Comments for The Potting Shed

Comment on Winter Nasturtiums! by James Middleton

James Middleton — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 17:58:30 +0000

OK – I knew it wouldn’t last. Lastnight was the coldest night yet this winter and my lovely Nasturtiums don’t look 100% this morning. Most have wilting leaves – a sure sign of frost damage. However, there are other younger plants that weren’t at all affected by the -1C conditions. Tonight is set to be even colder, so we’ll have to wait and see!

Comment on Gall Mite Resistant Fuchsias by James Middleton

James Middleton — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 16:32:34 +0000

Yes, of course, but the point of this article is to offer a list of varieties that are showing resilient to infection in the first place. Any infected fuchsia plant should be destroyed by burning, although you really should send specimins off to your local FERA Plant Health and Seeds Inspectorate office so that they can track the infection.

Comment on Gall Mite Resistant Fuchsias by Hometipster.com

Hometipster.com — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 11:49:34 +0000

Would it not be better to remove all the plants and burn them? If this is going to infect other plants surely this would be a better course of action.

Comment on Walton Polycarbonate Greenhouse Review by James Middleton

James Middleton — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 16:11:38 +0000

Just signing in to say – it’s now nearly a year since I put up my Walton’s Polycarbonate Greenhouse. After sitting through several bad storms, it’s still standing with no signs of wear and tear at all! I’m very impressed.

Now, I’ve got to get some scrubbing and cleaning done inside the greenhouse to make way for this year’s seedlings. Nothing like good greenhouse sanitation.

Comment on Variegated Weigela Plants by James Middleton

James Middleton — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 11:24:52 +0000

What a tough shrub the Weigelia is! During the last weeks of summer, I chopped my ‘out-of-control’ Weigelia down to withing 10 centimetres of the ground. Now, (late November), my shrub has put on plenty of new growth – up to 12 centimetres!

Tip: As with any pruning, ensure that you keep the centre of your Weigelia open so that it forms a cup shape. This allows for good air circulation, preventing possible disease. Also, remove any crossing stems. These may rub together and become infected. Always prune to a 45 degree angle just above a growing point to allow for rain run-off.

Comment on Tropaeolum speciosum – The Flame Flower (Perennial) by James Middleton

James Middleton — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 09:14:15 +0000

Hi, sorry for the delay. Lucky you, it’s not so easy to get hold of. You can grow it from seed, but it’s not easy and can take up to a year to germinate. I’d over winter you plant under shelter for the first year, and then plant out next spring after the frosts. The flame flower is pretty hardy, but I would grow it under a bush or tree for extra defence against cold winters. It loves to climb into hedges and up trees, so this is a good way of getting your plant started. Once established, the Flame flower will really take off. Good luck.

Comment on Tropaeolum speciosum – The Flame Flower (Perennial) by Tess L

Tess L — Sat, 22 Oct 2011 15:09:33 +0000

I have been given a piece of this Flame flower by a gardener. I’m told that it doesn’t grow from seed but that a piece of the tuberous root has to be acquired. Is this the only way to multiply this plant. I have wanted one for years but never got it. My plant is in a pot, should I put it under shelter for winter and in future can I just leave it where it is growing? Thanks, T.

Comment on Tomato Blight – How to prevent by James Middleton

James Middleton — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 18:28:35 +0000

Sounds like your working hard to fight the blight! Yes, good ventilation is essential. Blight is airborne and will no doubt find it easier to colonise a humid environment. Having a green house with more than one window is a good way of ensuring plenty of air movement.

Comment on Tomato Blight – How to prevent by David

David — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 16:42:32 +0000

I cleaned my greenhouse with Jeyes Fluid, sprayed into all the nooks and crannies with the knapsack sprayer I normally use for weed control. The glass house smelled like a well tended public toilet for a few weeks afterwards so do this very early in the season (unless you like that smell!)

I still ended up with blight on my toms but have put this down to poor ventilation within the green house. The only plant unaffected was the one adjacent to the roof vent so next season I’m going over the top and putting a louvre vent at each end of the green house and I’ll probably use a copper based spray Jub/July time.

I’m growing in 25 litre buckets (also sterilised with Jeyes) filled with cheap growbags. I feed Wilko tomato food and Epsom salts once a week (having suffered with a Magnesiun defficiency last year. I washed everything in Jeyes including the trowel I used to plant my seedlings and the trays I grew the seedlings in.

Comment on Tomato Blight – How to prevent by James Middleton

James Middleton — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 10:31:11 +0000

Good question. I’d suggest washing them thoroughly with a detergent, Jeyes fluid or disinfectant and give them a good airing to allow them to dry out. Blight spore are airborne, so don’t worry too much about this as they require living material to survive on. Good garden hygiene is always required. I’d also suggest that next year, you opt for a blight resistant variety like Ferline.

Comment on Tomato Blight – How to prevent by Vince Johnson

Vince Johnson — Sun, 04 Sep 2011 12:55:09 +0000

Thanks for info, great stuff. What about ties and canes used for support. Should they also be burnt?

Comment on Hedgehog – Natural Slug Control by Ed Heerkens

Ed Heerkens — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 22:37:52 +0000

Definetly welcoming hedghogs in my garden! Too many slugs and snails munching on the vegetables after all that rain we had in the last week.

Comment on Make your own hypertufa stone trough by James Middleton

James Middleton — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 14:34:33 +0000

I forgot to mention an important point. It’s important to wash your hypertufa stone trough thoroughly with water before planting anything in it. The high alkaline chemicals in cement are harmful to many plants. I’d recommend leaving it out in the rain for a few weeks or even better, over winter! You can also try washing it with vinegar to reduce the alkaline levels.

Comment on Make your own hypertufa stone trough by James Middleton

James Middleton — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 15:15:20 +0000

You’re welcome. I have my stone trough on the steps leading up to my house. I still pause for a few seconds every time I walk past mine – Looks so realistic. As you can see from the first image, I have filled it with Sempervivums and Sedums.

Good luck with your hypertufa project!

Comment on Make your own hypertufa stone trough by Angela

Angela — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 17:14:39 +0000

Thanks for this, I’ve looked into it before, but most articles are VERY specific and put me off experimenting. Looking forward to getting messy this weekend.

Comment on Honeyberry – Hardy & Delicious by James Middleton

James Middleton — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 10:39:27 +0000

Sounds like a very young plant. To increase yield, you could try adding a few inches of compost mulch your honeyberry to maintain balanced soil moisture. Honeyberry roots are very closed to the surface, so maybe drought is knocking your plant back a bit? Also pruning; pruning in late winter will encourage plenty of new growth in the spring. Fruit is produce on last years growth, so when pruning keep this in mind. Remove any weaker or diseased branches and encourage strong shooters that will yeild the larger fruits. Try and keep the bush open to allow plenty of ventilation – this will prevent desease.

Comment on Honeyberry – Hardy & Delicious by Maureen Castle

Maureen Castle — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 15:37:32 +0000

I planted a “double” honeyberry bush about one year ago. All it has produced is two or three berries. Any ideas?

Comment on Hardy Orchids by Celia

Celia — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 19:50:05 +0000

I can highly recommend the Lady’s Slipper variety… they can produce a stunning bloom, and from my experience they are relatively easy to grow.

Comment on Walton Polycarbonate Greenhouse Review by James Middleton

James Middleton — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 08:03:26 +0000

A quick note: It has been a windy spring, here in South Devon. My Walton’s Polycarb Greenhouse has survive nicely…no signs of stress. It it in a fairly sheltered spot though, but all the same, I’m impressed. I’ve stood inside it during very windy days and the only creek I heard was the sound of my Bay bush rubbing it branches on the side of the greenhouse.

Comment on A new garden – a new start by James Middleton

James Middleton — Wed, 11 May 2011 17:18:55 +0000

Thanks

I have already done so much to it…need to get some newer shots for this blog. I just hope it doesn’t end up to over-mixed and disharmonious! This can happen when your dealing with years of pent up gardening enthusiasm and too few a months to get it all done in. Still…at least I’ll get it all out of my system for this year. Next year – the serious stuff begins!