The Potting shed

all a bit sluggish at this time of year clearly

 

But necessary to aerate the brain cells...

 

ah I feel some intelligence germinating in the new year

 

I don't know, I sow the seed of an idea, go away for a few days and return to find you've all come up as punner beans!

 

Been a glorious weekend here - yesterday the better day at 12º and full on sun.
Took the first opportunity this year to get outside and sorted out the greenhouse. Did not get arould ot it last year so the windows especially were green and grubby.(both literally).
I now have a sparklingly clean glass house (not green ). Soon will start sowing seeds. It is not heated so I will give it a little while yet.
We currently have snowdrops, crocuses, daffs tulips and some daisy thing in flower.
I love it when you start to see the back of winter.

 

I am amazed that i am harvesting significant numbers of ripening raspberries in mid November....

 

Amazing, we have been cutting roses and the trees are hanging on to their gloriously coloured leaves longer than usual it seems.

 

I still have some tomatoes that are turning from green to orange.

 

Long time since anyone contributed to this thread so here goes. Am I the only one having to protect young plants against frost in the middle of May ? When I first came to Germany they warned me about the Eisheiligen (Ice Saints) - in French 'les Saints de Glace' ie. the dangers of a sudden drop in temperatures in mid May. Initially I didn't listen to this advice and started planting in April - as you normally can in England, but soon learned better. Around the middle of May - from the 12th to the 15th there is often a cold period here, named after St. Mamertus, St. Pancras, St. Servatius and culminating in St. Sophia (often the coldest) only after this date can things like beans be put in the ground. Am I the only one that experiences this - does this phenomenon exist in France (or the UK) or is it just a mid European thing ? This doesn't happen with the same vengeance every year - but this year it has been very punctual.

 

Strangely enough my wife was discussing this with a French lady a week ago. 11th, 12th and 13th May can see frost in this area, but it is thought to be safe to plant things out from the 14th. When I first started out here I followed my English planting schedule which was later, and found out that I was way behind the locals which created problems with the hotter summer weather and having enough water. I followed what the keen gardeners were doing, and started earlier, but to cut down on the risks invested in cloches to protect my veggies, which also helps against birds and butterflies, if not voles.
I was also discussing planting at the right time with someone who buys a booklet about the right time to plant according to the phases of the moon. I tend to take that with a pinch of salt, but many locally swear by it. My peas are in flower, which I sowed six weeks ago under cloches, but some sow them in the autumn without coverage, and those will soon be ready to harvest.
I sometimes feel like a half-hearted gardener, but I always stay inside when it is cold or wet, whereas the true fanatics are out there in all weathers, boots and weatherproofs on. Still my rhubarb looks after itself to a large extent, and frost does not not stop me enjoying a good crumble.

 

I have a very intelligent Magnolia for some reason
Half the buds open March/April and the rest in May, means I don't have the full effect but flowers for approx three moths

 

Was a light morning frost here in the limousin heights last week.
I always tend to start seedlings etc in April and then have to nurture them in the greenhouse because I have got taken in by the early spring warmth.
When my parents lived in Spain, the foreigners would be in summer clothes in Mid April whereas the local population would be in pullovers and coats until the end of May.

Incidentally I saw a clip on gardeners World a few years back where they planted some veg as normal and some by the moon.. And the lunar vegetables were much better...

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As a General rule, Here in Dunblane I wont plant out anything tender until June 1, I have put a few tender potted things out while l am away this week as no frost expected.

 

Well you are rather North!
But clearly sensible.. Year on year I always get fooled by a couple of warm April days..

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Yes and nearly 500ft up.

 

Just planted out a lot of young plants here in Limousin. And we are about 450 metres here.. Summer warmth in the air masked by a chilling high wind

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In Leeds ours does not start until May


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Just been to our local rural plant shop, if you can call it that.. And they had David Austin Roses....

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As luck would have it ground frost here this morning as I left for the airport.... You never know

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.. Any views on slug deterrents?

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