How about a gardening thread?

[DantesDame]

The grapes are starting their grape production!

[DantesDame]

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

[DantesDame]

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?

[pilatus1]

	Quote:	DantesDame
	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.

[curley]

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?

[DantesDame]

	Quote:	curley
	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:	curley
	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:	curley
	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:	curley
	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

[meloncollie]

	Quote:	curley
	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.)

[curley]

	Quote:	meloncollie
	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

[curley]

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?

[DantesDame]

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

[Medea Fleecestealer]

Slug prevention remedies to be scientifically tested.

https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-44357663

What to do about ants in garden flowers? Any ideas?

[curley]

	Quote:	Swisstree
	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.

[smileygreebins]

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!

[amogles]

	Quote:	Swisstree
	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.

[meloncollie]

	Quote:	Medea Fleecestealer
	Slug prevention remedies to be scientifically tested. https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-44357663

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.)

[amogles]

	Quote:	meloncollie
	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.

	Quote:	amogles
	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

[pilatus1]

	Quote:	meloncollie
	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..

[curley]

	Quote:	pilatus1
	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?