How about a gardening thread?

What you could do it to trail new growth away from the plants you want to save and attach them to bamboo canes. If you get a good systemic weedkiller and spray the parts away from other plants on the new growth, the weedkiller should travel down the stems and kill the blackberries- once dead cut off, burn and dig up roots. Make sure you do so on a totally still day so the wind does not carry the spray away.

[sups]

ODILE!!!
So sorry, I think I have dylexia I have been reading your posts and seriously read you as Oldie all this while..shame on me!

My bil used to affectionately call me 'ordeal'. OH often jokes and says 'on good days she is ideal, on bad an ordeal'. Akunamatata I am an OAP now so you were indeed right.

They are up and soon to be eaten - at last!



(the parsnips I planted last July and which have been under snow for months).

Went away on Tuesday and got back yesterday to all the borders alive with new growth and colour. Strawberry plants looking a bit miserable still, but should be OK when the rain comes on Tuesday. The whole thing needs a good soaking.

[meloncollie]

Something I've been wondering lately, and here is as good a place to ask as any:

How do my clever little daffodils know that Easter is approaching, time to get blooming?

Easter can be as early as the third week of March and as late as the third week of April, yet my Osterglocken are always in synch with the holiday, regardless of the calendar or weather.

I had never noticed this until moving here... but then, it took learning German to make the connection.

(Clearly I have little to do this Sunday, and am left to musing... )

Well your daffs are VERY clever. In the UK they've had huge problems with commercial daffs fields coming into flower too early - before they have the staff to pick them- at huge losses to the growers.

[sharon]

I planted loads of bulbs and they were all coming up - then overnight a deer came and nipped the tops of them all!!! Must have been tasty - but a bit annoying for me - now worried it will come back to finish all the rest of the plants over the summer.....

Don't you have any fencing? How about buying a set of flexible plastic poles with a couple of strands of electric fencing?

[sharon]

We have a bit of fencing for growing roses on - just hope that when its warmer there will be so much to eat they will leave my garden alone - fingers crossed anyway!!!

[strollingby]

I have many snow drops but my tulips are playing "shy" and coming through only very sloooowly

[Belgianmum]

We had loads of lovely tulips but unfortunately our young cat saw them swaying gently in the breeze and assumed they were there for him to play with. Now we just have a lovely petal strewn flower bed.
Electric fence sounds good to me at the moment but not sure my son or the cat would agree.

[strollingby]

A question for Odile - are parsnips easy to grow , say like raddishes? Maybe I am giving myself away as a Newbie gardner but I love parsnips so if they are easy I might give them a go. any tips on successful growing ie when to sow, sun or shade etc?

Thanks in advance

They are easy, but slow! First time I planted them in June and they were only ready end October. Last year I planted a bit later as we were away in June- then got caught out with the snow - and only just dug them up now. Radishes are easy and very quick, just a few weeks- so never seed too many at a time.

[sups]

Another question.
I recently saw rasberry and blackberries in COOP hobby and garden, and am very tempted to own a few.I however do not have a garden patch but a terrace, so wondering if they will do just as fine in large pots? also wondering if anyone of you have tried fruit mini fruit trees in containers?

[strollingby]

Now there is where I do have some experience. I grow thornless blackberries and raspberries, originally in pots but I think they do prefer the free earth in which they are now in. I also have two apple and one pear "minarette" trees which grew wonderfully in pots. With the two miniature apples I had fruit from the very first year, about 30 apples in total which from two small trees I found amazing. the pear tookm5 years till,first fruit but I believe that is pretty typical,for pear. make sure you have bees in the garden by planting bee friendly flowers to ensure pollination etc.

I bought mine in the UK while living there although they all survived 1 month in storage with no water , though I wouldn't recommend that I originally bought mine from Ken Muir, sadly now no longer alive but a passionate fruit and tree grower. excellent website for ideas and varieties at www.kenmuir.co.uk

[strollingby]

Thanks for info Odile, I have now added parsnips to this years challenges

Great - I think it is best to grow things that you cannot freely find here. Although I must say the supermarkets just over the border from me (France) do sell 'panais' nowadays.

BTW has somebody got a huge clump of rhubarb they would like to divide and share against some of my perennial plants?

[juliamargaret]

Yes! Sounds good! I just moved into a place with a garden- unfortunately we don't have ground to plant in, but we're going this week to get big pots and seedlings from the Bau and Hobby. I am an absolute garden novice (all I have to go on is my Italian grandfather's garden, and my dad's amazing ability to grow any snippet of anything given to him) and would love some advice!

I want a simple herb garden and some veggies that do best in this climate, in a somewhat shady garden and of course in pots/containers. I know there has already been discussion on this thread, but if anyone sees this and has any advice for a novice container-gardener please do! I wish I could offer some in return.

[strollingby]

My key learning of growing things in pots is get good earth don't go "cheap" on the earth as its the only source of nutrients. Plus make sure you repot say every tow or three years. Maybe not for small flowers but certainly for medium/big shrubs and certainly for small fruit trees. The roots need to breathe and so need to be repotted , enjoy :-)

[juliamargaret]

Thanks, that's great advice! We're thinking more veggies and herbs- don't want to be too ambitious at the moment, but I will take your advice for them as well

	Quote:	strollingby
	My key learning of growing things in pots is get good earth don't go "cheap" on the earth as its the only source of nutrients. Plus make sure you repot say every tow or three years. Maybe not for small flowers but certainly for medium/big shrubs and certainly for small fruit trees. The roots need to breathe and so need to be repotted , enjoy :-)