Cheers, just ordered it (£5 off using various Amazon offers).
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Asparagus!
Went to a different M&S yesterday as the nearest one closed down.
Bought some giant/jumbo asparagus for almost a fiver - is it a thing or just overgrown normal stuff?
Simply thought it might be nice on the BBQ.
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Usually thicker stems are from older well established plants, but there are now hybrids that are thicker.
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Aeschyanthus …lipstick plant or perhaps we could think of a more suitable nom.
Few more to flower on top. First blooms.
Whilst his lady friend across the room is really lipsticked and trying to woo him. Variant Rasta with curly leaves.
Hanging gardens of Harwich.
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This turned out interesting. Aji lemon is a baccatum species and can be a bit tricky to germinate, but I thought nothing of it. I have a heated propagator, but it’s one of those typical 14 watts thing with no thermostat. It keeps the compost at about 24c inside the house. 2 weeks after sowing, nothing. So I looked into it and ended up buying a Vitopod with soil probe thermostat and double height extension.
Reading into the baccatum a bit more, they like a temp of 29c to germinate better. Too hot can be detrimental, not hot enough and they can sit in the growing medium too long and rot.
So I started again. I didn’t know if my first batch sowing of the South Devon Chilli Farm seed company was any good, so I quickly bought another company’s, Vital Seeds, too and sowed both at 29c.
Within 7-10 days, all 11 Vital Seeds came up, but only 8 out of 15 South Devon’s came up. The Vital’s packet looks a bit more professional with its batch number and packing date anyway.
The Vitopod is in a different league. Toughly made, strong uv resistant acrylic and very even heating. The probe thermostat makes a big difference as it’s measuring exactly what the growing is rather than ambient tempsnd it’s perfectly accurate to within 1c. And constant. Another great useful thing is you can add height extensions. Should have bought on years ago.
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Looks very similar, and starting to get fragrant now the flowers are opening. Should have asked Mrs AC who said ‘yes, your pal who loves gardening told us it was lilac years ago’. 
I wonder if any keen gardeners here could voice an opinion? I bought a rose plant a while back with the intention of planting it in the back garden when we got past possible frosty nights. The recent good weather seems to have spurted its development and I was a bit taken aback to see that buds have developed. See pic below. My question - have I somehow left it too late to plant out/ do I need to be more cautious about moving it outside now that buds have developed? Any guidance appreciated.
Peter
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A well known rose expert once told me that you can’t kill a rose unless the frost gets it. So I’d plant now. It will either thrive or come back next year.
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The weather having cooled down and become unsettled (even a ground frost is still possible) I would at least harden off the plant before planting it out. Put it in a sheltered spot during the day, and bring it back on at night or when very wet, windy or cold weather arrives. After a couple of weeks the plant should be more hardy than it is now and better able to settle in when you plant it.
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Buttercups, if I’m not mistaken. Spread rapidly
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Yup. They are gone now. I would tolerate them elsewhere but not in this part of the garden.
I agree with @bruss and @ChrisSU - a good time to plant out in April. Most roses are tough plants. I have several established roses outside which have formed buds already due to the mild spring weather. Move the pot outside during the day and in a shed overnight for the next week to limit shock. Then plenty of water / feed.
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Thanks folks for the great advice - after much bone dry weather, it has not stopped raining here today!
Like the idea of slowly allowing the plant to acclimatise to life outdoors rather than just dig a hole and wish it the best of luck!
Peter
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The soil has warmed up somewhat, any plants that need to avoid frost should be able to be to be planted now. Depends where in the country you are based.
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I was looking at the beech hedge which is beginning to leaf and saw these little fellows who are nicely camouflaged for new beech leaves, but stand out a bit now. The spider is new to me, and is I believe a cucumber or green orb spider.
Made my day a bit special.
The beech hedge has been in three years and is close to being high enough. Much better than fencing panels.
Phil
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Some years ago, I planted epimediums, heucheras and various other things under a beech tree which is in my front garden. Needless to say, they seemed to be struggling - until last year when I put in a soaker hose. What a difference…
Gardens are still very dry this year though - at least in this area.
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