Gardens, plants etc 2020

Well Hi my green fingered friends (& Woody of course) Your gardens looks amazing, I used to grow lots of fruit and veg when we lived

down south in Leighton Buzzard, where we lived for just over 3 years, it was the best weather we had ever had, winter and summer. 

Whereas here in Scotland the winter can be quite harsh. When in England, snow lay once overnight and everyone was saying it was the

worst winter they had ever had but for us it was our warmest ever and when the snow lay, it stayed for 3/4 weeks! You must be shocked at

your weather Millie when you are not used to it being so cold. However Tvman is right, here even 30mph winds are called a fresh breeze

and up until recent years out hottest summer day was about 70F. We have had snow at Easter and September as well as Jan-Mar but

the scenery is spectacular and I wouldn't want to live anywhere else! Like Daloni I save seeds and label them then keep them airtight in

a large tin with markers telling me when they should be planted out! Geraniums, bluebells and a few other do really well. I get small

 pots for our grandchildren to start them off on their window sills, then they bring them and plant them in their own section of my garden

and when they come here, they water them etc!

Well I will finish now but has anyone else had a problem posting? It took me ages yesterday because it kept going out to the right,

then you couldn't see the writing on the left. I don't think this site likes me! Sorry about the mess this is in but it is late!

The only way I've found around it is to press the return button before it disappears off the page which gives the double line spacing! 

Maybe someone else has sussed it out! Do you think it is something to do with the photo above being wider? Answers on a postcard

please!!! LOL! 

Love to you all! Have a lovely Sunday!

Hi Annette anndanv and all friends

Sorry to hear that you have had trouble posting, I have just been struggling with a post to Sheena.

Many times I've had a split message and another page but usually it takes a few seconds then sorts itself out. There are a few times when it doesn't so I click on the back button and try again. Eventually it works. If I'm posting a message, sometimes I'll take the precaution of copying it when it doesn't want to go, in case I lose the message when checking it has gone. The site has its quirky tendencies. 

Like many keen gardeners I think a season isn't complete until I have ssved some of my own seeds for sowing the following year.

It's not a hard and fast rule that seeds from plants will come true especially from F1 varieties of vegetables like the brassicas (cabbage, cauliflower, sprouts), carrots, courgettes, and others, when from memory you can only expect the qualities of 1 in 4 to be true to the parent plant. Others will of course germinate and it is interesting to see some of the plants that you're left with.

As far as I'm aware, the seeds of all pulses (peas and beans) can be saved and will give good results. There's hardly a year goes by when I don't dry and save peas and beans for sowing the following year. 

It's not recommended to save potatoes fo in case of blight or disease being present in said seed. Seed potatoes are normally grown north of the border when, surprise surprise, cooler temperatures and conditions mean that blight isn't around to ruin a crop. All seed potatoes should be certified disease free. Tomatoes too are susceptible to blight as tomatoes and potatoes are from the same family. Oh, and if you grow potatoes and you can see small round green fruit at the top of the plant, don't eat them, they're poisonous. 

Good growing, take care and stay safe friends

Tvman xx

good information thanks

my seeds have grown into some quite large plants and finally we have had some rain 

Dear tvman, , anndanv and all my fellow gardeners and all the rest of the Gang.

Tvman, you are just so smart with the plants and your knowledge seems endless, would you write a hints book for us if you are up to it?  

Sorry I'm late in reporting garden progress, Spent too much time setting up treatments, appointments etc etc today.  It's almost 2AM in California and I have got to go to sleep. Getting a DEXA scan and vitamin D3 tests tomorrow.

Then when I return from the hospital, I will  take photos for a update of the front garden. Sunflowers indeed are GIANT with edible seeds,  My Dahlias have taken over an entire section of the garden, covering radishes, green peas etc etc.  But I have now learned that dahlias are one of the most lasting cut flowers and so there will be new arrangements to show in the near future. And Im making the biggest salad of all from my AG-lettuce leaves now 9.5 inches...Ill try to make you a nice show. Also started an herb garden (AG) for the kitchen. So even with pain, I'm going to take my pain pills 30 minutes before eating my salad- also a neighbor just dropped off a wild-caught salmon steak( outside the golden gate) to go with the salad. Good Times for all.

Till tomorrow-Hoping for sunshine, nice  temperatures and great veggies, fingers crossed!

Hugs

Millie

Dear ruthjp.

 What are the plants? do you have photos?

Always open to new sights and knowledge 

Hugs,

Millie

Hi Millie

You've given me a great compliment with the book idea. I was vice chairman of the Northern Ireland Vegetable Association for a few years, the cancer and the spinal stenosis put a halt to that though, I didn't feel I could give it my best shot. I ran the show for a year and a half as acting chairman when the chairman was ill. I picked up many many tips and growing info along the way, but a book? I'm not sure about that but thanks all the same. I'll drop a few hints and tips occasionally as long as I'm not boring the pants off anyone! 

I transplanted my tomato plants yesterday and the photos will maybe show that 7 of 8 have yellow flowers so it was time. I've planted them in bottomless pots so the roots can search for nutrients in the pots and then into the soil below for extra nutrients.

If your plants are a little leggy through not enough light, don't worry, you can remove a couple of lower leaves before planting. The little hairs on the stalk will become roots that will be feeders and the roots on the bottom of the plant will search for water. So 2 photos below show both sides of the greenhouse. Look for the yellow flowers.

Take care and stay safe everyone

Tvman xx

Good your tomato plants are doing well. Ours look similar and are all out side as we don’t have a greenhouse.

except we have 3 I. A portable tent we have attached to the wall of the house 

Thanks for your interest I will post some pictures when I am feeling a bit better I have had a difficult few days with pain and vomiting 

love xxx

Hello tvman and the Gang!

 Love your tomatoes plants. Spring is nice.  I did not mean a real book, but a small handbook that you list the vegetable and comments under it like green potatoes are poison, you know little things like that....June is bright and beautiful, My sunflowers are getting bit some peas are waining but other are started. and the Dahlias are taking over the south edge of the raised planter. Pictures below, will have a great BIG salad tonight. AG will have to grow back more lettuce!

Hugs to all, Go Gardners and everyone,

Millie

Dear ruthjp,

I know the feeling of pain and vomiting, and I am about to feel it again on Monday ugh. Tha tis why I'm trying to follow the garden now while I am feeling happy.

So take as many sofa days as you want, did not mean to make pressure when you are not feeling well.

Take care and be well as soon as possible.

gentle hugs,

Millie