How about a gardening thread?

[suissa]

	Quote:	ulaula
	oh, and maybe I will even have one raised bed up for sale. I mean only for the costs of material of course (around 40chf). my husband made them for me and I guess I "ordered" one too much. psst, don't tell him

Looking forward to see your photos Ulaula, we are right now deciding on buying one or two raised beds, the "commercial" type.

Do you have any literature to recommend on the square foot method? I have only read through internet (wikipedia, etc). Still many questions, e.g. which vegetables need more shadow, which more sun, which more water, how to dispose them in the bed, which can not be mixed (e.g. if needs for sun and water are very different?), which 'bundles' of vegetables are a good recommendation, etc.

[meloncollie]

Question on transplanting/dividing bulbs...

(Something I've never done before, as the mice usually get there before I do...)

I'm re-doing one of the garden beds, and I need to move the bulbs (daffodil, tulips, scillia, hyacinth, muscari).

Once they have finished blooming, is it OK just dig them up and replant in the new spot to die down, or would it be better to store the bulbs over the summer and replant in the fall?

Many thanks.

[Belgianmum]

	Quote:	meloncollie
	Question on transplanting/dividing bulbs... (Something I've never done before, as the mice usually get there before I do...) I'm re-doing one of the garden beds, and I need to move the bulbs (daffodil, tulips, scillia, hyacinth, muscari). Once they have finished blooming, is it OK just dig them up and replant in the new spot to die down, or would it be better to store the bulbs over the summer and replant in the fall? Many thanks.

I would divide them and replant them now. It's usually worked out pretty well for me.(only one failure and that was because I moved them to an unsuitable spot). I've never had much success with storing bulbs and replanting them later.

[Odile]

Such a joy - when I was a child, we had 100s of martagon lillies (Turks cap lillies) in our garden. My grand-father had taken a few corms from the wild (would be highly illegal now as they are protected) in the 1920s and they had spread. I just loved them. The people who bought the house from my parents in the 80s sprayed them all with weed-killer- and I was so furious about that- but....
Anyway, 2 years ago an old aunt (now passed away) told me I could take a few from their rockery at their old farm. They looked quite miserable last year and didn't flower. But now there are 5 strong plants in one of the borders- and there are flower buds showing - I am so thrilled. Hopefully they will all flower and spread. I sometimes come across some on my wild walks, but they are quite rare - the walk up to Chasseron is one of the best spots for them in June.

I had to severely prune my 3 tree peonies to bring them over from the UK in 2009- and I didn't think they would survive. But one of them has grown back to a good size and is full of buds ready to open. The other two look a bit miserable still, and much smaller, but hopefully they will make it too.
Can't wait to see them all in flower.

[Odile]

For those in Romandie, the arboretum in Aubonne has a Fete du Printemps tomorrow: all sorts of activities, talks, a brocante and food served from 10.00 to 18.00.

In Vullierens VD a big iris fair on 2 acres + art, sculpture and cokking. At the Chateau- 9am to 18pm.

In the Jura, at Asuel, a big Spring market from 11am at La Caquerelle. donkey rides, sale of flowers, plants, veg plants, etc. Food and pastries sold too.


Also listed in 'Terre et Nature' the Romand magazine for farmers and nature lovers:

Gospel Concert in Geneva. Free entrance but voluntary donations.
Sunday at 17.00 - at espace Fusterie (www.fa7.ch)

BTW - they are looking for more male members to join the choir - so if you are make with a good voice and rythm - do get in touch with them if you lie in the Lausanne area.


The lovely surprises of the day : the first of the pheasant eye narcissi in flower. One of my favourites. When I was a child,we had fields covered with them - and wild daffodils too- but they are rare now. Same for the fritillaries - I have plenty in the garden - including the rarest white ones. The deep red/purple elder tree I pruned hard to bring over from the UK is really coming into its own now - such a beautiful specimen.

[ulaula]

hello,

as promised, here are some good sources which helped us to understand the SFG (square foot garden) method.

To understand the main idea of SFG it is good to check this web page and also the blog of SFG founder Mel Bartholomew.

I have found these sites good but for my taste a bit too commercial, so I was looking for some other sites and found a great site and a blog where I have learned a lot.

There are also some other sites that I found really good, for example this page, where you get advises about companion planting.

If you are more into books, then this is what you are looking for.

I will also post some photos of our little garden later today and write some short instructions on how we made our raised beds and which mix we have used as a soil.

[meloncollie]

Thanks for the links, Ulaula!

I'm looking forward to learning more - I need to use my garden more effectively.

(Although looking at those photos, those gardens would be classified as full fledged farms in this neck of the woods. I think I'll have to adapt the concept to 'square centimeter gardening' to scale down to the space we have here. )

At the moment, I'm trying to go verticle to give me a bit more growing room...

[meloncollie]

Just went out to look at my cherry tree... and it looks like the dreaded Maikäfir been having a feast. This morning the tree looked beautiful - now it's pretty ragged.

What can I do against Maikäfir?

The tree has already put out fruit; is it too late?

And do I need to start worrying about the rest of the garden? (Another cherry tree, two apples, two pears, plus in the garden beds tomatos, zuchinni, broccoli, leeks, and fennel are already in.)


All advice gratefully received.

[suissa]

	Quote:	ulaula
	hello, as promised, here are some good sources which helped us to understand the SFG (square foot garden) methodl.

Brilliant!

Ulaula thanks a lot for all the info! This is like discovering a whole new world!

[ulaula]

	Quote:	ulaula
	I will also post some photos of our little garden later today and write some short instructions on how we made our raised beds and which mix we have used as a soil.

ok, here are some pictures of our hillside raised bed. they are displayed in reverse order, sorry.

and here is the list of materials we have used:

• Douglasie "terrasendielen" (bought at Obi)
• some wire, similar to chicken wire (bought at Landi) – for covering the bottom of the bed (it is against rodents)
• wooden poles (bought at Obi)
• root barrier fabric (bought at Obi but we later found one much cheaper in Jumbo)

Our soil mixture contains Vermiculite, garden soil (Landi) and Compost.

[ulaula]

we also made a potato growing box, following this idea

can't wait to see how big the harvest will be

[Odile]

Another great site for organic gardening, and natural pest control is

www.gardenorganic.org.uk

If you are ever in Central UK do visit them, they are very near Coventry- a fabulous place. Ryton Organic Gardens and research.

Wolston Lane, Ryton-On-Dunsmore, Coventry, CV8 3LG
For general enquiries call 024 76303517
For shop or cafe enquiries please call 02476 308201

[sups]

ulaula.
..thank you so much for the wonderful pics and ideas.
a few question about the wood planks and poles? : are they treated in anyway to make them water resistant so that they do not rot?
did you dig up the area before fixing you raised bed?
Is the chicken wire attached to the poles?

I am so fascinated by this idea i am definitely going to put one in our garden.

[meloncollie]

Anybody have an 'Amethyst Falls' compact wisteria?

I just bought one, and while googling to make sure that it really is a compact slow grower I saw comments that the flower's fragrance is rather musty. 'Cat's urine' was one description.

So before I plant it downwind...

Can anyone comfirm whether the fragrance is objectionable, or not?

Many thanks.

[ulaula]

	Quote:	sups
	ulaula. ..thank you so much for the wonderful pics and ideas. a few question about the wood planks and poles? : are they treated in anyway to make them water resistant so that they do not rot? did you dig up the area before fixing you raised bed? Is the chicken wire attached to the poles? I am so fascinated by this idea i am definitely going to put one in our garden.

sups, sorry for not answering earlier. I didn't see your post until now.

on the potato box we have used some treated poles, but we will replace them with untreated ones, as I have read that it is not good to grow veggies near treated lumber, because the preservatives and other unwanted materials which are in the wood, can cause soil pollution. The end effect are vegetables that contain various preservatives.

For our raised bed we used untreated wood only, I guess we will need to replace the wood in about 5 years or so, but we just prefer this choice more than to eat some chemically treated food.

yes, the chicken wire is attached to the wood construction. we used a tacker.

[ulaula]

	Quote:	meloncollie
	Anybody have an 'Amethyst Falls' compact wisteria? I just bought one, and while googling to make sure that it really is a compact slow grower I saw comments that the flower's fragrance is rather musty. 'Cat's urine' was one description. So before I plant it downwind... Can anyone comfirm whether the fragrance is objectionable, or not? Many thanks.

meloncollie, our neighbours back home have an amethyst falls, an extra large one. it looks great

and no, I haven't noticed bad smell at all.

ps: is this plant toxic for dogs? I have difficulties with purchasing plants as the one I like are usually very toxic.

[CH_Me]

	Quote:	ulaula
	ps: is this plant toxic for dogs? I have difficulties with purchasing plants as the one I like are usually very toxic.

The seed/pods are toxic. I cut my wisteria right back now we have a small child. She thought they were beans

[meloncollie]

	Quote:	ulaula
	meloncollie, our neighbours back home have an amethyst falls, an extra large one. it looks great and no, I haven't noticed bad smell at all. ps: is this plant toxic for dogs? I have difficulties with purchasing plants as the one I like are usually very toxic.

Good to hear.

Yes, As Marie says, the pods and seeds are:
http://www.aspca.org/Pet-care/ask-th.../wisteria.aspx

My tiny front 'show' garden is where I put any plants that are potentially toxic or anything needing non-organic help (such as roses or the snail-smorgasbord hostas and lilies), as the dogs cannot go there. (And hence my desire for a compact non-invasive wisteria - the idea is that it should stay put.)

The big back garden is the dogs' realm - strictly dog-safe plants, no pesticides, sturdy plants that will stand up to the thundering herd - and nothing planted that will break my heart when the dogs dig it up. And as securely fenced in as Alcatraz - even Houdini (the Belltie) can't get out.

Two gardens, separated, satisfies my desire for a showy flower garden, and still keep the dogs safe.

[meloncollie]

So - I've spent the past weeks getting the tomatoes, broccoli, fennel, celery, peppers, leeks and lettuces in...

And it looks like snow is in the forecast...

I know, I know I should have waited for the Eisheiligen... But for the last several years I've waited like a good little Schwyzer, only to find that I planted too late. But now that I've jumped the gun...

I'm not too worried about anything but the peppers and tomatoes. The tomatoes are under the Tomatenhüsli - would it help if I draped the Hüsli in a tarp to try to keep out the worst of the cold?

The peppers... should I try to pot them and bring them inside?

[Odile]

Haven't you go a few large pots you could place over them overnight if it gets too cold, or if it actually snows?