 | | | 
25.04.2018, 20:24
|  | Forum Veteran | | Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Basel
Posts: 1,422
Groaned at 10 Times in 9 Posts
Thanked 1,622 Times in 694 Posts
| | Re: How about a gardening thread?
The grapes are starting their grape production! | 
10.05.2018, 11:12
|  | Forum Veteran | | Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Basel
Posts: 1,422
Groaned at 10 Times in 9 Posts
Thanked 1,622 Times in 694 Posts
| | Re: How about a gardening thread?
Well, THAT rain ought to have watered in my new plantings! Now to go over to the garden and see that they didn't wash away | This user would like to thank DantesDame for this useful post: | | 
19.05.2018, 19:54
|  | Forum Veteran | | Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Basel
Posts: 1,422
Groaned at 10 Times in 9 Posts
Thanked 1,622 Times in 694 Posts
| | Re: How about a gardening thread?
Seedlings are still there, but the lack of sun and warmth has really slowed down their growth  But I have patience, and the sun will come back, so its all good.
Ready for some grill-time!
Tiny blueberries
Apple production
Bonus rose
How is everyone else's springtime coming along?
__________________
"You don't know unless you ask"
Like motorcycles? Like photos? Check out my website: www.dantesdame.com | The following 3 users would like to thank DantesDame for this useful post: | | 
19.05.2018, 20:08
|  | Forum Veteran | | Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Milky Way
Posts: 1,817
Groaned at 156 Times in 106 Posts
Thanked 4,842 Times in 1,900 Posts
| | Re: How about a gardening thread? | Quote: | |  | | | How is everyone else's springtime coming along? | | | | | My paw paw trees, (Asimina Triloba), which were planted 4 or 5 yrs ago, have set fruit for the first time. | The following 2 users would like to thank pilatus1 for this useful post: | | 
19.05.2018, 20:30
|  | Forum Legend | | Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: canton ZH
Posts: 13,131
Groaned at 218 Times in 182 Posts
Thanked 15,264 Times in 7,847 Posts
| | Re: How about a gardening thread?
Wow, your allotment is big, DantesDame!
I decided it was stupid having drilled holes in the bottom of my big flower pots as, when it was so dry, most the water went right trough and out the bottom (which looks messy). The layer of expanded clay I put on the bottom of the pots did not help much. So I didn't do it again with a new one a friend gave me.
Result: Today I had to tilt that one as the flowers stood in water "up to their necks?" - can you say that? Well, you get the picture.
Nope, they are not the type you can use saucers with. (Saucer sounds ridiculous but dictionary says it's (also) the word for "Untersetzer für Pflanzen". Where is Amanda Portman when you need her?!
So what now - holes or not?
__________________ It's all a matter or perspective.
So move your butt and look at it from the other side | 
19.05.2018, 22:30
|  | Forum Veteran | | Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Basel
Posts: 1,422
Groaned at 10 Times in 9 Posts
Thanked 1,622 Times in 694 Posts
| | Re: How about a gardening thread? | Quote: | |  | | | Wow, your allotment is big, DantesDame! | | | | | It is just right for me: not too big to not be able to keep on top of, but big enough to keep me from getting bored. | Quote: | |  | | | Result: Today I had to tilt that one as the flowers stood in water "up to their necks?" - can you say that? | | | | | That's a very good phrase to use in this case! | Quote: | |  | | | Nope, they are not the type you can use saucers with. (Saucer sounds ridiculous but dictionary says it's (also) the word for "Untersetzer für Pflanzen". Where is Amanda Portman when you need her?! | | | | | Holy shit but this made me laugh! | Quote: | |  | | | So what now - holes or not?  | | | | | I grew up using pots with saucers (very common in the US, for both insides and outside plants). I was flummoxed to see that they are not very common here. But I like saucers - it is hard to overwater the plants, and if they are dry, the saucer can act like its own mini water source
__________________
"You don't know unless you ask"
Like motorcycles? Like photos? Check out my website: www.dantesdame.com | 
19.05.2018, 23:00
| Forum Legend | | Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: na
Posts: 11,815
Groaned at 38 Times in 34 Posts
Thanked 28,456 Times in 8,721 Posts
| | Re: How about a gardening thread? | Quote: | |  | | | So what now - holes or not? | | | | | Given the amount of rain we have here on the Dark Side good drainage is a must. So holes it is - I usually drill extra just to be safe. It's a rare day we need to water.
I used to use saucers with all my pots as I think they make the pot look 'finished'. But no more:
I live in an area where there is a high risk of Leptospirosis, standing water is a transmission vehicle dog owners are cautioned against. Mine seem to find the manky run-off collecting in saucers particularly tempting, so no more saucers.
Still think my pots look a tad naked without saucers, but better safe than sorry. Lepto scares the bejebus out of me. (And compromised Hooligan had to forego the vax this year.)
| 
19.05.2018, 23:06
|  | Forum Legend | | Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: canton ZH
Posts: 13,131
Groaned at 218 Times in 182 Posts
Thanked 15,264 Times in 7,847 Posts
| | Re: How about a gardening thread? | Quote: | |  | | | Given the amount of rain we have here on the Dark Side good drainage is a must. So holes it is - I usually drill extra just to be safe. It's a rare day we need to water.
I used to use saucers with all my pots as I think they make the pot look 'finished'. But no more:
I live in an area where there is a high risk of Leptospirosis, standing water is a transmission vehicle dog owners are cautioned against. Mine seem to find the manky run-off collecting in saucers particularly tempting, so no more saucers.
Still think my pots look a tad naked without saucers, but better safe than sorry. Lepto scares the bejebus out of me. (And compromised Hooligan had to forego the vax this year.) | | | | | Thanks.
Mine are quite big and on wheels. So no saucers - what's the point in wheels, right?  Anyway it would look real ugly.
So up on a chair and drilling from beneath with all left in it (no blooming way I'm gonna empty them out) it is. Two very holy holidays ahead though | 
24.05.2018, 21:14
|  | Forum Legend | | Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: canton ZH
Posts: 13,131
Groaned at 218 Times in 182 Posts
Thanked 15,264 Times in 7,847 Posts
| | Re: How about a gardening thread?
My basil grows happily and big, smells fantastic.
However, some (not to many, luckily) leaves have black spots. Only at the tips, interestingly no more than one per leave - if at all, as I said, most leaves look healthy.
It is not in the hot midday sun nor is it directly exposed to the floods we had lately.
Any ideas what that is? | 
24.05.2018, 21:36
|  | Forum Veteran | | Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Basel
Posts: 1,422
Groaned at 10 Times in 9 Posts
Thanked 1,622 Times in 694 Posts
| | Re: How about a gardening thread?
Sorry curley - I am terrible at diagnosing stuff
In the meantime, here are some photos from the garden today. This sun is really pulling the plants out of their shells, so to speak
Bee doing her thing on a blackberry blossom
I had no idea kiwi blossoms were so beautiful!!
The lily pads are showing off
__________________
"You don't know unless you ask"
Like motorcycles? Like photos? Check out my website: www.dantesdame.com | The following 2 users would like to thank DantesDame for this useful post: | | 
05.06.2018, 19:35
|  | Forum Legend | | Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Switzerland
Posts: 23,266
Groaned at 458 Times in 354 Posts
Thanked 18,529 Times in 10,268 Posts
| | Re: How about a gardening thread?
Slug prevention remedies to be scientifically tested. https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-44357663 | This user would like to thank Medea Fleecestealer for this useful post: | | 
04.07.2018, 23:02
| | Re: How about a gardening thread?
What to do about ants in garden flowers? Any ideas?
| 
04.07.2018, 23:48
|  | Forum Legend | | Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: canton ZH
Posts: 13,131
Groaned at 218 Times in 182 Posts
Thanked 15,264 Times in 7,847 Posts
| | Re: How about a gardening thread? | Quote: | |  | | | What to do about ants in garden flowers? Any ideas? | | | | | Block their path with baking soda (it works, I've done it).
As to you special problem, mentioned in the other thread: Look for plant lice on the flowers (or the holes they make in the leaves). Spray them several times. And use the baking-soda to keep the ants from bringing in new ones.
| This user would like to thank curley for this useful post: | | 
05.07.2018, 09:54
|  | Forum Veteran | | Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Schwyz
Posts: 590
Groaned at 35 Times in 15 Posts
Thanked 1,173 Times in 355 Posts
| | Re: How about a gardening thread?
For anyone seeking free Buxus plants, please check out my post in Marketplace free stuff.
Loving these combos of hot sunny days and rainy nights - my garden and all those in the neighbourhood are going crazy. Already on 2nd crop of rhubarb. Wild strawberries are out of control. Spuds are coming through rapidly. Living the good life here!
| 
05.07.2018, 11:05
|  | Forum Legend | | Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Zurich
Posts: 12,361
Groaned at 337 Times in 273 Posts
Thanked 26,263 Times in 11,000 Posts
| | Re: How about a gardening thread? | Quote: | |  | | | What to do about ants in garden flowers? Any ideas? | | | | |
Normally ants are there for a reason. Often it may be aphids. Ants actually cultivate aphds. The aphids produce a kind of milk that the ants harvest and in return the ants protect the aphids and carry them to uninfected flowers.
So I would advise checking carefulyl for aphids. If there aren't too many and you aren't too squeamish, picking them off by hand is just fine.
If they are too numerous for that, you can get rid of aphids by spraying a diluted soap lather. It makes them release their grip and they fall off onto the ground. Don't use detergent or anything as that might kill the flowers too. Just leave a bar of good old fashioned bog standard soap (preferably without any fragrance or extras or anything at all, though I know those can be hard to find) in a bowl of water overnight. Dilute a bit more and put it in your spray bottle.
There is another method of going for te ants directly. One thing they hate is the juice of tomat plants. So not the <ctu<ol tomatoes but the juice in the leaves and stems of the plant. If you have tomato plants, cut off a leaf or two, crush them between your fingers and drop them into the pathway of the ants.
| The following 2 users would like to thank amogles for this useful post: | | 
05.07.2018, 12:02
| Forum Legend | | Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: na
Posts: 11,815
Groaned at 38 Times in 34 Posts
Thanked 28,456 Times in 8,721 Posts
| | Re: How about a gardening thread? | Quote: | |  | | | | | | | | From your link: Not all slugs feed on vegetation; some eat fungi and a small number are carnivorous, feeding on the likes of earthworms.
Carnivorous slugs.
Just when I think I can see the light at the end of the tunnel in this vale o' tears something new comes along to feed my nightmares...
(Looking forward to reading the results of those studies.)
| 
05.07.2018, 12:21
|  | Forum Legend | | Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Zurich
Posts: 12,361
Groaned at 337 Times in 273 Posts
Thanked 26,263 Times in 11,000 Posts
| | Re: How about a gardening thread? | Quote: | |  | | | From your link: Not all slugs feed on vegetation; some eat fungi and a small number are carnivorous, feeding on the likes of earthworms.
Carnivorous slugs. 
Just when I think I can see the light at the end of the tunnel in this vale o' tears something new comes along to feed my nightmares...
(Looking forward to reading the results of those studies.) | | | | | I've been trying to train mine to go after my box tree caterpillars.
They will happily eat the ones I kill for them but I still can't get them to go for the living ones.
| This user would like to thank amogles for this useful post: | | 
06.07.2018, 13:14
| | Re: How about a gardening thread? | Quote: | |  | | | Normally ants are there for a reason. Often it may be aphids. Ants actually cultivate aphds. The aphids produce a kind of milk that the ants harvest and in return the ants protect the aphids and carry them to uninfected flowers.
So I would advise checking carefulyl for aphids. If there aren't too many and you aren't too squeamish, picking them off by hand is just fine.
If they are too numerous for that, you can get rid of aphids by spraying a diluted soap lather. It makes them release their grip and they fall off onto the ground. Don't use detergent or anything as that might kill the flowers too. Just leave a bar of good old fashioned bog standard soap (preferably without any fragrance or extras or anything at all, though I know those can be hard to find) in a bowl of water overnight. Dilute a bit more and put it in your spray bottle.
There is another method of going for te ants directly. One thing they hate is the juice of tomat plants. So not the <ctu<ol tomatoes but the juice in the leaves and stems of the plant. If you have tomato plants, cut off a leaf or two, crush them between your fingers and drop them into the pathway of the ants. | | | | | Thanks for this. I have 4 very large thriving tomato plants (they are loving the hot weather) and will try the tomato leaf juice.
The fragrance free soap is also a good tip I will try.. let the ant battle commence | This user would like to thank for this useful post: | | 
06.07.2018, 14:24
|  | Forum Veteran | | Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Milky Way
Posts: 1,817
Groaned at 156 Times in 106 Posts
Thanked 4,842 Times in 1,900 Posts
| | Re: How about a gardening thread? | Quote: | |  | | | From your link: Not all slugs feed on vegetation; some eat fungi and a small number are carnivorous, feeding on the likes of earthworms.
Carnivorous slugs. 
Just when I think I can see the light at the end of the tunnel in this vale o' tears something new comes along to feed my nightmares...
(Looking forward to reading the results of those studies.) | | | | | I sometimes have the last laugh - i feed small slugs to a carnivorous pitcher plant that lives in the bathroom. 'Justice served! Bwahahahaaaa!' as they go to their watery graves
It doesnt bring my garden seedlings back, though..
| The following 2 users would like to thank pilatus1 for this useful post: | | 
06.07.2018, 16:44
|  | Forum Legend | | Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: canton ZH
Posts: 13,131
Groaned at 218 Times in 182 Posts
Thanked 15,264 Times in 7,847 Posts
| | Re: How about a gardening thread? | Quote: | |  | | | I sometimes have the last laugh - i feed small slugs to a carnivorous pitcher plant that lives in the bathroom. 'Justice served! Bwahahahaaaa!' as they go to their watery graves
It doesnt bring my garden seedlings back, though.. | | | | | What's that plants normal job? Get rid off the guests? |
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 2 (0 members and 2 guests) | | Thread Tools | | Display Modes | Linear Mode |
Posting Rules
| You may not post new threads You may not post replies You may not post attachments You may not edit your posts HTML code is Off | | | All times are GMT +2. The time now is 21:59. | |