking so good)
cucumbers definitely mosaic virus
Onions - faba rooney
Potatoes - definitely blight
Lettuces - prize winners all of them
brassicas - sad and moth eaten
Beetroot - brilliant
Carrots - not
dont veg cut you down to size??
Sweet peas are utterly fabulous -
Message 5
Posted by David K (U14115317) on Monday, 1st August 2011
Back from a week in the sun with all 3 DDs and 2 SILs and OH - lovely.Leeks now bolting (its not fair - they were looking so good)Ìý
Well done with your week in the sun..
We really must have serious conversation about these 'bolting' leeks.....they should only now be planted out, so certainly not looking good or bolting.
Not more parlez-vous francais? -
Message 6
Posted by David K (U14115317) on Monday, 1st August 2011
Hi David
You must have been up early to post this!
Ìý
True.......my dedication moves me at times! -
Message 7
Posted by David K (U14115317) on Monday, 1st August 2011
Growing leeks from seed:
I always prefer to sow my leek seed in a seed bed in the open ground about mid-March.
By mid summer when the plants are about as thick as a pencil and 20 cm (8 in) high, they will be ready for transplanting to their permanent position.
If you are able to plant during showery weather the young plants will settle more quickly, otherwise water the bed the day before if the soil is dry.
To plant leeks in holes, *use a thick dibber or trowel and make the holes 15 cm (6 in) deep and 15-23 cm (6-9 in) apart, depending on what size of leek you want.
Make sure the holes are vertical and move the dibber about from side to side so that they are slightly larger at the top.
The holes should be about 5 cm (2 in) in diameter. Cut back the roots until they are 2.5 cm (1 in) long and trim the tips of the leaves back slightly.
Lower the young leeks gently into the holes and fill the holes with water.
The water will wash enough soil over the base of the plant to allow it to become established.
As you hoe the ground from time to time the holes will gradually fill up with soil.
*I’ve found a really useful dibber can be a handle such as those found on a lawn edging tool, these can be bought for a couple of pounds & will last for years. -
Message 8
Posted by Spartacus (U14762542) on Monday, 1st August 2011
Sweet peas are utterly fabulousÌý
Mine too - they have been so prolific this year that we have been giving bunches to neighbours. Normally we only have enough to have a vase of flowers on the go for ourselves. -
Message 9
Posted by Nomadnomore - XNo - Quiz Queen (U3180380) on Monday, 1st August 2011
Ooo thanks for the Leek instructions David. I've grown them a couple of times but not had major success. I've left last years in and they have spectacular flowers on them at the moment.
I'll try again next year using your instructions. -
Message 10
Posted by David K (U14115317) on Monday, 1st August 2011
Good luck if you do try my way, XNo.
Just to clarify about trimming leek’s roots & leaves.
The roots of leeks are adventitious, which means they do not branch…..the roots simply grow from the base of the plant. Trimming back the existing roots encourages the plant to produce more & stronger roots.
Having trimmed the roots, trimming the leaves at the same time reduces stress on the plant through moisture loss.
I seem to be getting a bit over technical these days….just tell me to shut-up if I’m getting boring! -
Message 11
Posted by halftidy (U8567554) on Tuesday, 2nd August 2011
NEVER boring. All my fault re leeks (of course) I bought the plants earlier in the year in France and of course they dont expect them to last the winter - just could not resist them. So next year will do it right - I suppose too late to find leek plants now???
Resolutions for next year:
Grow decent carrots
ditto leeks
try to avoid mosaic in cucumbers and blight in potatoes.
try to avoid leaf curl in tomatoes
not to create wigwams for French beans that I forgot were not climbers (do I look an idiot or what!!!)
holidayed in Spain where inlaws used to live - so reliving old memories esp for children who have continued to go yearly, but after 20 yrs of summer hols with inlaws on the trot I defected to France!!! Ibiza now so so green, and wonderful market gardens with amazing tomatoes - some fab gardens and great vines. -
Message 12
Posted by David K (U14115317) on Tuesday, 2nd August 2011
I think quite a few garden centres are still selling leek plants, Halftidy.
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Message 13
Posted by Nomadnomore - XNo - Quiz Queen (U3180380) on Tuesday, 2nd August 2011
I might check for leek plants in my local garden centre but I won't hold my breath. TBH they seem more interested in selling clothing, gourmet foods, oils, decorations, etc. As well as having a coffee place and restaurant.
Come the end of August they will close half the main sales floor to prepare their Christmas grotto and displays, open at the end of September.
Bah Humbug. Grumpy old woman mode off.
Had a great afternoon weeding and digging. Buttercups, nettles, dock and thistles only covering one third of the allotment now. -
Message 14
Posted by David K (U14115317) on Wednesday, 3rd August 2011
XNo - This may be just peculiar to me, but I tend to buy my plants from local (usually family run) nurseries.
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Message 15
Posted by sue (U8059472) on Wednesday, 3rd August 2011
busy bookmarking
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Message 16
Posted by Morganish (U9108847) on Wednesday, 3rd August 2011
Thank you for the reminder about the leeks. I will get mine out into the bed in the next couple of days. I have to say that they're not exactly pencil thickness, but they might make it!
I have decided to undertake a hard landscaping project over the autumn/winter and wondered if anyone here could advise. We have an old, crumbling two-foot high, 20-foot long retaining wall built by a previous owner. It has never been much to look at (more mortar than stone in some places) and has fallen down in places, so I want to replace it. I have seen some beautiful low dry stone walls made out of what seems to be slate in long chunks only 2-4 inches thick. They are in a public garden and I haven't been able to find out who did them and, more importantly, where the stone came from. The long, thin stones will, I hope, give the wall a streamlined effect and stopit looking too bsuy. Perhaps I should say that I've had some basic dry stone walling experience and that this wall won't have to take much weight from the soil behind it.
I've googled and can't see what I'm looking for. I've found sites that offer slate for house walling, but it seems to be cut to more of a traditional brick shape than I want. Could anyone advise on what it is I need to ask for and where I might find it? Am I looking for bespoke (ie very expensive) material rather than off-the-peg DIY-type stuff? -
Message 17
Posted by DeeKay Bee - Disenfranchised (U236881) on Wednesday, 3rd August 2011
< Am I looking for bespoke (ie very expensive) material rather than off-the-peg DIY-type stuff? >
It'll be expensive even 'off the peg' but how that compares with buying direct I wouldn't know.
If you google 'thin slate walling' is that the type of stuff you mean? -
Message 18
Posted by halftidy (U8567554) on Wednesday, 3rd August 2011
I do always try to buy from local plant nurseries etc but nearest one closes on Sundays - so I could not try them!
Re the dry stone wall, a friend has managed to get one done by contacting the nearest agricultural college that teaches walling and he only had to pay for the materials - they have done a fab job!!!! Worth a try?? -
Message 19
Posted by Morganish (U9108847) on Wednesday, 3rd August 2011
Hi Dee Kay Bee,
Yes, various versions of 'thin slate blocks for dry stone walling'. I've had a look at the major chains and they don't seem to do what I'm looking for. I've had a look at a couple of Welsh slate quarry sites which seem to cut and prepare stone for individual jobs, but they have the dreaded phrase 'Price on application' attached. What I'm probably talking about is the offcuts produced when they make large slate flags and tiles for outdoor paving: maybe 2-4 inches deep and more than three times as long. They don't have to be particularly regular or perfect. I think maybe I'll have to start phoning around, confirm that it's all going to be too expensive and go back to square one.
Strangely enough, one of my searches turned up some kitchen/bathroom wall tiles which give the kind of finished look I want... -
Message 20
Posted by Morganish (U9108847) on Wednesday, 3rd August 2011
Oooh, sorry, Halftidy, didn't mean to ignore you. I enjoy dry stone walling, particularly if the blocks aren't too big. I helped a friend restore a 16th century dry stone pig pen (she has an old, listed house complete with goose cott, pig cott etc in what was the original farmyard) and found that I was quite good at spotting precisely which bit of stone would fit where and how to interlay them so they held together. Years of graphic design, having to work out what will fit where, seem at last to come in handy in another sphere!
The lovely thing about dry stone building is that if it all looks a mess or doesn't work, you can take it apart and try again. -
Message 21
Posted by halftidy (U8567554) on Wednesday, 3rd August 2011
and therapeutic? No time to worry over other things when concentrating on finding just that right piece of stone? I think Churchill built walls to relax when affairs of state got too much! We will all expect photos please of progress.
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Message 22
Posted by DeeKay Bee - Disenfranchised (U236881) on Wednesday, 3rd August 2011
I was thinking of something along these lines
*
I won't link to individual pages as they all go to commercial sites and the mods are picky about that sort of thing at the moment
* I did link to google images but it's not working properly, if you click on images you can then look at any that has the look you're after. -
Message 23
Posted by GuzziNut (U6364582) on Wednesday, 3rd August 2011
if you want the off cuts and are willing to wait and stockpile before you start, dont mind a mix of colours etc, Morganish, I would suggest starting to collect them now from places that cut slate to size, they shouldnt be too expensive because if you dont take them, the stone company has to get rid of them when they get too many.
This is based on us needing to extend the slate under the woodburner, visiting a chap who cuts slate to size, finding a long thin off cut and him giving it to us. He told us that whilst he sells some, the majority end up going to landfill and he has to pay for that. He had loads of them too.
try the quarries for off cuts too, most of the price is on delivery, so if you can collect, you'll save money that way
We had the same with broken paving slabs too (admitedly that time we were also buying four whole ones for the greenhouse) but we were told "take as many as you like, they will only go in the skip otherwise" one extremely overloaded little blue astra later, we had a free surfacing for a path -
Message 24
Posted by sue (U8059472) on Wednesday, 3rd August 2011
Morganish have a look at the traditional Welsh and Cornish stone clad earthbanks called Clawwdd for inspiration they are usually busy rather than streamlined but worth a look
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Message 25
Posted by Morganish (U9108847) on Thursday, 4th August 2011
Ooooh, thank you all very much. In among your link, DKB, I found the very thing I was looking for: I'm very grateful. Just looking at the stone makes me want to get started, but there's a lot of ground work to do before I can even think about starting the wall. But knowing where I can get the stone I need will spur me on to do the digging-out.
I've seen earth banks faced in stone elsewhere and they can look lovely, but I think in this particular situation I need to try and keep things looking fairly uniform. -
Message 26
Posted by halftidy (U8567554) on Thursday, 4th August 2011
sounds like a huge job to me! Good luck! I wear a back support thingy when I need to do a lot of digging and lifting - it really helps.
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Message 27
Posted by Spartacus (U14762542) on Thursday, 4th August 2011
Ooh, that could be useful halftidy! Can you provide any info or link to the back support thingy?
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Message 28
Posted by Nomadnomore - XNo - Quiz Queen (U3180380) on Thursday, 4th August 2011
I couldn't tackle such a huge job either.
Tonight's supper included home grown roasted veggies comprising:-
Carrots
Parsnips
Potatoes
Beetroot
Tomatoes
Also shop bought onions and peppers.
Yummy, yummy, yummy.
Please note the lack of courgettes, OH just refuses to eat them after the amount offered last year. Just wait until the runner beans are ready and I'll probably have the same problem. -
Message 29
Posted by halftidy (U8567554) on Friday, 5th August 2011
will dig it out - it was really a riding one - it is elasticated, velcro attachments - makes you feel really strong but when you take it off you feel as if your tummy drops to the floor!!!! -
local (closed on Sundays) garden centre has some leeks and is putting them aside for me!!!! Hooray!! -
Message 30
Posted by helena handcart (U14258601) on Saturday, 6th August 2011
Bokmarking. The tumbling tom that was obtained from Basehome using a voucher from the Torygraph is quite prolific and very tasty.
my lettuces have been very flavoursome this year. My many squashes are doing well especially Turks Turban.
I have a strange butternut squash shaped marrow.
Runner beans are not producing anything near what they should -
Message 31
Posted by David K (U14115317) on Saturday, 6th August 2011
Helena - Try giving those runner beans a mist spray (a hose gun with various settings is ideal) on warm days, this will help the flowers to set.
As soon as the nights get cooler with early morning dews, you will have lots of beans. -
Message 32
Posted by helena handcart (U14258601) on Saturday, 6th August 2011
Brilliant. thanks David. I have been out with the mister and there are lots of lovely flowers.
My colleague with the peach tree reports that there are 7 peaches this year and they are flat peaches. Japanese peaches.
Many of my squashes have dying yellw leaves. is this caused by overwatering? -
Message 33
Posted by Morganish (U9108847) on Saturday, 6th August 2011
Thanks again, David, for the misting advice. I will try it as my beans are covered in flowers but very few beans forming so far.
My courgettes, which were attacked by mildew and slugs when they first went in, have survived and we will soon start harvesting what threatens to be a glut. I've just picked 3 kilos of broad beans and the kale is unstoppable. Sadly my purple sprouting broccoli has mostly been taken out by slugs: I missed a few nights slug-hunting and those 3-inch long ones can wreak terrible destruction. -
Message 34
Posted by David K (U14115317) on Saturday, 6th August 2011
Overwatering of squashes is a very common problem, Helena. A good rule of thumb is not to water them unless you stick your finger into the soil and it feels dry. If it is moist on the surface, you do not need to water.
I’m getting loads of runner beans at present, the variety is ‘White Lady’… a superb, uncomplicated variety to grow and they are even stringless.
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Message 35
Posted by helena handcart (U14258601) on Saturday, 6th August 2011
I grw Red Emperor I think. I am very pleased with the pretty red flowers and the long succulent pods. And trying hard not to be too envious.
My swiss chard is a real success and I find it good as a salad leaf, spinach alternative, and the stalks are good in a curry but I can't give it away. I keep being told it is rhubarb.
Yu get used t the taste, honest.
I am having a good year for bell peppers and I did cheat by buying a plant, but no chillies (yet). -
Message 36
Posted by David K (U14115317) on Saturday, 6th August 2011
Understandable you are pleased with the red flowers of your runner beans, Helena. It's perhaps worth mentioning that the Victorians grew them in their flower borders....particularly the variety 'Painted Lady' (still widely available) with its lovely red & white flowers.
I agree re Swiss chard, they too wouldn't disgrace a flower border, especially the variety 'Rainbow'. -
Message 37
Posted by Nomadnomore - XNo - Quiz Queen (U3180380) on Sunday, 7th August 2011
I'm jealous of the runner beans David. Mine are probably two weeks off but I think we'll have some french beans by next weekend.
I've tried the misting on the toms and it seems to have helped. I still don't think we will get the crop we got two years ago.
I'd like to add to David's comment about watering outdoor flowers and vegetables (but generally not specifically about squashes). Plants need water at their roots rather than at the surface. A thorough watering once a week in dry periods is much better than a sprinkling one or twice a day.
Hoe the surface so the water doesn't run off and give each plant half a bucket of water.
If you water briefly and daily only the surface will get moist and the roots will be tempted to come to the surface to get water. This will make them particularly vulnerable to hot dry days and less able to tolerate days when you miss watering. -
Message 38
Posted by Lilo (U12007400) on Sunday, 7th August 2011
Opinions please.
We want some large, high troughs for one side of our patio garden. About 2ft wide. Thinking about mixing the planting next year with herbs, flowers and toms, chillies, that kind of thing. Just to tidy things up from the clutter of odd pots. We moved here at Easter and didn't have the funds to think about spending on the garden.
I've been surfing, and I've found various wooden ones, around £50 each. But, I'm wondering if we'd be better off with plastic, and yet I can't find any big enough.
The Viking is talking about building them, but he's really busy at work to spend much time, and I'm wondering if that's a false economy anyway.
What did I see yesterday? Winter pansies? In August? Is that normal?
My Tumblers in two hanging baskets, just four plants in all, have produced loads and are still busy out there with more to come. Amazing! -
Message 39
Posted by David K (U14115317) on Sunday, 7th August 2011
Hi, Lilo
What you are looking for is available quite cheaply in plastic, though my preference would be for homemade wooden ones.
I've just made something similar for my daughter, using 15mm matchboard (42p per ft incl vat) and 2"x2"...had the latter on hand. -
Message 40
Posted by DeeKay Bee - Disenfranchised (U236881) on Sunday, 7th August 2011
I was thinking you meant more this size , well maybe not quite but....
IME plastic is fine but they get very cold in winter so you sometimes lose plants that you might reasonably expect to survive. One thing I was wondering about, you being an arty-farty type, could you make your own out of fibreglass? You'd need a former of some kind but you could do whatever suited you, perhaps close fitting squares to make moving them easier. -
Message 41
Posted by David K (U14115317) on Sunday, 7th August 2011
Your link gives me ideas for the future, Dee.
I think I'll make my future wooden containers with decking planks...it comes tanalised & I do know it costs £1.75 per metre incl vat, locally. -
Message 42
Posted by Nomadnomore - XNo - Quiz Queen (U3180380) on Sunday, 7th August 2011
I've been given some metre square crates that the business next door were throwing out. OH has painted them and all we have to do is line them.
Out of interest why do you suggest fibre glass? I'm interested because that is a material that we work with some times. (Not often because it is very messy and smelly). We try to avoid wet layup whenever possible. -
Message 43
Posted by DeeKay Bee - Disenfranchised (U236881) on Sunday, 7th August 2011
< why do you suggest fibre glass? >
I was just thinking of something that could be done at home. Personally I'd plump for wood, possibly asking around for anyone who does odd jobs to make them. -
Message 44
Posted by Nomadnomore - XNo - Quiz Queen (U3180380) on Sunday, 7th August 2011
OK, I wouldn't recommend fibre glass as a home craft for something this size. I'm quite happy to be proved incorrect.
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Message 45
Posted by Lilo (U12007400) on Monday, 8th August 2011
Phew, I don't think I'd know where to start DKB, and yes, that was exactly the size I was thinking about.
Anyway, having had his pride injured by even suggesting he wouldn't have time to make them, The Viking has now been exploring the idea of building them with bricks in sections. He's been looking over the fence at next door's efforts.
Thanks for the input folks. As long as we get them done by next spring... -
Message 46
Posted by Leaping Badger (U3587940) on Monday, 8th August 2011
Morning all. Haven't been around much, and somehow forgot to bookmark the new thread at the beginning of the month, so thought no one was posting. David has just reminded me.
Lots of good things in the garden - tomatoes in their hundreds, first few ripened in the last week - potatoes coming along, although not looking spectacular - French beans, which were planted very late (blasted slugs) climbing well and one variety are flowering. Had the last of my peas yesterday. Aubergines and peppers doing well also.
Overwatering of squashes is a very common problem, Helena. A good rule of thumb is not to water them unless you stick your finger into the soil and it feels dry. If it is moist on the surface, you do not need to water.Ìý Is this for all squashes, including cucumbers? I've been watering mine like a fury since your last advice, and it seems to be doing well. I have one cucumber swelling well, about 5 inches at the moment, another 3 or 4 days and it should be ready to pick. Don't want to cut down on the watering in case the fruits go yellow and drop off again.
'Ö' -
Message 47
Posted by David K (U14115317) on Monday, 8th August 2011
Overwatering of squashes is a very common problem, Helena. A good rule of thumb is not to water them unless you stick your finger into the soil and it feels dry. If it is moist on the surface, you do not need to water.Ìý Is this for all squashes, including cucumbers? I've been watering mine like a fury since your last advice, and it seems to be doing well. I have one cucumber swelling well, about 5 inches at the moment, another 3 or 4 days and it should be ready to pick. Don't want to cut down on the watering in case the fruits go yellow and drop off again.
'Ö' Ìý
Leaps - I based this on the fact that Helena was sure she had caused the problem by overwatering. Please carry on as you are if what I said is working for you....overwatering can be hard to define through this medium. -
Message 48
Posted by Leaping Badger (U3587940) on Monday, 8th August 2011
Thanks. Plant seems very healthy and stem hard and not rotted at all, so I'll carry on.
'Ö' -
Message 49
Posted by Dockersdaughter3 (U14258907) on Monday, 8th August 2011
Good afternoon all,
yet again i am here asking for help.
I have been given a pot of chrysanthemums, I think that there are 4 in the pot. Can I plant them in the garden when they start to 'tire'? If I keep them in the pot in the gareden will they die in the winter?
Thank you in advance. -
Message 50
Posted by David K (U14115317) on Monday, 8th August 2011
Hi, DD
These potted chrysanthemums are bred as a throwaway plant by the nurseries.
However, it is possible (with a little TLC) to keep them overwinter and for them to flower again next year.
Once they have finished flowering, put them outside in a sheltered spot (no cutting back) with a mulch to protect them from frost. Water just enough to stop them drying out completely.
In the spring when new growth appears from the base, cut the old foliage back, water and start to feed.
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