How about a gardening thread?

Oops those pots were definitely a pair! Plenty of feed now to help it flower.

Will ask a friend from UK to look out for water granule and bring over.

[smoky]

	Quote:	greenmount
	A question to all gardeners: Which flowers or plants would you choose to have on a sunny balcony, so that they don't get completely dry during a hot summer? I have some window boxes on my balcony railing (very secure, before anyone asks) and I was quite upset when I saw what happened there this morning. All my flowers were almost completely dry. Any idea about what should I choose so that I have at least something green in there, and that last this way? Now, my dream was always something like this, but it seems I'm doing something wrong. Have plenty of (mostly terracotta) pots with different plants that are doing fine, it is only the window boxes I am a complete failure at.

Something about window boxes ...... I find I have to regularly "disturb" the soil with a stick, digging down to sort-of loosen it up so it ALL absorbs water. Otherwise when I water them the water just runs thru and out the bottom - as though along channel lines.

[amogles]

	Quote:	smoky
	Something about window boxes ...... I find I have to regularly "disturb" the soil with a stick, digging down to sort-of loosen it up so it ALL absorbs water. Otherwise when I water them the water just runs thru and out the bottom - as though along channel lines.

Have you used coarse material (such as pot shards or gravel) at the bottom for drainage?

[greenmount]

Thank you for all the good advice and tips.
I will try my luck with Geraniums and will do everything by the book. Truth to be told, the nicest window boxes in my neighbourhood are those with Geraniums!

[Tom1234]

It looks like I may have purchased a couple of rhododendrons suffering from
Phytophthora ramorum in the past couple of months.
(This is visible leaf fungus with red blotches on rhododendrons but is a huge problem as it can kill larch and oak trees).

The plants looked healthy when I bought them.

I believe I need to contact the WSL to inform them of the situation, and I'll do this by email with some photos.

So, has anyone else had this and what did the WSL do?

Here's a stock photo in case you were wondering what it looked like.



In California, it has caused vast deforestation in the Big Sur and other areas.

[meloncollie]

Tom, while I haven’t had that particular disease, perhaps my experience with cottoneaster/firebrand might be similar.

Soon after we purchased the house, the Gemeinde sent out an inspector to look at the garden, checking for firebrand. (This was the year so many orchards in the area were devastated.) Many years earlier the previous owners had planted a boulder wall in ground covering cottoneaster, which is now banned from sale due to firebrand susceptibility.

The inspector checked the cottoneaster for symptoms - fortunately it was healthy. Because it is healthy I was allowed to keep the cottoneaster, but was required to have it inspected periodically. Had it been infected, I would be required to take it all out, soil as well, and take out all the plantings within a certain margin - which because of the way it was planted would have meant dismantling a wall made of huge boulders. That would have been a major expense, as it would have meant tearing up my entire garden, hardscaping as well as plants.

(I have in the intervening years pulled out all the cottoneaster I can see, just in case. I’d hate to be hit with an order to dismantle that wall…)

Just in case you haven’t found this, here is the webpage on measures needed to combat P. ramorum from the WSL:
http://www.wsl.ch/forest/wus/phytopa...rum/findex.htm

Thumbs pressed that you don’t have too much work to do…

(And kudos to you for reporting it, too many people just ignore similar problems, hence the spread of so many new infections.)

[Tasebo]

To use some sophisticated US vernacular, what a bummer!

When I rehome end-of-season bargains noone else wanted, I am always wary and look for any signs of spittle/webs/eggs etc. - but having bought what was presumably healthy stock there is no way to know what is going on "inside". Good you reported it to the necessary authorities - they are either inundated with similar occurrences or no one bothers and next year will be worse.

Have you asked at the garden centre where you purchased the plants if they are aware of there being an infection in that lot of stock? This starts a whole train of thoughts regarding plant origin (CH/elsewhere) and what sort of records exist for tracking...probably none. It is possible to "recall" faulty appliances/autos etc. but am unaware of anything similar for plants when it gets down to the level of individual consumers (as opposed to industry trade where I am sure they keep crop records) Although I am not keen on over-regulation, but in plant species shown to be susceptible to devastating plant diseases it might not be far off.

Good luck - don't spend too much time looking at them because it will make you

[JanerMacP]

I have about 10 sweet mama squash plants growing along a wall in my backyard. Because they sprawl out and take so much space I am considering having them grow along the wires that were there for the blackberry bushes.

Has anyone had success growing squash up a trellis like structure? Any tips on how to accomplish this beyond putting the plants on the wire?

[Belgianmum]

	Quote:
	Oops those pots were definitely a pair! Plenty of feed now to help it flower.r.

Well they're not anymore. The pair has become one with a couple of halves as 'decorative garden features.'
I have been feeding them but no flowers as yet.

	Quote:	JanerMacP
	I have about 10 sweet mama squash plants growing along a wall in my backyard. Because they sprawl out and take so much space I am considering having them grow along the wires that were there for the blackberry bushes. Has anyone had success growing squash up a trellis like structure? Any tips on how to accomplish this beyond putting the plants on the wire?

I have but completely by accident. We had squash in Belgium and the veggie plot was next to one if those wire boundary fences. The plants started growing up them of their own accord ( those tendril things are pretty tenacious) and we left them to grow up it. It generally worked pretty well but the 'fruits' are quite heavy so you may find you have to 'support' them in some way. We did it by using those 'mesh' bags that oranges and onions come in from supermarkets as a sort of hammock affair which we attached to the wire fence 'trellis' using cable ties.


These guys don't seem to have got the memo that they're supposed to be flowering in autumn.

[Tasebo]

These lovelies were grown in a standard bed, but the idea of seeing them adorning a trellis quite tempting as an experiement.

[meloncollie]

Another with accidental squash (or rather, zucchini) growing up a trellis:

We have a ca. 2x2x1m compost heap; there is a wire barrel in the middle where the new waste goes and as it rots it falls down into the larger pile.

I plant zuchinni on top of the compost heap to give me more gardening space, but also to hide it. The zucchini usually spread out and then trail down. But last year they decided to climb up the wire barrel - so I left them to it. I picked the climbing zucchini small, as I didn't think the vines could support the weight of larger zukes.

Worth a try with the squash. Given how little space I have, I'm always looking for ways to garden vertically.

Good luck!

[JanerMacP]

The thing is I can't pick the squash early or it won't be as good, I really need to wait until the fall when the plants are almost dead. I could support each one though, I had a few HUGE ones last year.

Thanks all!!!

[Belgianmum]

	Quote:	JanerMacP
	The thing is I can't pick the squash early or it won't be as good, I really need to wait until the fall when the plants are almost dead. I could support each one though, I had a few HUGE ones last year. Thanks all!!!

That's what I did. I gave each one it's own 'hammock' attached to the fence and some of them were really really big. I'll try and find a photo when I've got a minute.

[Maria80205]

	Quote:	JanerMacP
	I have about 10 sweet mama squash plants growing along a wall in my backyard. Because they sprawl out and take so much space I am considering having them grow along the wires that were there for the blackberry bushes. Has anyone had success growing squash up a trellis like structure? Any tips on how to accomplish this beyond putting the plants on the wire?

I haven't' tried this myself, but I saw that some people were growing squash vertically. When the squash started getting heavy, they used "hammocks" made out of the mesh that oranges and other bulk fruit comes it to support the weight. Can't see why that wouldn't work.

[sups]

why hammock you can support with a bra and yes if it gets too heavy a sports bra would suffice

[smoky]

I`ve found a solution for getting rid of meat/chicken bones .... I put them out on the "bird table" - a high up platform on a dead tree trunk, and the big hawk-like birds zoom down and grab them.

It`s become a regular daily occurence now - they come by every morning and early evening to check the table ... do a few circles... and then glide in, snatch with their claws, and glide off.

They seem to keep an eye on the table, as food last no longer than about 5 mins before its taken.

[Tasebo]

	Quote:	smoky
	I`ve found a solution for getting rid of meat/chicken bones .... I put them out on the "bird table" - a high up platform on a dead tree trunk, and the big hawk-like birds zoom down and grab them. It`s become a regular daily occurence now - they come by every morning and early evening to check the table ... do a few circles... and then glide in, snatch with their claws, and glide off. They seem to keep an eye on the table, as food last no longer than about 5 mins before its taken.

Just make sure you aren't in their flight path when they "dump"

Sups, did you grow those melons?

[smoky]

	Quote:	Tasebo
	Just make sure you aren't in their flight path when they "dump" Sups, did you grow those melons?

Aahhh ... but I`m told it`s a sign of forthcoming good luck if an overflying bird poops on you!

[Tasebo]

	Quote:	smoky
	Aahhh ... but I`m told it`s a sign of forthcoming good luck if an overflying bird poops on you!

Go for it then, who can't use some good luck

[sups]

	Quote:	Tasebo
	Just make sure you aren't in their flight path when they "dump" Sups, did you grow those melons?

no the picture is from the internet.....unfortunately