The first rule of potting shed is YOU ALWAYS talk about potting shed. The thread continues.

[echt]

Here goes, and feeling bit cheeky as I didn't post much on the last one.

A fine autumn day here, with much seasonal clearing done. Now I come to think of it, is there ever a non-clearing season? :o

I always have problems getting sweet peas past the seedling stage - I think they're just a bit weak and so a small amount of slug nibbling is all it takes to finish them off. Wish me luck though - will be trying again this year!

I agree with Maud - sweet peas are a bit weedy until they really get going and then they are fab (and the endless slugs in my garden aren't too keen, or prefer other stuff). I grow mine up a home made bamboo cane wigwam in a corner of my veg bed and always get enough for a constant bowl of cuttings for the house. I love them and always get the most scented ones I can find, sometimes growing an extra packet of the showier ones, to combine scent and looks.

I also tried an Autumn sowing but it was no better and used up space in the shed, so February sowings from now on.

Only not today, because it is snowing! In Cornwall! (Cats are bemused)

Yes, I found that the autumn sowing just accentuated the problems with weediness, contrary to Monty's claims that it gets them off to a better start. Has anyone been watching the repeats of Big Dreams, Small Spaces? There have been some beautiful gardens created (and some that were, ahem, more idiosyncratic).

Pinching the tips out of sweet peas is my handy tip. It seems cruel but they always send up extra and stronger shoots.

Monty has a whopping great greenhouse, not a shed with a window. I maintain this is why he has greater success than me nothing to do with his actual gardening expertise

Monty has all that plus a lot of help! Not tried sweet peas in the autumn as not organised enough.

We had a few flakes of snow fleetingly. Spent the afternoon hacking and shredding laurel which was quite satisfying. Bit behind with my garden TV, catching up on last year’s Gardeners World at the moment.

A musing - Ice cream sticks make really good plant labels. Any excuse....

Yes I have used that excuse FuzzyCustard! Bit cold just now though. Good for garlic though apparently,..

Nope, just had a Lidl peanut butter ice cream. Not too cold at all!

Just had a very satisfactory morning in the garden, mostly scrubbing things, dismantling things and getting rid of things. The old plastic seedhouse was so decrepit that I've decided to do without it, which frees up some patio space. I was also pleasantly surprised that the weedy sweet peas (which I misremembered as having been binned) were still there, although still looking weedy, so I have pinched out the tops (leaving them looking weedier still). Fingers crossed!

That is pretty hardcore FuzzyCustard!

That’s a result then Maud. Maybe this year the6 will be all Montyesque and flower early after all, despite current weedy state?!

Am currently bolting together raised bed number 3 of th3 day. Each one involves lots of bolts. Set myself challenge of finishing before DS Home in 30 mins..

Managed it and have had a few sips of a cup of tea, which always tastes so much better after some hard work.

Well done, Post! After my epic session this morning, I rewarded myself with lunch in the cafe down the road.

I have "wasted" a whole sunny day as I had to take DH to hospital (regular event). But WHY does it always happen on a sunny day? Tomorrow rain is forecast. BAH!

That sounds civilised Maud and well deserved. Custard sympathies on missing a sunny day. Maybe they’ve got the forecast wrong for tomorrow

Had a look at the Big Dreams Small Spaces repeats but think I’ve seen them. Before we know it though GW will be back.

I have a chest infection so have had to take time off work, some of which I have spent staring out of the windows at the sunny garden thinking about all the things I need to do! By some miracle I have managed not to order any more plants though it was a near thing!

Ugh, Una, that sounds horrible. Poor you.

Una

Sorry, didn't mean to host a pity party! Just getting a bit frustrated at how much there is to do...

My propagator seeds after 1 week. Amazing bit of kit.

Wow, that's impressive. I have been wondering about getting a propagator - any recommendations?

Not even sure who made this one, I acquired it when my oh retrieved it from his old garage when he and his ex finally sold their house, and she didn't want it.

Biggest weak spot is probably the cover, which I imagine may crack at some point, so worth checking for that to be robust. I would definitely replace this if it died on me,

I have just spent some birthday money on a Stella Cherry tree (I had one in my old garden and loved it but couldn't bring it with me). I'm hoping it will grow well in a massive pot I have, so I can move it into a sheltered spot (hollow laughter) in the winter.

I have also bought a hammock swing seat thing to hang from one of my bigger trees. It looks yum. (I can dream)

That swing seat is indeed yum!

It was a brilliant bargain from Amazon. (£25 or so). I am stupidly excited about it!

Right, I may not have been able to do any real gardening but the potatoes are chitting and I've sown amaranth and basil for microgreens and lettuce/chervil for baby salad leaves. The 2018 growing season is officially off the starting blocks here!

Oh, and I've just taken delivery of some lovely hazel beanpoles which I'll use for climbing beans, mini pumpkins, tromboncino, vines and raspberries as well as an improvised fruit cage. Thank you to Searabbit for the suggestion, they look lovely and were surprisingly easy to get when I finally got round to researching them.