…if winter comes, can Spring be far behind? 2014 beckons us...

[echt]

Okay, so the height of summer is yet to scorch the nethers of those in this wide brown land of Orstrylia, but welcome to the MNettie gardeners of the world. Prop up your sagging fences, evict the rats from your decking, and find a use for that poinsettia.

Cor.....a nursery! Brilliant brilliant brilliant, hope it goes through, I think a charabanc detour for buying purposes a vv good idea.

I have been thinking re hanging basket. I am no good at them but have noticed that hanging begonias can be very fetching and low maintenance.
Nice video on how to plant the corms

Though of course now I've posted it I cant get that batty couple from gardeners world last year out of my mind

Oh yes, the begonia fanatics.

I do quite like the spiky-looking begonias and have grown them in the past because they're tolerant of shade, but they don't meet my permanence criterion. Maybe another basket is called for?

Wow, wynken, that's seriously hardcore! I am extremely in awe....

Must admit I've never grown tumbling toms but I think this might be the year for me: I have two pretty hanging baskets I picked up for a song last autumn and will be planting something in them, will be a bonus if it's edible! Also our house only has two raised beds as I lost our veggie patch when we moved house: it was only 15 foot square but that's a good amount of space. Our current garden is much shorter so I couldn't work out a proper veggie patch space (plus our DC now have a large trampoline!) so container growing plus raised beds is all I can manage until my name comes up for an allotment at which point I shall bottle it and panic at the thought of all that space. The main thing I don't have is much bulk scale. And not much space for growing on as I only have one polycarb propagator. It's still fun even if we're never going to be self sufficient!

bumbez, I put some snowdrops in 4 weeks ago and they are just coming up now: It's worth a try, if they don't make it up this year you should see them next time!

How long does it take to grow Salvia from seed, does anyone know? I saved loads from last years plants but is it too late to plant it now? And should it go straight in the bed or be started under cover?

I remember the begonia fanatics. Not keen on begonias as a rule but also quite like the spiky ones.

Don't be in awe Aethelfleda ! It's yet to happen and I have a huge job ahead of myself. It isn't established properly yet as someone set it up but lives too far away and has too many other businesses to have been able to get it going properly. He had hassle with the guy who was supposed to be doing the website as well which didn't help him. That's no problem for me

Also it's not a general nursery but specialist one. The plan is to buy the existing stock but there will be something else I'll be growing alongside which is edible and will be going to see a friend of a friend who has a strawberry farm to look at feasibility of a PYO. I'm being a bit vague at the moment, apologies. When I know it is going to happen I'll explain all on the FB page. Timing not great as will miss a big chunk of the season by the tiime it goes through (if it does) but can't be helped.

Not sure about salvias but I would start now in pots undercover to prevent the young seedlings being slugged - though if you've got loads of seeds guess you could sow some directly.

I sowed seeds gathered from last years plants today. Not salvia, but dill, digitalis alba, astrantia venice (thank you Lexi!), cosmos purity, sweet peas and something umbelliferous gathered from the secret gardens of Sandwich in the Autumn before any floods.
The seed trays are competing for space with the clean washing waiting to be ironed in the utility room.

Deep purple hanging basket plants which are not begonias and are perennial
www.selections.com/rhodochiton-purple-bell-vine.html?gclid=CPDatrDR-bwCFQEXwwodYJgAcg
www.thompson-morgan.com/flowers/flower-plants/geranium-and-pelargonium-plants/rosebud-geranium-black-rose/p83663TM
www.easybloom.com/plantlibrary/plant/purple-lantana

I don't like the usual garden begonias but I came across this specialist nursery that has some interesting ones:

www.dibleys.com/dibleys-shop/Cane_Cane_Like_Begonias.html

It also sells streptocarpus which I have only just discovered, and love. And there is a wonderful stripy deep purple leaved tradescantia.

Dibleys had a gorgeous stand at the RHS Plant fair recently. I hovered around it for ages, because I want need a streptocarpus, but in the end I didn't buy one as I realised that the conditions on the landing where I would have put it are pretty much the opposite of what it requires.

I like the lantana. Do you think the tradescantia would survive outside, Bearleigh? I think that's the one I had as a student. It was so easy to propagate that I just used to bung shoot tips into compost and give the baby plants to all my friends.

Wow, Wynken I'm so excited for you! Keeping everything crossed for you that it goes through. Can't wait to hear more.

Thanks Humph the small rhubarbs are much better now, and normal life has resumed. I was able to spend some time outside in the orchard today re-staking my wonky fruit trees. I got the peach, nectarine and plum done, and will hopefully do the mulberry and greengages at the weekend. The peach and nectarine are about to burst into blossom, already.

Hope baby cobbler recovers quickly from his op.

I have been mulling over Maud's hanging basket quandary without coming up with anything. I guess if you end up going down the ivy route you could at least go for interesting ivy like 'Parsley Crested'.

Ooh, how about a white Vinca minor?

White Vinca minor? Bingo! I think that could be the very thing - lovely plant and being in a basket would deal with its invasiveness. Or maybe Lamium White Nancy.

::lightbulb moment::

I would certainly go for a fancy ivy - I have the plain green weed churchyard ivy coming through the fence from a neighbour's garden and don't want any more of it.

ooh lovely

don't knock ivy though, I am slightly obsessed with it. Even the green weedy ones. It falls in such a fab way and creates a good vibe in the stony corners of my garden.

Oh, I'm not knocking ivy at all except the weedy kind. I use it a lot in hanging baskets and window boxes when I want something to trail over the sides. I now see it was a mistake, though, to plant it against the fences as I did ::novice error:: as it is really just too vigorous.

Very exciting Wynken. Fingers crossed it all goes to plan.

Does anyone know if I'll damage my solanum Glasnevin if I seriously prune it back now? I'm struggling to get it back upright against the fence after the wind tore it off so am considering a hack job so I can get it secured again. Worried though.

Tumbling toms are the only tomatoes I've had success with as they ripen earlier and therefore avoid the dreaded blight. Started some seeds off at the weekend for hanging baskets.

Anyone have experience of anxiety in young children? (Non-gardening problem.) Having issues with DD and I'm worn out.

it amazes me how it springs up in the middle of beds, I always think it should be attached to something.

DH spent the day building a worktop and putting a sink in the corner of the potting shed. Sadly it is suitable for his height and not mine!

funnyperson, loving the use of umbelliferous...

DS gets v anxious, as I did as a child. It is wearing. He seems to have got over the worst now - sorry you are going through it.

How old is she Bertha?

She's 7. Always been a bit anxious but last few weeks have been hideous and stopping her doing things she normally loves. Waiting for an appointment with school counsellor but I'm out of my depth really.

Tried indoctrinating her in the restorative and calming effects of gardening but she's not convinced...

Am sure you have thought of it but does it coincide with the new school term? Maybe there has been a new pupil/teacher or some other change at school. Poor little babybertha.

Good luck with the counsellor. You must be worn out. I know that DS went through a phase of being very scared of dying. I found it very distressing but he seemed to just get over it in the end.

Cor, a nursery! Very envious Wynken :D
Anyone else's peonies sprouting up everywhere? I'm worried they'll be killed off by frost and/or snow that is bound to fall soon... oh well.

I bought some gypsophelia bulbs from Aldi too - anyone had any luck with it?

I found that making sure he was physically tired seemed to help disperse the tension and helped stop the laying awake and worrying.

No changes at all really. She's scared of me dying and a million other things. I am partly blaming the WW2 topic and evacuees stuff they've just done but it's more than that.

DH away this week so I'm getting a cuddle from the dog. Considering taking her to bed with me but think I may start something unstoppable if I do

She won't do any of her normal sports Humph. Attempt at swimming tonight was messy. She's mentally exhausted though so sleeping quite well for her at the moment.

I want an Aldi.