There was a great turn out for the Swilly Gardening Club last week. The fact that we were competing with a flower arranging evening didn’t seem to affect the numbers too much. Patrick McCartney entertained us with lighthearted banter with a few songs thrown in. Even though we are entering the depths of winter there are still plenty of projects to be getting on with. Here are a few of the topics covered on the evening.
Sow ripened seeds of hawthorns, cotoneaster, mountain ash and pyracantha. Squash the berries to extract the seeds, which should be cleaned of pulp before sowing. Sow in small pots filled with gritty compost and cover with a layer of grit. Water gently and stand pots outdoors, or in a well-ventilated cold frame.
If there is a sudden drop in the temperature, provide extra protection for your more tender flowering plants like Rhododendrons, Camellias, Azaleas and Daphne. You can provide temporary, emergency protection by driving in three of four stakes around the plant, and then simply covering the plant with some fleece or a sheet or an old blanket. Don't let this material come into direct contact with the leaves of the plant. Remove the cover completely, as soon as the weather improves a bit.
Sow seeds of alpine plants that require cold winter temperatures to germinate. Sow into shallow pots or trays filled with sharply draining gritty compost, and place outdoors.
Plant rhubarb in well manured ground, and cover established plants intended for forcing with a rhubarb pot or light-proof bucket. The best place to get rhubarb is from a friend who has some in their garden. Get your spade and dig out a healthy clump. Plant in an area that has plenty of well-rotted manure in it.
Sow ripened seeds of hawthorns, cotoneaster, mountain ash and pyracantha. Squash the berries to extract the seeds, which should be cleaned of pulp before sowing. Sow in small pots filled with gritty compost and cover with a layer of grit. Water gently and stand pots outdoors, or in a well-ventilated cold frame.
If there is a sudden drop in the temperature, provide extra protection for your more tender flowering plants like Rhododendrons, Camellias, Azaleas and Daphne. You can provide temporary, emergency protection by driving in three of four stakes around the plant, and then simply covering the plant with some fleece or a sheet or an old blanket. Don't let this material come into direct contact with the leaves of the plant. Remove the cover completely, as soon as the weather improves a bit.
Sow seeds of alpine plants that require cold winter temperatures to germinate. Sow into shallow pots or trays filled with sharply draining gritty compost, and place outdoors.
Plant rhubarb in well manured ground, and cover established plants intended for forcing with a rhubarb pot or light-proof bucket. The best place to get rhubarb is from a friend who has some in their garden. Get your spade and dig out a healthy clump. Plant in an area that has plenty of well-rotted manure in it.
Horticultural.
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