Princess Alexandra of Kent ...

Good Morning!

Just a quick post from me today, all about a Rose! 

Remember a couple of weeks ago when I found out I won the Rose Competition by Garden News? Well my prize was a David Austin Rose called 'Princess Alexandra of Kent' and I finally managed to get it settled in last week.

I chose a 50cm Bell Pot with Drainage holes, added some Crocs and then filled with John Innes compost along with Rose Pellets.

Luckily on the day of planting the Rose had started blooming, the blooms have a wonderful old - fashioned style and a beautiful perfume.

I hope you like it as much as I do! 

Thanks for stopping by,

HAPPY GROWING!

XXX

Weekly Garden Checklist ...

Good Morning!

It's Monday so it is time for another Weekly Garden Checklist, 

let's get started!

1. Check on Cuttings - If like me you have taken cuttings in the past few weeks don't forget to keep checking on them for root growth, pot on if roots are evident and if not continue keeping the compost moist and checking the cuttings haven't dried out.

2. Continue Deadheading - Most of the plants in the garden right now will require deadheading, bedding of which daily. It may seem tedious but to keep your plants flowering for longer and looking good it needs to be done.

3. Harvest Tomatoes - Tomatoes are starting to ripen now so don't forget to pick them & enjoy!

This is a 'Sungold' Variety I am growing which has this lovely rich orange colour.

4. Water Sweet Pea's - These plants can dry out really quickly in this hot weather, keep on top of watering as drying out can lead to the plant producing short flower stems which are only good for a tiny vase!

5. Feed Dahlia's & Chrsyanthemum's - Now is a good time to give these plants a healthy boost with a Liquid Feed.

Dahlia 'Cafe Au Lait'

Thanks for stopping by,

HAPPY GROWING!

XXX

Summer Stars ...

Good Morning!

Today's post is all about the stars of the garden right now! Of course every plant is a star in it's own right really but these few are the one's that have only just started flowering in the past week or two and catch my eye every time I'm outside.

First up probably isn't that impressive to you at the moment but it's one of my Winter Flowering Clematis's 'Winter Beauty'. At the start of the year it was barely above ground level as it had been ravaged by pesky slugs and snails, however it has now put on lot's of lush fresh growth and will hopefully continue this way!

 Just beneath the Clematis you can also see my next 'star'. This is Zinnia 'Green Envy' and although it might not be to everyone's taste I love it. The petals appear more yellow on the photograph but they infact a pale green. 

This is Rudbekia 'Cherry Brandy' and although I'm not usually drawn to red flowers this is certainly one of my favourites. I only have 2 plants of these in the garden but next year there will most certainly be more!

I know I only just shared this a couple of days ago, but I love it that much I had to do it again. Another of my new favourites that will definitely be frequenting more of the garden next year, Chocolate Cosmos.

Of course I had to share with you how my larger Dahlia's are doing, earlier in the year I shared how I potted the tubers up so it's only right that I share their blooms! 'Cafe Au Lait' and 'Eveline' both make a statement!

Finally I wanted to share with you something from my Parent's Garden, the Alpine trough! I planted this up a few weeks ago and as you can see it is filling out nicely.

Thanks for stopping by,

HAPPY GROWING!

XXX

Never Too Late ...

Good Morning!

At this time of year most people have finished adding plants to their gardens but as the title says it's never too late! For example last week I couldn't resist an offer for 12 different hardy Dianthus Plug Plants, I've potted them up in small pots and when they are large enough they will be placed in large pots or planted around the garden.

Yesterday I bought a selection of plants that were originally going to be planted separately in various places but after taking this photograph of them I decided to keep them all together.

Incase you can't tell very well from the photograph I bought 'Chocolate Cosmos' which smells just like it's name, 'Ajuga' and 'Echeveria'.

I planted them up in a large pot which should look lovely once they have filled out a bit. All of the plants last year round, the Chocolate Cosmos is infact a tender perennial so the pot will need to be brought inside during winter. I will also be taking some cuttings from it to hopefully get some more plants!

Thanks for stopping by,
HAPPY CRAFTING!

XXX

Weekly Garden Checklist ...

Good Morning!

It's Monday so it is time for another Weekly Garden Checklist, let's get started!

1. Cut Back Pansies - If your Pansy plants are looking a bit straggly now is the time to give them a good cut back to encourage a second flush of flowers.

2. Plant Autumn Flowering Bulbs - Now is the time to plant bulbs for Autumn such as Nerines & Colchicums.

3. Keep Watering Tomatoes - With all the hot weather it is crucial you keep an eye on your tomatoes, make sure they don't dry out especially if they are grown in pots, to prevent blossom end rot.

4. Pick Peppers & Cucumbers - These plants should be supplying good sized fruits so now is the time to start harvesting which also encourages new growth.

5. Enjoy the Garden - I know it should go without saying but with the Sunny weather and flowers in full flow now is the time to sit back and enjoy all of your hard work!

Thanks for stopping by,

HAPPY GROWING!

XXX

Vegetables & Chrysanthemum's ...

Good Morning!

If you remember a week or so I received my Chrysanthemums for the Autumn? Well it was time to plant them out into their final positions after rooting around the 9cm pots I pricked them out into. 

This year I have decided to plant them in the Raised Bed as I'm not too keen on Winter Vegetables and I didn't want the space to go to waste.  Plus it will be a great colourful feature in the centre of the garden when everything else is fading! Before planting out I prepared the soil by hoeing over it to remove all the weeds.

When planting out Chrysanthemums they need to be positioned approx 30cm apart. The spacing is slightly less between mine but not too far off. I always like to position them in their pots whilst organising the layout before planting out.

I had two of each colour and distanced them both apart from each other, however I kept the labels with the plants for each so that I still know what variety they are.

After about 10-14 days when the plants have grown a bit larger I will be adding stakes as a support.

Below the Raised bed you can see the 6 Anastacia Green Chrysanthemums in pots, this is because they are an indoor variety which will need to be lifted into the Greenhouse when the first frosts arrive.

Thanks for stopping by,

HAPPY GROWING!

XXX

Weekly Garden Checklist ...

Good Morning!

It's Monday so it is time for another Weekly Garden Checklist. 

Incase this is the first time you have seen this particular themed post, it's a quick list of jobs you can be doing in the garden this week.

Let's get started!

1. Take Pelargonium Cuttings - Now is the perfect time to start taking cuttings from your Pelargoniums for next years plants or just to make sure you have a back up! To do this all you need to do is take some cuttings from new non-flowering shoots and put them into some pots of compost & vermiculite. Place somewhere light but not in direct light and within a few weeks they should have rooted!

2. Keep Sowing Vegetables - Although we are getting into Summer don't stop sowing! There are plenty of vegetables you can be sowing now for your salads such as Lettuce, Spring Onions, Radishes, Chard and plenty more. Sow direct  in 2 / 3 weekly batches to ensure a constant supply.

Here you can see some Lettuce seedlings next to my Leeks along with a patch above the Lettuce where I have sown some S.Onions & Radishes.

3. Sow Next Years Flowers - Carrying on the subject of sowing, now is the perfect time to get sowing for next year. Plants such as Foxgloves, Delphiniums & Lupins need to be sown now for flowers next year.

4. Keep Pinching Out Cordon Tomatoes - Ensure that you keep on pinching out tomato side-shoots, keep checking everyday as if left alone they can soon grow and take up the plants energy. Also tomatoes are ripening now so make sure you pick them and enjoy!

5. Maintain your Greenhouse - With all this hot weather it is important to make sure that you keep on top of GH. Damp down the floor on hot days by spreading water floor in the morning and leaving the vents / windows fully open. You can also keep the door open on warm nights.

Also to help fight again GH pests hang yellow sticky traps for whitefly & Aphids.

I hope you have found this Checklist helpful!
Thanks for stopping by,

HAPPY GROWING!

XXX