GMG Green Thumb Club

[Pohjolas Daughter]

Slugs and snails, on the other hand, seem to love them. I have given up on tulips, marigolds and dahlias.

Sorry to hear that!  I imagine with all of the rain and cooler temps that you've been getting in the UK, that the slugs are having a field day!  The only time that I recall having much of any issue with them was when I planted collard greens.  The slugs liked to hide (and eat) on the underside of the leaves.     I think that I'll try putting a marigold into each of my tomato pots on the porch and maybe also one each of flat-leafed parsley.  I don't want to over-crowd the pots though.  I did (while it was still relatively cool outside) stake all three of the tomatoes in their pots and also added some tomato (hoop-style) cages to each of them too.

And, yes, I see the forecast for Surrey in any event, looks to be much better on Thursday and Friday of the coming week.  And if your weather follows mine, soon you will be roasting!  It should be a fair bit cooler here Monday and Tuesday--which means that I can get some more work done outside without feeling like I'm about ready to keel over! 

By the way Biffo, which kind of peppers do you like to grow?  And what else do you grow in your garden (or is this at an allotment?)?

PD

[Biffo]

Sorry to hear that!  I imagine with all of the rain and cooler temps that you've been getting in the UK, that the slugs are having a field day!  The only time that I recall having much of any issue with them was when I planted collard greens.  The slugs liked to hide (and eat) on the underside of the leaves.     I think that I'll try putting a marigold into each of my tomato pots on the porch and maybe also one each of flat-leafed parsley.  I don't want to over-crowd the pots though.  I did (while it was still relatively cool outside) stake all three of the tomatoes in their pots and also added some tomato (hoop-style) cages to each of them too.

And, yes, I see the forecast for Surrey in any event, looks to be much better on Thursday and Friday of the coming week.  And if your weather follows mine, soon you will be roasting!  It should be a fair bit cooler here Monday and Tuesday--which means that I can get some more work done outside without feeling like I'm about ready to keel over! 

By the way Biffo, which kind of peppers do you like to grow?  And what else do you grow in your garden (or is this at an allotment?)?

PD

I have a patio and grow everything in pots, mainly flowers and shrubs. Herbs and peppers are the most successful  non-floral things I grow. I have numerous pepper seedlings still indoors and I desperately need to re-pot them. It is probably just about warm enough to put them outside but I don't want them to be flattened or blown to bits (more high winds and rain today). I have Jalapeno, Cayenne and Habanera seedlings; some of the Cayenne are starting to flower.

[Pohjolas Daughter]

I have a patio and grow everything in pots, mainly flowers and shrubs. Herbs and peppers are the most successful  non-floral things I grow. I have numerous pepper seedlings still indoors and I desperately need to re-pot them. It is probably just about warm enough to put them outside but I don't want them to be flattened or blown to bits (more high winds and rain today). I have Jalapeno, Cayenne and Habanera seedlings; some of the Cayenne are starting to flower.

Oh nice!   I have (in pots) 1 each of the following:  jalapeño, serrano, 4 bell peppers (one each yellow, red, green), 1 X ancho, 1 X Hungarian and 2 X shishito.  I've grown cayenne in the past (and Scotch bonnet) but never really used them.  Also several years ago, I planted a Thai bird-type chili which I then dried using a food dehydrator.  Most of my herbs are in the ground (so far, Italian basil, flat-leafed parsley, fennel (bulb), Greek oregano and tarragon.  Also to go into the ground (knock on wood) tomorrow, some dill and also some cilantro (in an area that gets some shade).

Yesterday, I potted up a 6-pack of summer savory (new herb to me).  Also, moved chives and sage into a bed (out of their pots).  I also have big pots of German thyme, rosemary, and lemon verbena.  And some lemon balm that would happily take over my garden!    A small patch of English mint (reminds me that I need to water it!).  And purchased another 6-pack of flat-leafed parsley as mine was tiny-tiny!

What else?  Planted 4 Asian-long eggplants and will eventually plant 4 traditional Italian globe-shaped type.  Interspersed with the Asian long, I put some Thai basil and also some red basil  And knock on wood, some leeks too--God willing!  Oh, and some marjoram in a pot too.

What herbs do you like to use? 

PD

[Biffo]

Oh nice!   I have (in pots) 1 each of the following:  jalapeño, serrano, 4 bell peppers (one each yellow, red, green), 1 X ancho, 1 X Hungarian and 2 X shishito.  I've grown cayenne in the past (and Scotch bonnet) but never really used them.  Also several years ago, I planted a Thai bird-type chili which I then dried using a food dehydrator.  Most of my herbs are in the ground (so far, Italian basil, flat-leafed parsley, fennel (bulb), Greek oregano and tarragon.  Also to go into the ground (knock on wood) tomorrow, some dill and also some cilantro (in an area that gets some shade).

Yesterday, I potted up a 6-pack of summer savory (new herb to me).  Also, moved chives and sage into a bed (out of their pots).  I also have big pots of German thyme, rosemary, and lemon verbena.  And some lemon balm that would happily take over my garden!    A small patch of English mint (reminds me that I need to water it!).  And purchased another 6-pack of flat-leafed parsley as mine was tiny-tiny!

What else?  Planted 4 Asian-long eggplants and will eventually plant 4 traditional Italian globe-shaped type.  Interspersed with the Asian long, I put some Thai basil and also some red basil  And knock on wood, some leeks too--God willing!  Oh, and some marjoram in a pot too.

What herbs do you like to use? 

PD

I grew scotch bonnet in 2019 and got dozens of peppers from one plant, had to freeze a lot of them - kept me going for nearly a year. Last year was less successful with jalapeno.

[Pohjolas Daughter]

I grew scotch bonnet in 2019 and got dozens of peppers from one plant, had to freeze a lot of them - kept me going for nearly a year. Last year was less successful with jalapeno.

What kind of dishes did you make with them Biffo?

PD

[Mandryka]

Are you concerned about their comments re watering?

There's an irrigation system so that could be managed, but it does sound as though there should be better options than roses, where I have to fight against nature to get the plants established!

[Pohjolas Daughter]

There's an irrigation system so that could be managed, but it does sound as though there should be better options than roses, where I have to fight against nature to get the plants established!

Perhaps some sort of semi-desert variety of a tree or other plant?    If you have a favorite nursery nearby, perhaps go and visit them (not on a weekend though!) and try and pick their brains?

PD

[Pohjolas Daughter]

Nothing beats personal experience.

I fail miserably growing roses. I have clay soil which I believe is ideal but they don't flourish. Trying to divert blame from myself I have picked up from somewhere that after decades of growing them a garden can become "rose sick". When we moved into our house forty years ago, we have since dropped it, but the house was called "Rose Bay". If named for a reason could explain the failure today, maybe.

Irons,

I did a bit of googling on this.  I found an article on Fine Gardening's website (they're a well-respected magazine here in the US).  You might be interested in giving it a quick read and also checking out the comments.  https://www.finegardening.com/article/planting-roses-where-roses-used-to-be-do-you-have-to-remove-all-the-old-soil

PD

[Biffo]

What kind of dishes did you make with them Biffo?

PD

They mostly went into curries but I also used them to make the filling (along with tomato paste) for chicken breasts wrapped in serrano ham.

[Irons]

Irons,

I did a bit of googling on this.  I found an article on Fine Gardening's website (they're a well-respected magazine here in the US).  You might be interested in giving it a quick read and also checking out the comments.  https://www.finegardening.com/article/planting-roses-where-roses-used-to-be-do-you-have-to-remove-all-the-old-soil

PD

Thanks PD, a most interesting article which I think backs up my suspicions on the poor results of rose growing in my garden. I am not prepared to wholesale change of soil. But I am aware of mycorrhizal fungi powder which is readily available, worth a try without a doubt.

Just had hailstones hammering down followed by sun peeping through the clouds.

[Mandryka]

Nothing beats personal experience.

I fail miserably growing roses. I have clay soil which I believe is ideal but they don't flourish. Trying to divert blame from myself I have picked up from somewhere that after decades of growing them a garden can become "rose sick". When we moved into our house forty years ago, we have since dropped it, but the house was called "Rose Bay". If named for a reason could explain the failure today, maybe.

I have London clay. I've found that all roses sit there moribund for about three years. They then either kick the bucket or seriously take off like Jack's beanstalk.

I don't think it's likely that you have a rose sick garden but you may have a garden where all rosaceous plants don't flourish. Fruit trees, flowering cherry, potentilla, cistus . . . . they're all a rose by a different name.

[Pohjolas Daughter]

They mostly went into curries but I also used them to make the filling (along with tomato paste) for chicken breasts wrapped in serrano ham.

Ooh, sounds tasty.  Hopefully not too too hot of a filling?

Thanks PD, a most interesting article which I think backs up my suspicions on the poor results of rose growing in my garden. I am not prepared to wholesale change of soil. But I am aware of mycorrhizal fungi powder which is readily available, worth a try without a doubt.

Just had hailstones hammering down followed by sun peeping through the clouds.

When you tried to plant roses (where they had been growing previously), did you work in a lot of compost?  I imagine that that could be hard if it's heavy clay soil.  Or do you save all of your 'good stuff' from your veggie garden for your veggie garden?    And, God, no I would certainly not try and change out all of the soil...what a nightmare!  Wonder if possibly mixing in some sand would help in terms of drainage?

I bought a new composter last year which I like pretty well.  It is separated into two bins (so when one is full, you then start filling the other).  It also has a tank underneath to catch leachate and has rollers on the tubular tumbler and handles so that you can spin it to mix the ingredients.  https://www.amazon.com/Good-Ideas-CW-2X12-Tumbler-Compost/dp/B00QVCZA6K

And MORE hail?!  Oh, brother!    Here:  blessedly cooler (woke up and it was in the 50's)...lovely!  Well, I hope that you get our heatwave soon!

PD

I have London clay. I've found that all roses sit there moribund for about three years. They then either kick the bucket or seriously take off like Jack's beanstalk.

I don't think it's likely that you have a rose sick garden but you may have a garden where all rosaceous plants don't flourish. Fruit trees, flowering cherry, potentilla, cistus . . . . they're all a rose by a different name.

Ah, clay soil in London too?  Do you work in a lot of compost Mandryka?

PD

[Pohjolas Daughter]

There's an irrigation system so that could be managed, but it does sound as though there should be better options than roses, where I have to fight against nature to get the plants established!

Mandryka,

I did a bit of further googling, and you might get some ideas here:  https://www.gardenguides.com/95388-plants-trees-against-hot-stucco-wall.html

I particularly like the idea of either a fig or pomegranate tree there.    Again, I'd still incorporate a lot of compost even getting some manure/mixed barn 'stuff' delivered in if possible or some bags of it.  If you're not up to the hard-on-your back work, you could always hire someone.  Once, I added some greensand which helped I think (It was a small area where I planted some daffs, tulips, etc.).  And you might also need to adjust the ph (I used finely powdered ground lime) too. 

Good luck and let us know what you decide upon!

PD

[Pohjolas Daughter]

Went outside to water my plants (mostly veggie garden) after taking a break from working out there for a few days (did water Monday morning) and found out that someone had been digging in four of my pepper pots!  The two that I had already inserted those three ring metal hoops into were not badly off but the other two!  One of my little guys was lying on its side with a huge amount of digging in the pot..thankfully still alive.      We have a local fox in the area....I wonder whether or not it might have been him/her smelling the compost that I had worked into the soil?  Or a raccoon?  Or just a voracious chipmunk??  In any event, I gave everyone a good watering and will soon insert some stakes to tie the plants to and also provide them with their own cages.  Hope that I have enough this year for everyone.  We may get some nasty weather moving through today, so I am asking you to please keep your fingers crossed for me and 'my little ones'.

PD

EDIT:  Found some short stakes (about 2' long) which I inserted into the two afflicted pots; even though the plants weren't yet tall enough to fit into the hoop I used some garden twist ties to attach it to the stake to encourage them to grow upright and straight.  Then put some hoops over them...meaning that if the critter wants to try and go crazy in their pots again, they'll find it to be much more frustrating  and will either then decimate the plants, or hopefully, decide to go elsewhere. 

Took a look today at the weather forecast for Surrey, as predicted last week, it looks to be a much nicer week for you!  I hope that the same is going on across the rest of the UK?  Meanwhile, there's a good chance that I'll be getting your hail, thunderstorms, fire-breathing dragons, plagues, etc. here.

You seem to have a variety of wildlife, here there is usually only one culprit - grey squirrels. Some people think they are cute, I think they are destructive vermin. They haven't been active recently, I think it is because our new neighbour has a dog, a dachshund and it keeps them away, if only with its scent.

Fingers crossed for you; the weather is improving slowly here though there has been more rain.

Looks like we were posting at the same time!  I just went to modify this one.    Happy for hawks and I think also for a local red fox--as they like squirrels and chipmunks in their diets! 

And, yet more rain for you!  Hope that it stops for awhile for you. 

[Biffo]

Went outside to water my plants (mostly veggie garden) after taking a break from working out there for a few days (did water Monday morning) and found out that someone had been digging in four of my pepper pots!  The two that I had already inserted those three ring metal hoops into were not badly off but the other two!  One of my little guys was lying on its side with a huge amount of digging in the pot..thankfully still alive.      We have a local fox in the area....I wonder whether or not it might have been him/her smelling the compost that I had worked into the soil?  Or a raccoon?  Or just a voracious chipmunk??  In any event, I gave everyone a good watering and will soon insert some stakes to tie the plants to and also provide them with their own cages.  Hope that I have enough this year for everyone.  We may get some nasty weather moving through today, so I am asking you to please keep your fingers crossed for me and 'my little ones'.

PD

You seem to have a variety of wildlife, here there is usually only one culprit - grey squirrels. Some people think they are cute, I think they are destructive vermin. They haven't been active recently, I think it is because our new neighbour has a dog, a dachshund and it keeps them away, if only with its scent.

Fingers crossed for you; the weather is improving slowly here though there has been more rain.

[Pohjolas Daughter]

You seem to have a variety of wildlife, here there is usually only one culprit - grey squirrels. Some people think they are cute, I think they are destructive vermin. They haven't been active recently, I think it is because our new neighbour has a dog, a dachshund and it keeps them away, if only with its scent.

Fingers crossed for you; the weather is improving slowly here though there has been more rain.

Please see my above modified posting (we were typing at the same time!). 

[Irons]

I have London clay. I've found that all roses sit there moribund for about three years. They then either kick the bucket or seriously take off like Jack's beanstalk.

I don't think it's likely that you have a rose sick garden but you may have a garden where all rosaceous plants don't flourish. Fruit trees, flowering cherry, potentilla, cistus . . . . they're all a rose by a different name.

Fruit trees! The houses of our location were built on the site of a damson orchard and named accordingly. I think I'm just rubbish at growing roses or buy inferior ones in the first place.

[Pohjolas Daughter]

Fruit trees! The houses of our location were built on the site of a damson orchard and named accordingly. I think I'm just rubbish at growing roses or buy inferior ones in the first place.

The area(s) where, if you could....plant some roses, in which direction would they face?  And would they be able to get at least...say...8 good hours of sunshine?  Just guessing here!

I suspect that you have been outside planting all of your tomatoes Irons?  How's it going?  And how are your beans recovering?

Just in for a bit of a break from the heat for some water and eventually to fix some lunch. 

PD

[Irons]

The area(s) where, if you could....plant some roses, in which direction would they face?  And would they be able to get at least...say...8 good hours of sunshine?  Just guessing here!

I suspect that you have been outside planting all of your tomatoes Irons?  How's it going?  And how are your beans recovering?

Just in for a bit of a break from the heat for some water and eventually to fix some lunch. 

PD

Apart from the patio my garden is mainly shady, PD. We are in the process of a revamp of the main border ripping everything out and going for a different look. Two banana plants are in (Musa Basjoo) and another, Musella Lasiocarpa is on order. Planted a Fatsia Japonica "Spider Plant" yesterday and have a couple of red spikey plants, the name I have forgotten.

Planting at the allotment after typing this, two marrow and four courgette plants - far too many. The great tom plant out is definitely tomorrow, no matter what! Beans are very sad . I have some spares but not enough to replace them all.

[Mandryka]

An exotic garden in deepest Surrey!