I know we're just recovering from the 2020 swap but I'm keeping the tempo up with notice of the 2021 Random Seed Swap. This is mainly for commercial seed - either full packets or part packets that you don't need. All seed must have a Sow by date of 2021 or later. Any past its sow by date seeds will be distributed but not count towards your packet count.
The swap will take place in April when most of the spring sowings will be complete but there's still time to make another sowing. 

The usual rules - you can send any number of packets and you'll get the same number of completely different packets back. Can't guarantee that though because you might all send in identical packets.. 
If a seed is unusual or desirable, you can split the packet into 2, but no more as multiple packets the same make it difficult for me to share out.
Please don't split magazine cover seeds as there are always lots of them coming in and you'd probably end up with the same ones back!! 

You'll need to send your seeds, 2 x large postage stamps and your return address to me by  April 9th (just after Easter) but you can send them anytime before then - even next week.. 

Please add your name to this thread if you want to join us.

1. Veggie - Received
2. JJB - Received.
3. Small Chilli - Received
4. Scarlet - Received
5. Broadway - Received
6. Mamzie - Received

i was given a cyclamen for Christmas. It is potted in a compost that feels like cotton wool and always seems dry on the top so I have watered it and now it seems that I have over done it and it has gone all floppy. Can I save it?

Can anyone tell me what this says please? I’ve got pink tomato. Can’t work out first word   . Make researching difficult   .

   

Thank you 

It is too hot to grow tomatoes indoors down here, with summer temperatures in the high thirties, but it can also be pretty wet, so the local way to keep the blight at bay is to grow them under a roof. More fancy structures also have sides that you can roll down when it rains, which probably would help.

The frame gets dismantled and packed away each winter - the wood was reclaimed form a fruit cage which we found we didn't need and the perspex sheets were donated by a friend who was replacing a roof. The plastic is very brittle now, so 2021 will probably be the year we'll have to replace it. It goes on a different bed each year.

This is the frame in place and just planted up in 2019.
     
The soil under the straw was lovely, but still very cold and an absolute haven for voles, so not an experiment I'll be repeating.

This photo is from 2016 in mid August and with fruit just starting to be ready to harvest. 
   

And the final one is from late November last year. Blight had finally infected all the plants so I was just about to take it down.
   

I should add that MrPP is an engineer so never happier than when designing, building and making things, and is pretty good at it, too!

Heavy snow here.....

I want to ramp up my dahlia growing.
I'm having a kitchen extension and a patio area - woohoo!!
The patio area has been dug and it looks like I will have the opportunity of either adding a couple of beds or at least making one that I have much bigger

Anyway, back to the cutting mix -
When I've taken dahlia cuttings before - it's a bit hit and miss. I don't get consistent results. The stem can rot off - my mix is too heavy.

Many people use half and half -peat and sharp sand mix. 
I've just used MPC - sometimes with some grit. I've always just done the cuttings in mpc and been ok with the successes but I really want to get this right - I've only got 1 of each variety of some tubers so I don't want to lose those. 
Any recommendations of what to buy? I don't really want peat - I don't want to spend a fortune either. Can I use builders sand as opposed to sand from the GC?

I have made a new propagating bench which is sitting on top of a layer of insulation on top of a slatted bench, the box is made with 1 inch thick timber, internally it is lined with two layers of polythene and filled with a 2 in. layer of sand and a heating cable placed over it this was then covered by a further 2-3 in. layer of sand the sand was then sprayed with a watering can of boiled water and the cable switched on through a thermostate the temperature went to 17.5c then started to lower so I then plugged the cable directly into the electricity and the temperature held a 16.5c overnight. I have set up propagators several times over the years but have never had this problem, the cable has never been used before but was purchased over 18 months ago so can't go back, but is there anything that I could be missing

Trying to fit in all my dreams this year is hard - think my melons are finally not gonna get sown and debating about aubergine, as I really enjoyed the vast range of tomatoes, cucumbers and leaves last year  I also collect unwanted plant pots and give young plants away locally or for a small donation to Tiannas pocket money and Cat Protection.

I get to look after our greenhouse nd polytunnel, I sneak in my sweetcorn outside, and added garlic and squashes last year. While Mr M does the hard labour of digging and puppy proofing the veg areas, Last year was...

Outside
Runner beans, broad beans, peas, broccoli, brussels,  leek, onions, squash, beetroot, turnip, swede (failed), parsnip (failed), rainbow carrots,  strawberries, soft fruit, herbs, Potatoes 1st and 2nd,

Inside
Tomatoes, more tomatoes, cucumbers, Melons (sob), sweet peppers, basil & seedlings, pea shoots,

Tubs
Salad leaves, carrot tops, spring onions, herbs, radish.

I love cooking, eating and growing aubergines and know I'm lucky to be able to grow them outoors. I seem to grow a few more plants each year!

On the list this year - 

Italian Long Purple
Rotunda Bianca Sfumata di Rosa
Violettea di Firenze
Thai Green pea - didn't get a harvest last year as they took over two months to germinate, but have over-wintered three plants.
Tsakoniki
Turkish Orange

Afternoon All

I am contemplating whether or not, to launch a Garden and Gossip You Tube channel.

It would allow us to upload videos about our plots, gardens or advice.  As it will be branded as Garden and Gossip, and inline with our original promise of you being party to any decision we make, would do you think?