General Chat

Thanks, Ann and Julia. I do like to show off my plants from time to time as no one sees them except the district nurses these days. Dont have many mobile friends, I seem to be the best of us! I am not includin Jude in that, she is a treasure.

Just looked at the photos Jean, they are lovely.

Jean (Monmouth). I managed to buy three over the weekend.
I will PM you.
Julia in Derbyshire

Anyone interested can see my orchids which are in flower. I have sent photos to Judes blog.

We had some cane rings at the time and these were fixed to a pole, with room between them to put plants. I would think aluminium or something like that would make passable rings. Its handy to keep a number in a small space.

Might have a go as well. The 'tree' sounds a good idea.

Thank you Jean for getting back to me. You have spurred me on to have another go, although space in the living room is at a premium at the moment with the Christmas decorations. But, the OH is out as we speak, to buy me one.
Again Jean, many,many thanks for your advice.
Julia in Derbyhire

My orchids are in the living room, well back from the window as it is too sunny for them. They like light but not strong sunlight. I have a kind of tree which my OH made, a pole with rings on for the pots to go in, and some on a shelf in the far corner. They go there for a rest when flowering is over. I also have some on the dining room windowsill which only gets morning sunlight. They flower well. Watering takes place in the kitchen sink,once a week. I soak them, drain them and put them back in their potholders so that they dont have much water in their roots. Standing in water will kill them. During the cold weather I have watered once a fortnight.

Ann

Am pleased to hear of success with potato sacks
-- mine were reasonable ( In reality my results ought to be discounted as I live along the Costa Tropical - which as the name suggests permits the growing of almost anything -- I planted and harvested peanuts last year )

but my sister in Norfolk "rated" hers as "poor" -- and she is a far better gardener than I --- she also added liquid feed etc as instructed to --- I confess to - adding horse/mule manure to soil and nothing else but water

But am pleased that others had good results -- as I do believe they could/should be an aid to all gardeners - much like grow bags ( which I also cannot buy here

Irene in Spain

Daughter grows orchids. They keep them on a small table in their lounge, away from the window, although this time of year theya re up in their bedroom, they seem to thrive. I love them but can't work out where we could grow them in our lounge, I think they need to be away from direct sunlight and out of drafts but that is all I know. Always go to the orchid gardin in Tenerife to take photos.

Irene. I am sure that the open ground is the best place to grow potatoes, but for those of us with small gardens there is just not room so we have to rely on small crops from (in our case) a potatoe tower thingy or a potato bag which daughter used and was quite pleased with the result.

Agh, Dear Jean (Monmouth), How I envy you and your orchids. I tried these a couple of years ago, with very little success. I am envious when I see them in the garden centres, and probably will this weekend. I am so tempted to try them again.
Where do you house yours, particularly in the cold weather we have had. And congratulations on your two 'babies'
I wish I had the 'knack' with them
Take Care
Julia in Derbyshire

Good Morning All, Thank you for your contributions to the thread, and your personal ditties
Persey, I do not understand, perhaps you would like to elucidate LOL
Have a good day all
Julia in Derbyshire

The best spuds we ever grew was about 30 years ago when an allotment holder - he was in his 90s gave my husband a box of wizened potatoes - (had they been apples they would have gone to the birds) our own had been in the ground weeks and were beginning to show through. To humour the old man OH planted them - one of the best crops ever!! The old man's hair was jet black which he put down to drinking caster oil every day. A villager verified this as she was sat on bus behind him when he took a slug from the bottle!!

I have just learnt a new word, I had not heard the expression chitting potatoes, not one that is used here as far as I know.

Us Kiwis can grow different things all year round, but some things grow better in different parts of the country. My dad grew a bean called Missouri Wonder ( he would not have got through the customs these days with what he brought back from overseas) he was noted for his bean growing and he used to slice them at an angle and bag them up and give them away as well. We named a room downstairs in his house the bean room because he could often be found there with a bowl of beans slicing and bagging quite happily.

This is a delightful amusing thread Julia - one without dare I say it a "whiff" of animosity.


Persey xx

Julia

Just to add a note re potatoes - I grow them all year round - except July and August - cannot give them enough water -

I cannot buy seed potatoes here so I chit my own -

Last year I tried Marshalls potatoe sacks - as did my sister in Norfolk - we were both disappointed with the yield - we both test planted simultaneously in the ground - afraid it there was no comparisons - the yield was three times greater when planted in the ground

I can also grow lettuces and salad leaves every week of the year


Irene in Spain

Julia, I am often tempted by plug plants in the early months, but only having a six by two green house I know I cant have them. Trouble is , they are never there when you want them. Often seed potatoes at this time of year can be last years spuds that didnt get sold. I fell for a lily last week and bought it in flower. It will last this week, but at least I will have it to plant out in the garden after. This time of year is when most of my orchids are in bloom and I have 6 in flower at the moment, with two cuttings with buds on. These are the first cuttings of mine that have flowered and I am thrilled to be able to say 'I done it!'

I grow roses and lots of them, they are all sent by a very dear friend, and he always says "water them" dead head them etc, very kind coz im rubbish at gardening :)))))

ohhh and if the potatoes go to mulsh it save you mashing them lol :))))

As for growing tomatoes, i was told to stand in the grow bag xx

Happy gardening xxx

Jean, I can understand that. But it is when they are available in the garden centres about the end of January. As you say, they will not be despatched until planting time.
Julia in Derbyshire

We have ordered plug plants for next year, but they will not be delivered until planting time. I think the firms do this inorder to gauge how many to grow.

Oh i agree Island....sprout and bean Sunday? It dont bare thinking about!!!