The FastDay Forum

... I'm also seeding my sunflowers from the outrageously giant crop last year....

Hmmm. Just a thought but for many sunflowers (like a GreyStripe hybrid?) replanting from last year's crop is a mistake. They'll grow, but with very tiny flower heads and seeds.

Similar issues exist for cantelope seeds planted near squash. They'll look good the next year but have absolutely no flavor.

Been there, done that.

Thanks for that - I don't recall the variety, so I'd better start from scratch.....

Why is grass so perverse? The lawn is full of moss and the flowerbeds are full of grass!!!

Nearly the end of March already, how did we get here so quickly? By this time of year I've usually made a good start on the many weedy patches in the garden, I try to get the weeding done by the end of April, although it rarely happens - it certainly won't this year!

I cut back some of the dead vegetation a while ago and on Sunday I tidied part of the small triangular patch in front of the house - we don't really have a front garden as such, just that small area and the drive - I didn't finish doing it as my back was playing up.

Most of our garden is at the back of the house, it's very messy atm although not as bad as it was a few weeks ago. My son knocked down a huge homemade shed/greenhouse which was falling down, it was here when we moved in and I've waited nearly 14 years to get rid of it! It was made of corrugated iron, old windows, concrete blocks and wood, my son stacked it neatly against the stone hedge but the winter storms sent most of it sailing across the garden - it's now in a skip waiting to be collected.
Huge sigh of relief!

Soon we will have a new shed but in the meantime I must try to get the garden tidy, I'll do a little now and then, it won't be as good as I would like though. The veggie beds need sorting, we have a pile of veggie seeds waiting to be sown, so far all I've done is sow some broad beans into pots, they are just peeping through the compost.

It's not all bad, the garden is full of colour - we have daffs and helebores in flower, primroses everywhere, camelias, pieris japonica, lungwort and drumstick primulas....

I love the spring

Our wild garlic is doing really well down by the stream. Must make sure it doesn't spread too far though! I've already picked some to go in a cassoulet.
This weekend, we have some wildflowers to sow.

Bought me seeds today - both the low budget ones at the grocery store - you know the kind that only say "cherry tomato" and after that decided to drive over to a real posh garden centre och bought several packets of "the real stuff". Tomatoes, cucumbers, hot chilies, sweet pepper and cantaloupe melons. Now I just have to drag my butt out to the greenhouse to check if I have a bag of seed compost or was it just wishful thinking?
Right now the thought isn't that attractive, the sun disappeared and a heavy wind is blowing...on the other hand, just perfect to spend some time in the greenhouse. have no clue why, but I always feel so tranquil and nice out there

Know how you feel @Wolfie about the weather putting a dampers on all attempts at gardening. I sowed my tomato seeds a few weeks back when the weather was delightful and my window sill is now full of perky little seedlings but, when I look outside, it's difficult to imagine, the days when I will be able to put them out. Winter is back here with a vengeance it seems. I also really need to get down to the allotment and do some digging but that will have to wait for better days. I can't wait to get the garden going though. So satisfying.

Karen - looks like your OH has been looking after them well!

errrmmm no. He said he would like the credit, but he did zip on it. Must have been the careful planting.

Braved the cold and have cleaned out half of the dead plants from last year. Will do the rest tomorrow and then go and get seed compost. Need to be done if there is ever going to be any produce this year And as I said, there is something good for the soul out there, the wrinkles kind of get unwrinkled.

I have skipped sowing annuals and perennials, except for sweet peas since most is for sale. Hmm, think I just have to place an order with T&M cause sweet pea seeds you can only get boring ones...

Hi, does anyone know if I can stop my basil bolting to seed. I de head the flowers and then they are back the next few days.

Our weather is still mild for them to keep going.

Or does basil just have a time limit regardless of warm unseasonal weather and will bolt to seed when it wants to.

The leaf goes wrangly when the flower heads are there.

I am bit sick of basil pesto, any other ideas of what to do other than letting it go to seed.

The minute I won't have basil, I will pine for it, crazy I know. I tried to dry my growing oregano, but this is one herb that taste better bought and dried.

I dried it in the microwave it worked, but tasted like crunchy grass, nothing like the oregano from a shop.

I don't think you can stop the basil from flowering apart from de-heading, they are just doing what comes naturally, the plants are annuals so they germinate, flower and seed in one year.

Hi Zamale as Coffeetime said you can't stop basil from flowering. You can cut the flowers off for a while but eventually the plant reaches it's use by date. I've pulled most of mine out now, they were huge this year, almost small trees

Yes, basil. As soon as it's finished, you wish you still had it. Pesto is the only thing I know about, and I worry that I've made too much. And still the basil grows.

Wanna see my greenhouse, now that I have cleaned out the second part? Well, it does need to be cleaned with the high pressure thingee too, but that will have to wait a bit.

hey guys, quick noob gardener question (very new to the whole shebang!) I planted some potatoes the other day but not sure if i've done it right, basically the had long root like things coming out and i bunged them in the earth just as is, did i do it right?! They're in a massive plant pot too (if that's of any use to know) as the ground is basically stone!

That'll work. I usually plant potatoes 6" down (15cm) in lose/sandy soil, then continue to cover the leaves that might come up until after the frost-free date.