How about a gardening thread?

[sups]

OMG what a giant spud you've got.
you've gotta share the secret, what variety was it...just amazing.

And here we go again - horse manure anyone

[Belgianmum]

	Quote:
	And here we go again - horse manure anyone

Do you have it every year. We will be very happy to take some next year for our new garden.

Our farmer friend keeps 2 horses on our fields - so yes, a continuous supply from late Spring to mid autumn. You are welcome - self pick only

[smoky]

	Quote:
	Our farmer friend keeps 2 horses on our fields - so yes, a continuous supply from late Spring to mid autumn. You are welcome - self pick only

The roads in our village always have big dollops of horsey stuff. I heard the old folk used to go round picking it up for their gardens.

But my son here has threatened to deport me if I do the same!

Is horse manure good for gardens? Must be, obviously, what I mean is it very strong and has to be stored for a while before using, like chicken manure?

I never use fresh - but use it in layers as an accelerator in my many compost bins. Works wonders, and the result is fabulous for the garden.

[yodelady]

	Quote:	smoky
	The roads in our village always have big dollops of horsey stuff. I heard the old folk used to go round picking it up for their gardens. But my son here has threatened to deport me if I do the same! Is horse manure good for gardens? Must be, obviously, what I mean is it very strong and has to be stored for a while before using, like chicken manure?

Horse manure is excellent for roses...it needs to be well rotted, never fresh..I collected a huge pile from the road two weeks ago and have stored it..ehheee...There`s also a dump for it near where we live so my partner went for a walk a month or so ago and got some for my roses...I had a couple that were looking a bit peeky but now they are as happy as can be..
Smoky, you`ll have to go under cover and in disguise so that your son does`nt recognise you..:-)

[sups]

Odile had you been anywhere near me I would taken up your offer.

[sups]

Question:
is it too late to plant fruit trees outside? I am thinking of kiwi and plum trees.

Best time to plant fruit trees is late Sept/Oct. We shall be planting our orchard soon.

[JanerMacP]

	Quote:	sups
	Question: is it too late to plant fruit trees outside? I am thinking of kiwi and plum trees.

Wherever you plant your kiwi trees just make sure they have plenty of space to grow and climb - ours has quadrupled in size, if not more, in a year. We have no idea what were going to do with it next year. And make sure you get M/F plants if you want fruit.

[sups]

Janer,
no I have bought a bisexual one called jenny.
You need to rtrim the kiwi wines so as to maintain their size and also they are supposed to bear fruit on the new growths.

I have a blueberry plant which I got in spring. It flowered and fruited in early summer (24 precious berries!) and now it is just growing more shoots and leaves. When should I prune it back, anyone?

[Tom1234]

	Quote:	argus
	I have a blueberry plant which I got in spring. It flowered and fruited in early summer (24 precious berries!) and now it is just growing more shoots and leaves. When should I prune it back, anyone?

They don't normally need pruning for the first few years. You may get a smaller or no crop next year as they generally need to be situated next to another blueberry of a different variety for cross-pollination and I suspect yours got pollinated by another before you bought it.

We got a bumper crop from two small bushes last year but this year a squirrel got through the netting and ate them all.

There's good info on pruning and general care here

[smoky]

	Quote:	yodelady
	Horse manure is excellent for roses...it needs to be well rotted, never fresh..I collected a huge pile from the road two weeks ago and have stored it..ehheee...There`s also a dump for it near where we live so my partner went for a walk a month or so ago and got some for my roses...I had a couple that were looking a bit peeky but now they are as happy as can be.. Smoky, you`ll have to go under cover and in disguise so that your son does`nt recognise you..:-)

Oh excellent - about being good for roses! I have two lovely rose bushes, well, the odd rose is beautiful, but one at a time is rather painful, and I want them to look more like normal rose "bushes"!

Going undercover - that is difficult in a small village. Maybe for Fassnacht I`ll dress up like my Avatar and go collect horse manure - instead of partying.

Just go get it - who cares about what anybody thinks

Maybe you are too young, lol - that is the ONE thing which is fabulous about getting older - I just don't give a monkey's

[smoky]

Yesterday I planted out my Fingerhut seedlings.
Sowed the seeds in July, as per instructions, and set them in September.
Next year I should have a glorious display of 1.5 - 2m high plants with flowers. They are bi-annual, and should re-seed themselves thereafter.

The slugs have not yet gone into hibernation - so I`m trying another experiment - crushed eggshells around all the plants. Slugs/snails don`t like that, so I`m told.

Been hoarding eggshells all thru winter for this experiment!

[darkhorsedrea]

Just wanted to say I was walking near an allotment area in Uster, ZH and his lovely Swiss gentleman asked me if I'd like to see his allotment. All 400 sq/m. He was obviously very proud as it took us a good half hour. Anyway, I was amazed by the house, vegs, and flowers he had. All in lovely in lovely near rows. I mean I have never seen anything like that in the UK. His little house had battery powers lights, kitchen, stove etc!! And the allotment was not just for veg growing. He had a small orchard and and lawn for nice hot days :-)

Certainly an inspiration! Anyway he asked if I was interested in a smaller plot, which one day I will be but at 8 months preg I think it would be too much to take on.

I admire all you gardeners and the effort you put in. It's just wonderful to see and such an inspiration!

If anyone wants home-grown seeds of Mirabilis jalapa (pictured below), please send me your address in a PM. You sow them in spring and get flowers off and on all summer till now. They're a tough customer though - it's no joke that they're nicknamed Four O'Clock (or are they Five O'Clock?!); each flower opens in the evening and stays open till morning, and then it starts to fade and die. They're suitable in a small or medium pot for a sunny window sill (so you can see them bloom at night).

On another note, I have had good experiences ordering online from baldur-garten.ch - I bought a green banana plant, a blueberry plant (enjoyed 24 fat berries), a blue hosta, calla lily Picasso bicolour, a kaffirlime plant and a Christrose plant (for blooming in Dec or Jan).

[smoky]

	Quote:	argus
	If anyone wants home-grown seeds of Mirabilis jalapa (pictured below), please send me your address in a PM. You sow them in spring and get flowers off and on all summer till now. They're a tough customer though - it's no joke that they're nicknamed Four O'Clock (or are they Five O'Clock?!); each flower opens in the evening and stays open till morning, and then it starts to fade and die. They're suitable in a small or medium pot for a sunny window sill (so you can see them bloom at night). On another note, I have had good experiences ordering online from baldur-garten.ch - I bought a green banana plant, a blueberry plant (enjoyed 24 fat berries), a blue hosta, calla lily Picasso bicolour, a kaffirlime plant and a Christrose plant (for blooming in Dec or Jan).

Are they indigenous to Switzerland? Sounds awesome, and lovely. If you answer this in the affirmative, I`ll PM you. Thanks

And maybe next year I can send anyone interested some Fingerhut seeds? They are minute, like grains of milled pepper - will go nicely into a normal sized envelope ... or I could email them Oh that reminds me of a joke ....... moving over to the joke thread so I don`t derail this one.