Garden Checklist ...

Good Morning!
I hope you have all had a lovely Easter weekend, typically we have torrential rain today so it doesn't look like I'l be able to do anything in the garden!
However if the weather is fine where you are here's a few things that you can be getting on with today and over the rest of the week ...

1. Transplanting  -If you have plants in the wrong place or they've simply grown too big for the space that they are in now is a good time to dig them up and relocate them. Avoid doing this however if the ground is frozen or water logged. If your wanting to move a plant but don't have anywhere for it to go then pop it in a pot until you have found the right place.
Below you can see that I have taken out the Hardy Fuchsia which was in the middle to the right and moved the Salvia to the centre as it has put on some good growth since I first planted it. I finished the spot off by under-planting with some Snowdrops and the Fuchsia has been relocated elsewhere in the garden!

2. Sowings - Now is a good time to get on with some more seed sowing! For example yesterday I sowed some Cosmos 'Xanthos' and 'Double Click Snow Puff' along with some French Marigolds in 'Vanilla Cream' and 'Spanish Brocade'. 

There's also still time for you to sow Greenhouse crops such as Peppers, Cucumbers and Tomatoes.

Cosmos 'Xanthos'

3. Strawberries- If you are growing Strawberries outside you can encourage early fruits by covering the rows with Cloches. Alternatively you can grow them undercover in a Greenhouse which will also encourage early fruits! This year I am growing 'Mara des Bois' which is a perpetual strawberry so hopefully I shall have more strawberries for longer throughout the year!

4. Potatoes - If you are growing Potatoes this year then the Easter weekend is traditionally the time to get them planted. If you are limited on space but want to grow this crop then large bags with drainage holes and containers can also be used. Ensure when planting that each seed potato has healthy shoots and give the soil a water after planting.

5. Dahlia Tubers - Dahlia Tubers can also be started off now. Plant them in pots of multi purpose compost and place in a cold frame or Greenhouse. Once you spot them green shoots emerging from the soil give them a water.

6. Basket Plants - Garden Centres will be getting in plug plants of Basket plants now, if they haven't already! If your only wanting a couple for your Summer Bedding this year then it's a great way of getting just a couple for a cheap price. Of course it's still too cold for them to go outside so it's best to keep them in a Greenhouse right now. Pot them up into 9cm pots of multi - purpose compost as soon as you get them home. Once they have filled these pots you can plant your baskets / containers up and keep them undercover until it's time to go outside.

One of our nearby Garden Centres has them on offer for 6 for £5 so of course I had to pick up a few!

Thanks for stopping by, don't forget you can find all the previous Checklists on the page tab above.

HAPPY GROWING!

XXX

Blooming ...

Good Morning!

Following on from Tuesday's post I have some more photo's of how things are doing. The front border is coming along nicely, the Antirrhinum's are flowering and the Dahlia's are doing well too.

The Cosmos in one the tubs are flowering nicely.

The Hanging Baskets are slowly filling out and starting to flower. I have added Geranium's to the centre which will add some height once they too flower.

I know I have said it before but I just love how clean and fresh the blooms of this Surfinia are.

Mrs Popple has finally started opening up it's many flower heads.

The Dianthus 'Alan Titchmarsh' has had buds for weeks and one of them has slowly started unfurling. I love the little splash of lime & pink they have in the centre!

The Perennial Viola is still doing well.

And finally here's a look at two of the Sweet Pea's that are becoming my favourite's for their colouring.

Thanks for stopping by,

HAPPY GROWING!

XXX

In the Greenhouse ...

Good Morning!

It's been a while since I last shared an update on how the GH is looking inside so I thought now was the time to do it. All the bedding is coming along nicely and as you will be able to see it is itching to go out!

First up is a selection of Tagetes & Marigolds that were ready to go into the pots with my Tomatoes. 

You will see that some Tomatoes have bamboo canes to support them, these are the taller varieties and the ones without are of bush varieties. Don't forget there are still 3 more plants to come (TomTato) but as you can see that's not too bad a thing as I don't really have any free space! lol

I always plant 3 plants per pot but it is up to you how many you do, if you do so at all, as some people prefer to keep them in separate pots next to each other.

On top of my Work Bench you can see the 'Abutilon' that was previously sat on the floor has now been raised up and has quite a few 'lanterns' developing. This plant will go outside against a wall once there is no risk of frost.

The lanterns form a lower yellow half with another purple part forming just beneath. They are certainly a treat to look at and aren't something you usually expect to see!

Back to the sides of the GH and as you can see as I said before everything is coming on nicely! From the top shelf down you can Petunias, Dahlias & Ranunculus - Picotee Pink.

Mixed Bedding.

Field Maple, Basket Plants, Cuttings, Cucumber - Gherkin & Pepper & Mimulus.

Basket Plants, Marigolds & Dahlia's - 'Yankee Doodle Dandy' although a pesky slug enjoyed a nibble on these earlier in the week!

Pelargoniums & more Bedding Plants including a cheeky Cosmos that is already flowering! You can also spot 2 more Tomato Plants that are waiting to be potted up and given away.

 

And lastly outside the GH are some recycled plastic drums that were planted up with leftover Winter Bedding last year and are still happily blooming away!

Thanks for stopping by,

Enjoy the rest of your weekend, I hope the weather is better with you than it is here!

HAPPY GROWING!

XXX