Who am I?
Posted by: Jimny14 - 06-07-2022, 07:08 AM - Replies (8)

In the words of Henry Kelly. Please can someone identify this flower. It has appeared in one of my beds and I don't recognise it. The leaf in focus just under the flower is the leaf associated with the flower.


   

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  Disappointment - wrong seeds
Posted by: Farendwoman - 05-07-2022, 06:40 PM - Replies (4)

Bought a packet of Johnson’s “Jolly Jester” tagetes - I just love those tall stripy things. 
Anyway, I sowed them, pricked them out,  planted them and looked after them. They’ve just started to flower and they are little dwarf “Naughty Marietta”. 
Bugger - I only grow tall things for cutting! 
To give them their due, Johnson’s have said that they’ll replace them - BUT I’ve not got any lovely stripy jolly jesters this year - and who
knows if the replacement pack will be Jolly Jesters. 
So annoying.
We really are at the mercy of the seed companies - and thankfully, most of the time they get it right. 
Apologies for weird font changes. Dunno what’s going on!

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  Bees in hole in ground
Posted by: Farendwoman - 05-07-2022, 03:48 PM - Replies (19)

Hi
I’ve just spotted an amazing number of bumble bees (like at least fifty!) buzzing around a small hole in the garden near the sweet peas. All fighting and scrambling to get into the small hole which is the size of a broom handle.
These are really large bumble bees and as soon as I get near the sweet peas they buzz furiously around my head trying to scare me off - they are blooming well succeeding!
Obviously I am thrilled to have these beautiful creatures in the garden, but I am worried about getting stung -plus how am I going to pick the sweet peas?.
I’ve put a wire cage around them to keep Fitzroy (the puss away from them).
The photo doesn’t come near to showing the number of airborne ones. No exaggeration when I say at least fifty!



Attached Files Thumbnail(s)
   
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  Begonia Rex "Escargot"
Posted by: Veggie - 02-07-2022, 03:37 PM - Replies (73)

   

This Snail begonia is one of the most amazing plants I've ever seen..................and its mine. Big Grin
It was a freebie on the local site.
Hoping to split it into several plants, propagate it by leaf cuttings and generally, turn one plant into many. If I succeed I'll give them to Lily's Lettuce to sell for charity. I'm sure she'll be able to sell them.

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  Cucumber pruning undercover
Posted by: JJB - 02-07-2022, 11:03 AM - Replies (10)

Do you pinch out/prune yours?

My cucs tend to have their own way in the gh, thereby I end up with a miniature Amazon jungle.  I dont prune avidly. Some say to nip out growing shoots when they hit the roof, some to nip out at 7 leaves (although to be fair I think that's for outside ones).  My usual varieties of Beth Alpha and Konsa  aren't too badly behaved but the Chinese Slangen I've grown this year seems a bit enthusiastic.  Do I tip it, will it then throw out even more side shoots?  What does the forum think?

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  Leaf cutter bee
Posted by: Jimny14 - 30-06-2022, 09:05 PM - Replies (17)

Just found this this evening, anyone else think it's anything other than the work of a leaf cutter bee? 
Pretty cool if it is, never seen evidence of one before.

   

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  Does size matter in the garden?
Posted by: Veggie - 30-06-2022, 07:31 PM - Replies (10)

That caught your eye, didn't it. Big Grin
I've been wondering whether its more productive to grow fruit and veg in a small space that can be cared for/protected easily  or in a larger space that cannot be.
For example, is it better to grow one small cherry tree that can be netted against birds or several larger ones that can't.
Or a couple of brassicas that you can watch over and net or rows of them that may be predated by birds. 
Would you prefer two decent cabbages or 20 holey ones ? 
A currant bush that is netted from birds or 6 bushes that aren't?

I think you can see where I'm going with this. Is small beautiful?

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  2022 seeds I’ve saved
Posted by: Small chilli - 30-06-2022, 10:09 AM - Replies (65)

It’s getting close to seed saving time.
Tell us what you’ve saved. It’ll probably prompt us to do the same. 
I’ve just saved some snakes head fertillary . And started collecting aubrieta seeds.

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  Quaking grass Briza Maxima
Posted by: JJB - 28-06-2022, 09:36 AM - Replies (20)

My non gardening pal's DiL has just moved into a house with a huge garden. They are not gardeners, unless you count hoovering AstroTurf gardening Smile, but DiL has expressed interest in quaking grass. Pal and I are on a mission to either buy a plant or some seeds for DiL today.  I know nothing about quaking grass, is it invasive?

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  NOT the Bargain basement!
Posted by: Veggie - 25-06-2022, 09:32 PM - Replies (15)

Offers that are so overpriced, they can't be true!!

For example, Sarah Raven is asking £5.95 for 5 onion seedlings. Even if they grow into whopping great onions, they can't be worth £1.20 each - and that assumes they all grow. 

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/onio...hyu-yellow

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