"In the spring, at the end of the day, you should smell like dirt." This month's discussion in the potting shed.

[MyNightWithMaud]

Grateful thanks to the magnificent Margaret Atwood (via A Mighty Girl) for the quote.

I have just come indoors after a delightful couple of hours' pottering in the garden. It's far warmer than yesterday and everything feels optimistic and vernal again, after yesterday's Arctic blast.

High point: Realising that most of last year's cuttings have taken. Given that I am useless with seeds this, I think, is my propagating future.

Low point: Realising that my newest fairy lights have already failed.

I dont have a proper thermometer but the outside temperature isn't going below 2 now so I think I will be ok.

There's no electric for a propagater though I do have some plastic cloches and a fleece which I could wraparound them

Love the idea of Zinnias

I've already got 4 packets of sweet peas started in my conservatory last week (also not germinating yet as it's still a bit chilly)

I might have to go for melons then, great you got 3.

I cant do tomatoes (really annoying as they're my favourite) because of the blight. Everyone grows potatoes at our allotment.

I grew pumpkins this year. One big one. The only real benefit was the shelter they gave other veggies in hot Aussie sun.

MyNightWithMaud I've just PMd you. Apparently they are very child-friendly, I just checked

Room for another?

We've recently moved, and previous owner was of the opinion that everything could be improved with ivy!

North facing in the SE, slightly exposed, just acidic & we're aiming for a balance of child friendly, wildlife friendly & growing our own!

Welcome, Gladys. The more, the merrier!

I'm off to read Halsall's PM, for which many thanks.

Welcome gladys all wellcome! Ivy is the bane of my life. Dh likes it so I have to be sneaky and only pull out small amounts. I don't mind the variegated ones, I've planted some to take over the bog standard dark green one. I have a purple one which is ok too.

It's so dry I've just watered all the pots!

laurie what about Dahlias?

Right, I've got a spare pack of dahlias and asters which ive just found in the shed.

I don't understand dahlias from 'seed'

The other dahlias ive got are tubers - are they the same thing??

Hello! May I join you as well?
We are in the SE - East facing and on top of a hill so very exposed. Our garden slopes away at the back in a rather terrifying manner (good exercise walking up and down it!) but we are hoping to create a level terrace at some point.
We have turned a very old swimming pool at the front into a walled garden with raised beds for veggies etc. it is South facing and basks in the sunshine. I spend a lot of time sitting in it, making grand plans and drinking tea!

Here you all are Thanks for the new thread Maud welcome all the newbies I like the recycled greenhouse, a good idea laurie

The weather forecast is not good so I've 'heeled in' the magnolia and truffle tree in the ex chicken garden till it gets warmer and I can decide exactly where to put them. Also I bought a new lime and olive tree for dh's birthday and I'll have to keep them out of the frost somehow.

I've just been to Homebase and spotted a massive delivery of excessively chilly looking tomato plants

I bought some boring seed potatoes too - first early - so they can chit about in my new greenhouse

I'm now at McDonald's buying myself a burger so I can sit and eat it at the allotment

Lovely new thread. And romping away already.

Back soon. Supposed to be on my way to work but have been inspecting new shoots coming up in the garden and got carried away....

Laurie I also noticed lots of very chilly summer plants at Homebase - poor things!

In answer to question upthread, you can buy Dahlias as tubers but can also grow them from seed, and if you protect from slugs when they're young, they are very easy. They form into tubers by the end of the first summer and then keep getting bigger if you plant the following years. I've grown some nice dahlias from seed - don't know what variety they are, but it's satisfying. I've only ever grown mixtures, so you can't be fussy about what colours turn up.

I recall Monty sowing mixed dahlia seed one year, but don't recall a follow up.

That's interesting Bearleigh about dahlias. I won't bother this year though I've got summer bulbs which I'll plant in April. Does anyone cover their fruit trees while frost is forecast?

I've go lovely buds on the nectarine tree (which is outside) and am thinking about covering it.

Thanks Burleigh. I didn't know they formed tubers at the end of the first year.

Will they flower the first year without forming tubers ?

Hi ppeatfruit. I have just (I think) been within yards of your old home!

I never cover the fruit trees now when frost is forecast, although I did cover the apricot tree when I still had that. The others have to take their chances. I think my minaret apple tree may be dying from the top downwards - I'll post a picture soon, for the collective MN verdict.

Maud Yes I'll cover the nectarine I think , the others will have to take their chances, because I'm not keen on what was my apricot tree (remember it turned into a strange round fruited sour plum type, not an apricot at all !

Were you in streatham, opposite the common, near the one way system leading up to the nice old church?

I'm not sure which church you mean, but I was very near T Common and the girls' school.

The very old one on the high street with an ancient cemetery that you can walk through, opposite a convent (I don't think it's a school). St Leonards' silly me!!

Oh yes, I drove past there too. The one way system is the bane of my life!

Tell you what we don't miss the traffic in England that's for sure!

And conversely, we always love driving in your adoptive country because the roads are so much better maintained and less crowded!

That's such a pretty greenhouse!

If I had a greenhouse I would be growing tomatoes, artichokes, starting off beans, sowing sweet peas, cosmos, thalictrum, nicotiniana,

posted by a friend to me!

I think that I shall never see
A poem lovely as a tree
Especially
If that tree was me!

But I have put myself in such a spot
The tree will be
When I am not

Fab greenhouse Laurie, I just LOVE it! some of the bits of my greenhouse arrived today, I am soo frustrated at not being able to sow anything. I was planning to stock the school plant stall.