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

Hasn’t died. Gnarled sentence. I think I’ve lost all the echiums . At least there is nothing in the raised bed. How does rhubarb do in snow?

Impressed that my porch is staying over zero. Everything in there seems to be coping. So far!

Rhubarb has the reputation of being tough as old boots I believe, guess we’ll find out

Rhubarb comes from Siberia I think so must be loving this. Acidanthera are lovely. They do well in pots, in sun, need a lot of water through the summer, and shoot & flower late, so don't give up on them.

Its like Siberia here with the wind chill factored in - and my thug rhubarb ( Timperley Early) - seems to be okay so far !

We are back to slush now and strong winds- garden looking very beaten up and not sure what has been damaged yet. It’s a bit depressing so I’ve come in to mooch and drink tea.

Moved 15 bags of horse poo this morning in rain which stopped ten minutes after I finished. Raised bed now ready to plant into once chicken solution has been found .Cut down echiums that most obviously haven’t survived the snow and spotted my first tomato seeding on the windowsill - so feeling more positive. We are going to be away lots over the summer due to building work- anyone have recommends for automatic watering systems? Greenhouse and outside?

We have the Hozelock watering system that works very well on a timer from the outside tap.
The greenhouse house and beds are a fair distance from the house, so we connected a plain hose to the tap end and then used the split watering system. It was very successful.

Thanks JT05 I’ll look that up

We have a gardena system that we were given by PILs - works nicely. We have a mix of soaker hoses and drippers, some close to the house, others far away. Haven't tried it in a greenhouse yet (they can't build the slab base because it's been too cold!) but am reasonably confident it will work.

Hello. I hope you don't mind me popping in with a question.
I have planted some seeds in 24 cell unheated propagaters. They are currently on top of my dishwasher under a small window. I'm concerned they won't get enough light.

Does anyone use those plastic 2 or 3 tier mini greenhouse type things? Or would they be too cold outside?

I did use them for a bit but they're not great for either light or heat and tend to fall over if it's windy. Could you get a cheap propagation lamp instead - LED ones don't use much power and I've heard they're very good.

I've got a couple but I wouldn't trust them this early, I tend to use them when I'm moving stuff out in April when I am desperate for space.

And the bottom shelves need rocks on them to keep them from blowing over!

birdie I've got one .I do use a couple of bricks and I also bought a larger plastic cover for mine as the supplied ones are such a snug fit and tear , I weight the cover down at the bottom .

I put mine in a sheltered spot and it was fine . Tho I do open it during the day and close it at night .

Hi birdie - I have a couple of those, but only as an extra space when I can start hardening off form my greenhouse and windowsill. Mine are up against a big wall, and have many bricks on the bottom, but they are not particularly stable . i think it was you MrsBert who lost a load of seedlings last year when one blew over?

Blimey there's a memory!

Yes, trays of them! Hence the rocks on the bases ever since.

Oh no!! That must have been upsetting. I'll hold off for now then abs see how these seeds get on.
Today I have planted out into 20cm pots a very young Camellia , forest flame, a white rhododendron. All £3 from Wilko. And a £2.78 lavender from b&q. I could easily find myself in Wilkos daily! I'm coveting dahlia tubers now. I think I'm becoming obsessed!

Upsetting?

There may have been hiding under the covers and crying.

I think that sounds quite refrained in the circumstances! I used paving slabs an tied them to railings in the past.

Had a phone call earlier, an allotment has become available. Exciting but I have a hospital procedure pending, will go and look though. Made good progress on greenhouse build with all the wood cut.

Ok so I am weak in the face of veg growing space with views over fields. Intended to look at a half plot which is 5x 10 and I did look. Then I looked at the available 10 x 10 plots and there was a lovely one tucked away in a corner . Lease signed this evening and I can start work, what have I done

Oh exciting PostNot. What are you going to grow in it? Or will you just have a shed and a pot of tea on the go!

I have shed plans but they’ll have to wait for next year. Meanwhile a friend has a plot there with a rather lovely new one and there are plans for tea drinking in hers !

Easy maintenance aim of the game this year. I have rhubarb, gooseberries, raspberries and a thornless blackberry to go in. Will be doing squash, pumpkins, borlotti, chard, perpetual spinach, parsnips and leeks. I’m very excited !

I haven't posted for yonks, having started this thread.

It's been DRY here in Melbourne, dry winter, spring, summer and so far autumn. I have overseas friends visiting in two weeks, so cue the rain.

I was late planting veggies due to procrastination, so have bush tomatoes just coming on. Lebanese aubergines have been reliably good, as is rocket. Very miffed to take away the shade cloth, only to find it's 31 this weekend, and me away. Grrrr. Haul it all back and peg it in.

For flowers, gardenias have done well; massive ones in containers, and blooming lovely in the slightly cooler weather. Hoya has had a second flush of flowers for the first time, and just been discovered by nectar feeding birds as it drips nectar from each bloom, just like sugar water.

Right, I need sweet pea guidance. Is this the stage to nip out the top bud? Really scared to killing them off!

In my opinion yes it is the time but I am probably not the person to listen to as my track record is patchy with sweet peas.

Hello Echt good to see you. Lebanese aubergines sounds good. Hard to imagine 31 degrees after recently having had minus 6 !