How about a gardening thread?

Who wants my poo - well not mine Zirkan's and Queenie's - my neighbour's 2 horses that squat our field. I've 'picked' loads and filled all the compost heaps (it makes amazing compost if mixed with layers of garden waste and corrugated cardboard.

Plenty more if someone wants to come and get some, for free of course but PYO bit like strawberries, but different

	Quote:	meloncollie
	Unfortunately he does. The old trees were planted 3 meters from the property line; they are grandfathered, but any new tree would have to stick to regulations and so cannot be replaced in that spot. Apparently tree height restrictions are measured from the property line, not the point where the tree is planted - and as my property is a slope, planting 5 meters back (that is, up the slope) from the property line means that I automatically lose 3 meters in allowable height. I've looked at dwarf cherry trees, but the dwarf varieties I've seen are not suitable for our altitude. (Anyone know of a dwarf, high altitude, disease resistant cherry?) I've tried the copper spray (Cupromaag, sprayed in early spring before the tree sets buds, again after the flowers fall, a third time 15 days later), I'm religious about gathering up fallen affected leaves and fruit. When pruning, I've painted the cut site with a Wundverschlussmittel. I've been fertilizing the tree as well. Is there another fungicide I should try? Is there anything I can do this summer or autumn? Again, many thanks.

They say it's a 'strong plant' -- is that what you meant?
http://www.baldur-garten.ch/produkt/...ia/detail.html

[meloncollie]

A columnar tree - interesting idea...

Although we are only ca 7-800 meters we are on the dark side of the Rossberg, so I have to follow 'Höhehlage' planting because the season is shorter and spring is certainly colder.

I googled a bit but couldn't find if the Sylvia will grow at higher altitudes. But I could always plant a columnar tree in a large planter and keep it on the stone patio. The dark granite of the patio holds heat (assuming the sun makes an occasional appearance!) and I've found I can grow some things there that I cannot grow planted in garden beds. I'd need to find out if the Sylvia could make it through the winter, though.

A creative solution - thanks, Argus!


Which brings up another question for you gardeners who also know something about home repair and construction:

While traveling around France, I've see lovely fruit trees espalier'd against houses. I love the look, and the practical use of space is intriguing.

However, I have a typical 1980s Swiss house - stucco over concrete block. Would espalier'd trees damage the facade? Or, given how wet our weather is here, promote algea or mold on the stucco?

	Quote:	meloncollie
	A columnar tree - interesting idea... Although we are only ca 7-800 meters we are on the dark side of the Rossberg, so I have to follow 'Höhehlage' planting because the season is shorter and spring is certainly colder. I googled a bit but couldn't find if the Sylvia will grow at higher altitudes. But I could always plant a columnar tree in a large planter and keep it on the stone patio. The dark granite of the patio holds heat (assuming the sun makes an occasional appearance!) and I've found I can grow some things there that I cannot grow planted in garden beds. I'd need to find out if the Sylvia could make it through the winter, though. A creative solution - thanks, Argus! ?

You're welcome. For the less winter-hardy plants, I placed their pots close to the glass sliding door and wall in our balcony throughout winter to lend them a bit of heat. Our blueberry plant has thrived and we haven't lost any plants to the frost. Strangely, although we have only one blueberry plant, the bees appear to have done their job well and it's developing around 90 berries this year (compared to last year's mere 24).

[Maria80205]

Hi all,

I was wondering if anyone had any experiences moving their large houseplants, like a ficus, outside for the summer. I've done this before in other parts of the world, but I've been told it does't work so well here. Thanks in advance.

Cheers,

Maria

[Tom1234]

	Quote:	Maria80205
	Hi all, I was wondering if anyone had any experiences moving their large houseplants, like a ficus, outside for the summer. I've done this before in other parts of the world, but I've been told it does't work so well here. Thanks in advance. Cheers, Maria

Our fig stays outside all year round. It was in the ground but now it's in a pot and we insulate that in the winter.

Having said that, my wife's parents lost all their fig trees last winter but ours was okay so I guess it's quote sheltered where we are.

[Maria80205]

Thanks for that, I've done well with figs also, but I haven't kept them outside. How about a Solanum Jasmine? They are around a lot in the stores, maybe those will also thrive in the warm, dry heat in winter?

Am quite pleased with our 3 zucchini F1 Diamants planted from seed in a little trough. It is now giving me flowers and we've been eating the male ones (which won't produce zukes). Thus far, I have spotted only 3 females and all on one plant. Are zukes self-pollinating?

In other good news, our 'snack chilli' plant has 8 chillies, one of which is turning red.

[Tom1234]

	Quote:	Maria80205
	Thanks for that, I've done well with figs also, but I haven't kept them outside. How about a Solanum Jasmine? They are around a lot in the stores, maybe those will also thrive in the warm, dry heat in winter?

No idea. Sorry. Perhaps someone else will know.

[Belgianmum]

	Quote:	Maria80205
	Hi all, I was wondering if anyone had any experiences moving their large houseplants, like a ficus, outside for the summer. I've done this before in other parts of the world, but I've been told it does't work so well here. Thanks in advance. Cheers, Maria

I've always put my ficus outside in the summer without any problems although I haven't had one here. I did it all the time in Belgium and the weather here in summer isn't really much different. Given their tendency to she'd leaves all the time it's nice not to have to pick up leaves all the time in the living room in the summer time.

	Quote:	Maria80205
	Thanks for that, I've done well with figs also, but I haven't kept them outside. How about a Solanum Jasmine? They are around a lot in the stores, maybe those will also thrive in the warm, dry heat in winter?

I've never grown figs indoors but have been very successful figs outdoors here.

The solanum jasmine thrives in drought and sun so it should be fine in a nice warm sunny location here. They are hardy down to about -8/10 in winter so it will depend on your location if it over winters well. You will need to insulate the pot well if it isn't in the ground.

I'm not sure how well they will do inside as I've never tried it.

BM thinking about your garage - an espalier fruit tree would look great on west facing wall. At your altitude, and the wall in full sun and protected by the dreaded 'bise', a peach would even do well (and then I could come and scrounge, lol).

[sups]

	Quote:	argus
	Am quite pleased with our 3 zucchini F1 Diamants planted from seed in a little trough. It is now giving me flowers and we've been eating the male ones (which won't produce zukes). Thus far, I have spotted only 3 females and all on one plant. Are zukes self-pollinating? In other good news, our 'snack chilli' plant has 8 chillies, one of which is turning red.

congrats on the new veggies and happy harvesting.
No Zucchinis are not self pollinating. if you have them in a place where insects cannot pollinate them then you should be manually pollinating them.You can do that with a fine paint brush -collect the pollen from the male and slide it over the stigma of the female flowers.
How do you eat the male flowers?

[sups]

argus-pictures please!

[lmerkel]

Haven't jumped in since last year, but thought I'd post.

Lost my citrus tree in Feb while overwintering indoors. One day he just decided to drop all his leaves and it was over.

Good note - had pansies for most of the spring in pots and they got tired so replace them with white begonias and red coleus, two of my favorite pot combos.

A small lavender in a 20cm pot last year I planted in the garden and he is HUGE now! A Seymour (if anyone had seen Little Shop of Horrors). In fact all my herbs are thriving - thyme, rosemary.

But japonais from last year is really slow and I think the carex is dead because he remains yellow.

Forwent the tomatoes and peppers this year as no success last year and glad I did with the weather.

Bon gardening!

	Quote:	sups
	congrats on the new veggies and happy harvesting. No Zucchinis are not self pollinating. if you have them in a place where insects cannot pollinate them then you should be manually pollinating them.You can do that with a fine paint brush -collect the pollen from the male and slide it over the stigma of the female flowers. How do you eat the male flowers?

Thanks for the tips, Sups. Before I start becoming a flower pimp, pray tell what the pollinating will do for the plants or flowers. As it is, the female flowers will turn into zucchinis anyway and one cannot turn the male ones into cross-dressers, can one?!

To eat the male flowers raw, I fill each with a spoon of Cantadou (fresh cheese with herbs) and a bit of chopped mint leaves. Or throw them into a salad.

There are lots of ways to cook them. Italian recipes are especially good. Tempura style is delicious but I don't deep-fry. Will try baking a few in batter today.

Sorry no pics as the other half is monopolizing the uploader. But if you PM me your cellphone number I can SMS you a pic of the lovelies.

Odile, I replanted some forced bulbs of hyacinth, cut down the leaves in late spring and two of them (white ones) have re-flowered recently in a small way. Is this normal?

Those poor bulbs are forced to flower when convenient, and they body clocks go all hay-wire! So not 'normal' as far as nature is concerned, but normal in the circumstances. Enjoy

	Quote:	sups
	argus-pictures please!

Your wish is my command, Sups.

[sups]

Argus... it is a B-E-A-U-T-Y!! really!

	Quote:	sups
	Argus... it is a B-E-A-U-T-Y!! really!

Thanks, Sups.
And here is an update on my Musa Basjoo, which got burnt a bit in the sun and so now stays in the shade. And another view of the zuke trough, which actually also houses basil, lemongrass, mint and one stalk of garlicky sprout (I chucked in a clove of garlic and voila!)
Yes, am a haphazard 'farmer' if ever there was one.