Ok … Easter is over so can I plant my potatoes now?
Asking for a friend.
Had mine in pots on the patio for a few weeks
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Wow
Very nice👍
Hi Camphuw I have already planted my potatoes but I’m in north London so it’s rather dependent on your location. I plant mine at around 7 inches below the surface and I try to keep a watch on progress, as soon as I see any signs I cover new growth just in case of frost. If you do get caught out and can act asap wash the leaves with water it can help to save the growth.
I have an allotment so I try to play safe as I can’t always get to plot 140!
Hope this helps - Richard
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Was given this clematis Montana as a slip a couple of years ago and gradually it is covering the front porch.
It’s feet are in sheltered wet, probably clay, and head in the early morning sun. Gardener will guide it over the unused Sky dish today.
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Just planted the last twelve of my seed potatoes in pots / tubs.
You plant yours quite deep - something I had not picked up on before. I usually keep adding compost throughout the growing season, then sow mustard or fenugreek as a cover crop, which helps break up the soil and put N back in over winter.
I’ll try the deeper plant next time.
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Hi Camphuw that’s a good idea to plant the green manure as you say to help with returning/making nutrients for next year!
Richard
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My current technique for the raised beds is to adapt the zero dig method being used at the Royal Agricultural University and other small enterprises. The approach is to encourage mycelium to develop between the raised beds by laying down ramian woodchip.
Then I need to think of a way to get the mycelium to feed my tubs.
Interesting - so you let fungal growth develop naturally or do you add it to the soil?
I’ve been dabbling in the use of mycorrhizal fungus additives for various reasons, although I believe adding Nitrogen hinders development of the mycelium.
The theory is to let it develop naturally. I used beech hedge chips (the hens love them too, but the dry early spring meant that the chips are slow to breakdown and thus slow to develop mycelium.
As an aside, Farming Today BBC R4, was talking about agroforestry where 24 m strips of arable were separated by rows of apples. The highest arable yields occurred closest to the trees
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I’ve been using Ecothrive Biosys for a few years now. It contains 8 species of endo mycorrhizal fungi, beneficial bacteria, azotobacter, azospirillum, pseudomonas, trichoderma and a list of enzymes, humic acids, amino acids, etc… This is watered in at planting stage and throughout the whole year.
I also use TNC MycorrPlus dusted on the wet roots at planting stage and a little dusted in the growing medium.
However, if you then water with chlorinated tap water and/or a strong mix of fertiliser (organic or synthetic) you will kill the living organisms. You have to be careful how you treat the soil, then the soil looks after your plants.
Saying all this, the beneficial organisms are the icing on the cake for plant health. Get the basics wrong like ph, soil consistency, under/over feeding, light, etc, and none of these will save a plant.
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The fleeting display of the Amelanchier. It’s not till Autumn and the leaves offer a display of maroon and gold do you remember why you planted it.
Next to it is the dear old lilac I planted 35 years ago when the wife and garden designer died. It produced about 10 flower heads this year but an excellent show of foliage. There is a clematis tucked away in side to help its meagre flowering ability.
Bit like me beyond its best.
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I had an old lilac overgrowing a back wall at my last place which was threatening the greenhouse. I cut it back quite severely and the next year it flowered better than ever.
Yes, cruel to be kind is sometimes the best pruning technique.
Think I will leave it. At times I have tried to change the master plan but the sun goes into full eclipse,then the clouds roll in;storm and heavy rain follow. Just her way of mentioning she has her eye on the garden and to leave the f*** alone.
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Life is unfair! I’ve spend a lot of time in learning how to prune the wisteria. This year I did nothing and …
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Mother nature….knows best, who knows, but looks lovely.
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