Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May: Alternative potting shed thread

[funnyperson]

On the grounds that potting sheds should admit those of all cultures here is an alternative potting shed thread. Probably makeshift and not as posh as the other one. Definitely subversive and open to gardeners of all capabilities.

Oh that's good to know, I'm running out of room I'll do the same then.

I've done a little pottering today. Finally potted up the dahlias and some mail order violas that I'd forgotten were on their way, watered the pop-up greenhouse and generally admired the lushness in the garden, brought on by the rain. In the space of a couple of weeks, I have gone from worrying about all the gaps to worrying that it's going to become very overcrowded and I don't find spaces for the stuff that's waiting to be planted.

How lovely that DS has a nice girlfriend, Bearleigh. I admit I'm always very pleased if I like dd's friends' parents - it does help oil the wheels. I am currently gardening adviser to one of her friends' mums.

Maybe you'll need to add a bit of lime to the place where you're going to plant the salvias rhubarb. Though you can never tell can you? The roses are doing well here , but only after the banana and potash treatment

If you put a large, plastic bottle, without it's bottom of course, over your cosmos seedlings Geoff that protects from the slugs (I did that too late last year with my experimental dahlias). Enjoy your ds's b\day

Oh I meant to say esp. to Echt that our lemon trees (which I left out overwinter and thoroughly neglected because I thought they had died) have made a miraculous recovery !!! They are obviously masochists! I have finally purchased the correct compost for them so hopefully we'l have a crop of lemons this summer hooray .

I also bought a couple of acanthus mollis for the newly cleared chicken garden they should add some height and interest.

Sorry ppeat, didn't get back to the thread yesterday. I usually keep the basil in the (very sunny) greenhouse until it's up and thriving, then bring it in to the less-sunny kitchen windowsill. Seems to work that way.

Thanks Halsall .

Not quite sure which salvia I bought but it is blue. How lovely to have lemons !

Just been very naughty and planted stuff out without hardening off which I'm sure I will live to regret.

Wussed it and stuck mini polytunnel from 99p shop over them . Very flimsy so may not last long at all.

racing into the potting shed with a squeal of excitement only you will understand

there is a greenhouse appearing in my garden, currently half built but I am so very excited

I love how it sounds like it's appearing in the manner of the tardis

Excited for you, Nightshade!

Geoff I feel your pain - I spent today preparing for ds's birthday party which is tomorrow, instead of doing the urgent and important gardening that I wanted to do. A borrowed marquee has gone up in the orchard which forced me to mow some of the long grass, as it turned out to be a lot bigger than anticipated. This is most annoying. At 8am a bouncy castle will be going up on the lawn. At 11am hordes of small children will be rampaging around my garden.

Oh, how exciting, greenhouses and garden parties!

I have had a lovely day entirely devoted to gardening. Went to Standen for a fix of Arts and Crafts and then came home and pottered. Having found the packet of cosmos seeds that was given away as an A Little Chaos freebie, I was going to sow them tomorrow but then I seem to have accidentally bought a tray of little plants, so I have planted those straight out and put the pound shop pop-up cloches after them. I've also planted some new summer windowboxes but have been more cautious and put those with the most delicate plants in the greenhouse.

Have I hope it goes ok rhubarb the weather looks to be on our side! As they get older their friends get less, I have 5 10 year olds arriving at 2pm who will largely entertain themselves.

nightshade how exciting please post a picture once it's finished.

Fingers crossed for the weather for the parties!

I potted on lots of things yesterday, realising that I have far too many cosmos, and not enough (actually, currently, no) plants for the pots by the front door, which faces north. Usually I use fuchsias and lobelia but my two fuchsias Thalia that are green when I cut into them are refusing to put out any leaves, and my lobelia are still barely more than two leaves.

I don't want to buy any more plants as I have bought far too many lately, so I am trying to think what I can use from what I sowed. Nicotiana Grandiflora would be statuesque, but ugly on its own perhaps. Apparently Mina Lobata like shade, but they will come a bit late.

On the plus side my Lily of the Valley that I was afraid had disappeared made an appearance and are flowering now. I have a tiny vase of them next to me and they smell beautiful.

I had that accident Maud, must be catching. Bearleigh, I'm sorry, not good on shade pots. Have one myself with not much in it. What about a tiarella for now, then mini lobata for later. Is it worth moving pots for a bit to see if sun will get the fuschia going ? Perfect timing from your DS on the girlfriend front.

Lovely day for a party, hope it goes well. New greenhouse is extremely exciting. I was out in mine first thing today. Bit puzzled this morning. Yesterday there was a lovely yellow rose that had just opened under the chestnut tree but this morning it has totally vanished. Mme C meanwhile is going great guns this year with about 40 buds on her so redeeming herself for previous years.

Moved the rhubarb yesterday to the raised bed in front of neighbour's new fence which is my rose cutting bed experiment. It was much to dry with poor soil where it was before, despite best efforts to beef up the soil. I'm going to have another shot at sowing French beans today, direct this time as have had more luck with this in the past than in pots.

Ooh, what did you buy, SugarPlumTree?

My potted fuchsias have been slow to get going, too (and one of the nicest, which I left out all winter, has rotted). For shade pots, I have found that heucheralla and tiarella do better than heuchera - heuchera always seem to rot at soil level. Geranium Johnson's Blue is romping away in my window boxes, as are alpine strawberries. So have you got any of those knocking around?

It was the bedding plant accident the other day when I decided to try and recreate Sarah Raven's blue mojito (think that is what it is ) collection. Only thing is I don't know if my ageratum is a dwarf or not so that might fail. And that skims over the fact a white dicentra, variegated hosta and a blue salvia fell in too.

Decided to start hardening off antirrhinum this morning to fill last remaining gap in cutting bed. It is being shaded by the huge Weigela but that will come down once flowered. Really sad as stunning when out but has grown 10 foot over to deck and covering the garden plus leaning further and further forward . So it is coming down and the growth from bottom will form new shrub rather than tree as it is now. Next door's is out and hanging over corner of veg patch, it is alive with bees.

Do you accept new recruits? As in people who don't have a clue? Would someone like to take me under their wing and tell me what to do?
I'd love a nice garden with flowers and veggies/fruits. But I really have no clue...
For example...What should I be doing now?

Yes we absolutely do Karbea, everyone is very welcome, have some and .

There are some great gardeners on here who are very knowledgable who can help you, my garden has improved a lot thanks to them and this thread.

When you have a moment could you tell us a bit about your garden, things like does it get much shade, is there much in there at the moment, rough part of the country? Any picture you have would be great.

Wonderful!

The back garden is triangular, and points SE, but it is quite shaded due to being surrounded by mature trees and hedgerow.

Hello Karbea - welcome to the thread! Newbies are indeed welcome, I find much information and inspiration from this thread.

DH has just been using the new flame thrower!!!! WOW!!! Did ALL the paths in about half an hour. Give it three days, go round again and the weeds are nuked. It normally takes days and days of work to keep our paths clear, we should have bought one years ago.

This is from my kitchen door looking down the triangle.

Oh I love it, that will be fabulous ! It lends itself very much to cottage garden style /potager, is that the sort of thing you have in mind ? Perfect week to start planning with Chelsea coverage to give lots of ideas.

Just so you've made a start I'd be tempted to go and buy some plants to plant up the stone planter for now, nothing like a bit if instant gardening to get you started. Lots of bedding plants to choose from - though if you are further up the country might be an idea to buy them then put them out to harden off during the day first. Or you could plant it up with herbs / herbs and flowers.

Are there any particular plamts you would like to have ?

yes, it looks lovely! A great shape. Agree about the cottage garden too.

I love the idea of a cottage garden. The house although not old has a very cottagey feel.

We are in the south.

What would look good In the planter? I've just round buxus I my other two...