How about a gardening thread?

[Tom1234]

	Quote:	JanerMacP
	Thank you so much!! Can you tell me are they easily purchased in the garden sections of Coop or Bauhaus? Or would I need to go to a nursery to buy one?

I can't remember where we bought ours but it was either Meier, Bacher, Landi or Hornbach.
It wasn't expensive.

[smoky]

I`m rather proud of my "Fingerhut" flowers (Foxgloves).... grew them from seed starting about 2 years ago. Last year they were rather short and insignificant, but this year all big and strong!

This spot, on side of house, is short of sunshine, so nothing really grew here, except weeds.

[Belgianmum]

	Quote:	JanerMacP
	Thank you so much!! Can you tell me are they easily purchased in the garden sections of Coop or Bauhaus? Or would I need to go to a nursery to buy one?

I remembered the name a few minute after I'd posted but when I came back on later Tom had already posted.
They're readily available in garden stores and probably the lime if a Jumbo or Landi too as they're not really exotic. There are green leaved varieties of them too and they look really nice together.

[Odile]

	Quote:	smoky
	I`m rather proud of my "Fingerhut" flowers (Foxgloves).... grew them from seed starting about 2 years ago. Last year they were rather short and insignificant, but this year all big and strong! This spot, on side of house, is short of sunshine, so nothing really grew here, except weeds.

Love them too- in fact, I'd love some seeds from the white ones if you would be generous enough (in exchange for other seeds, from our aqualegias perhaps).

[Belgianmum]

	Quote:	Odile
	Love them too- in fact, I'd love some seeds from the white ones if you would be generous enough (in exchange for other seeds, from our aqualegias perhaps).

I have a white one too. I can easily keep some seeds for you.

[Odile]

MERCI I have some lovely aqualegia in all colours, including some of the fancy bonnet ones in dark purple and pink. I bought the 'bonnet' (double) seeds 2 years ago, and was disappointed none of them came up last year. Onla two have come through- a huge dark, almost black one, and a apricot and white one- so seeds of those will be cherished. I have every colour under the sun for the others, as they hybridise, from palest pink to darkest blue/black.

[smoky]

	Quote:	Odile
	Love them too- in fact, I'd love some seeds from the white ones if you would be generous enough (in exchange for other seeds, from our aqualegias perhaps).

With pleasure Odile!

I intend to harvest the seeds - and will harvest according to colour - and post you some when the time is upon us. Will pm you then, ok?

I`d love some aqualegia seeds in exchange - bring some "new blood" into the garden.

[Tasebo]

	Quote:	Tom1234
	It's a Cotinus coggygria 'Royal Purple' We've got one (a small one) in our garden. Thet grow to about 4m x 4m but you can prune them back hard in early spring to keep them compact.

Is this the same as very similar looking bush with SHARP SPIKES? The one that eats footballs??

[Belgianmum]

	Quote:	Tasebo
	Is this the same as very similar looking bush with SHARP SPIKES? The one that eats footballs??

No that would probably be a Berberis.

[sups]

Does anyone of you have experience with heidelbeere plants. My daughter loves them and I bought a bush , however on looking up the internet it seems to be too finicky, as it would need not only an acidic earth but also they say water with soft water(kalkfree). Can anyone share hi/her expert tips here. also could i plant it out in absolutely south facing side or does it need more shade....

[lucy_who]

It depends on the variety, but your best bet is to grow it in a large pot with decent compost, and water it with rainwater as far as possible. This will also help it to avoid pests, and will make it easy to move if it's not happy in the position you give it.

[Tom1234]

	Quote:	lucy_who
	It depends on the variety, but your best bet is to grow it in a large pot with decent compost, and water it with rainwater as far as possible. This will also help it to avoid pests, and will make it easy to move if it's not happy in the position you give it.

Specifically for ericaceous plants:

Landi Moorbeeterde Kompost

We have a couple of bushes and get a decent crop (as long as we net them before the birds get them).

As far as aspect is concerned - full sun is fine but your trade-off is that, in a pot, you may need to water frequently as they don't like dry roots.

[Tom1234]

	Quote:	Odile
	MERCI I have some lovely aqualegia in all colours, including some of the fancy bonnet ones in dark purple and pink. I bought the 'bonnet' (double) seeds 2 years ago, and was disappointed none of them came up last year. Onla two have come through- a huge dark, almost black one, and a apricot and white one- so seeds of those will be cherished. I have every colour under the sun for the others, as they hybridise, from palest pink to darkest blue/black.

Odile, how many years is it from planting before you get flowers? Is it the first year?

Thanks!

[Odile]

Well I plantedthe bonnet seeds 2 years ago, and thought they'd not come through. But this year I have 3 plants- 1 huge dark almost black one, and 2 smaller ones, lighter crimson and 1 pink- so 2 years then. The other ones, in all shades from very dark to light pink just self seed from year to year and I always have tons of them- so don't notice. The seeds were all brought from plants I had in our garden in UK. Very happy to send seed to anyone who wants some later in the Summer. Or even rooted plants- as I have so many.

[McTAVGE]

	Quote:	Odile
	Well I plantedthe bonnet seeds 2 years ago, and thought they'd not come through. But this year I have 3 plants- 1 huge dark almost black one, and 2 smaller ones, lighter crimson and 1 pink- so 2 years then. The other ones, in all shades from very dark to light pink just self seed from year to year and I always have tons of them- so don't notice. The seeds were all brought from plants I had in our garden in UK. Very happy to send seed to anyone who wants some later in the Summer.

Oh, YES, please!

[lucy_who]

	Quote:	taveau
	Oh, YES, please!

Me too!

I've got my arm in a splint at the moment, but once I'm fully functional again, I'm going to take my new "municipal ground cover" garden in hand

[McTAVGE]

Peonies...mine are blind!The plants are from 3 different varieties, they look very healthy, but absolutely not a single flower in the last 3 years. Any thought? I dream of a nice big vase of peonies in my dining room (too expensive to buy in Geneva!)

[McTAVGE]

	Quote:	Odile
	Well I plantedthe bonnet seeds 2 years ago, and thought they'd not come through. But this year I have 3 plants- 1 huge dark almost black one, and 2 smaller ones, lighter crimson and 1 pink- so 2 years then. The other ones, in all shades from very dark to light pink just self seed from year to year and I always have tons of them- so don't notice. The seeds were all brought from plants I had in our garden in UK. Very happy to send seed to anyone who wants some later in the Summer. Or even rooted plants- as I have so many.

Do you still watch Gardeners' World on the BBC? Especially Carol Klein, such a crusader for swapping seeds and cuttings!

[Odile]

Will get back to this and ask for addresses to send seeds to. If anyone is starting a garden, I've got loads of other perennials I will be able to divide later this Summer- roots can be wrapped in damps kitchenpaper and sent by post for immediate planting on receipt. Or come and get. Our garden is a 'Curate's garden' - full of perrenials that flower in turn from May to October. Will have lots of raspberry plants too. I cannot bear to dig up and throw away- ever. So many memories of friends who gave me plants in the past too- which followed us here. And then I go to a garden centre and I see a little pot of plants I have, and the price tag is 9, 10, 15 CHF !!!

[lucy_who]

Are they getting enough sun? Peonies like full sun, or very light shade. Too much shade and they won't flower.

They might also be planted too deeply. You could try digging them up and replanting them - they should only be 2" deep.