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#1
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July gardens
So, who is doing what in their gardens?
I'm puddling around when I should be working on my fruit cage. I've tidied up one border and pruned the roses in it which is a bit too early for my area, but I couldn't stand the look of it any longer. I've started weeding the huge rose bed as it'd disappeared under weeds and a groundcover and the roses were in danger of disappearing too. I've bought some onion seeds as I havent' been able to buy the onion sets that I used to be able to get after a very long trip to one nursery that actually bothered to get sets and I've bought a dozen raspbery plants of 3 different varieties - have bunged them into polystyrene boxes till the fruit cage is ready - prolly still be there come mid summer at the current rate of progress on that - too bloody cold to do anything much except for a few hours around midday. So, who's hibernating and who's active? |
#2
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July gardens
"FarmI" ask@itshall be given wrote in message ... So, who is doing what in their gardens? I'm puddling around when I should be working on my fruit cage. I've tidied up one border and pruned the roses in it which is a bit too early for my area, but I couldn't stand the look of it any longer. I've started weeding the huge rose bed as it'd disappeared under weeds and a groundcover and the roses were in danger of disappearing too. I've bought some onion seeds as I havent' been able to buy the onion sets that I used to be able to get after a very long trip to one nursery that actually bothered to get sets and I've bought a dozen raspbery plants of 3 different varieties - have bunged them into polystyrene boxes till the fruit cage is ready - prolly still be there come mid summer at the current rate of progress on that - too bloody cold to do anything much except for a few hours around midday. So, who's hibernating and who's active? Managed to put some nice red silverbeet in the front flower beds, they have replaced the chillies & jalapenos. 1/2 dozen caulies in where the toms & capsicums summered. Other than that not much. Lunch time so I will give them a dose of tank water. |
#3
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July gardens
FarmI wrote:
So, who is doing what in their gardens? I'm puddling around when I should be working on my fruit cage. I've tidied up one border and pruned the roses in it which is a bit too early for my area, but I couldn't stand the look of it any longer. I've started weeding the huge rose bed as it'd disappeared under weeds and a groundcover and the roses were in danger of disappearing too. I've bought some onion seeds as I havent' been able to buy the onion sets that I used to be able to get after a very long trip to one nursery that actually bothered to get sets and I've bought a dozen raspbery plants of 3 different varieties - have bunged them into polystyrene boxes till the fruit cage is ready - prolly still be there come mid summer at the current rate of progress on that - too bloody cold to do anything much except for a few hours around midday. So, who's hibernating and who's active? I haven't been doing much. Her Indoors has been ill and between looking after her and the boggy conditions over the last few months it has been very hard. But both are now on the mend so I have been getting the weeds off the brassicas etc. slowly. We have joined WWOOF and had a young Swedish couple to stay in April who were very pleasant and hard working, I will now try to get some more WWOOFers to help with the stoop work. The pasture looks great for July and the horses are all fat and sassy. The chestnut arab pulled the hook out of the gate of the electric fence the other day and let them all into the orchard. Serves me right I should turn it on more often. This is better than two years ago when on the frostiest morning of the winter I got a phone call from a neighbour at about 6AM which began "did you know all your horses are running up and down the road ...." I haven't touched our roses yet, I usually leave it until August. David |
#4
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July gardens
"David Hare-Scott" wrote in message
FarmI wrote: So, who is doing what in their gardens? I haven't been doing much. Her Indoors has been ill Will send good thoughts for her speedy recovery - no fun having to nurse and do all chores by oneself. and between looking after her and the boggy conditions over the last few months it has been very hard. But both are now on the mend so I have been getting the weeds off the brassicas etc. slowly. "boggy"???? You lucky sod! We've had less than half our post climate change/drought rainfall. We have joined WWOOF and had a young Swedish couple to stay in April who were very pleasant and hard working, I will now try to get some more WWOOFers to help with the stoop work. The pasture looks great for July and the horses are all fat and sassy. The chestnut arab pulled the hook out of the gate of the electric fence the other day and let them all into the orchard. Serves me right I should turn it on more often. This is better than two years ago when on the frostiest morning of the winter I got a phone call from a neighbour at about 6AM which began "did you know all your horses are running up and down the road ...." Typical of an Arab - too smart by halves. I haven't touched our roses yet, I usually leave it until August. I do too but in this case, I just couldnt' stand the look of the bed for one moment longer and I couldn't get into it without savaging the roses. Which reminds me, I have 2 x "Black Boy" climbing roses that I must plant in the next few days. |
#5
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July gardens
"SG1" wrote in message
Managed to put some nice red silverbeet in the front flower beds, they have replaced the chillies & jalapenos. 1/2 dozen caulies in where the toms & capsicums summered. Other than that not much. Lunch time so I will give them a dose of tank water. Seems like we are all not doing a great deal. About now I start to long for increasing day length and read more seed catalogues and garden books as I wait....... I have my Green Harvest cattle dog on the table waiting for me to finish here so I'll read that when I drink my coffee. |
#6
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July gardens
"FarmI" ask@itshall be given wrote in message ... "SG1" wrote in message Managed to put some nice red silverbeet in the front flower beds, they have replaced the chillies & jalapenos. 1/2 dozen caulies in where the toms & capsicums summered. Other than that not much. Lunch time so I will give them a dose of tank water. Seems like we are all not doing a great deal. About now I start to long for increasing day length and read more seed catalogues and garden books as I wait....... I have my Green Harvest cattle dog on the table waiting for me to finish here so I'll read that when I drink my coffee. I have the Grey cattle dog & her mate waiting at the back dood. |
#7
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July gardens
FarmI wrote:
"David Hare-Scott" wrote in message FarmI wrote: So, who is doing what in their gardens? I haven't been doing much. Her Indoors has been ill Will send good thoughts for her speedy recovery - no fun having to nurse and do all chores by oneself. and between looking after her and the boggy conditions over the last few months it has been very hard. But both are now on the mend so I have been getting the weeds off the brassicas etc. slowly. "boggy"???? You lucky sod! We've had less than half our post climate change/drought rainfall. We have joined WWOOF and had a young Swedish couple to stay in April who were very pleasant and hard working, I will now try to get some more WWOOFers to help with the stoop work. The pasture looks great for July and the horses are all fat and sassy. The chestnut arab pulled the hook out of the gate of the electric fence the other day and let them all into the orchard. Serves me right I should turn it on more often. This is better than two years ago when on the frostiest morning of the winter I got a phone call from a neighbour at about 6AM which began "did you know all your horses are running up and down the road ...." Typical of an Arab - too smart by halves. I haven't touched our roses yet, I usually leave it until August. I do too but in this case, I just couldnt' stand the look of the bed for one moment longer and I couldn't get into it without savaging the roses. Which reminds me, I have 2 x "Black Boy" climbing roses that I must plant in the next few days. News of other peoples' roses is exciting! We planted fourteen (!) this year and look forward to a wholly rosy spring! Might have to wait a year for that, but it's worth it, IMHO. Speaking of climbing roses, I bought a Queen Elizabeth about three years ago and especially chose a bush plant, since I had nowhere I really wanted to put a climber. As luck would have it, the plant I bought was mis-labelled and turned out to be an extremely vigorous climber. We've had bushels of flowers from this bush, which started flowering in its first year and doesn't seem to have stopped yet! Hooray! People driving by pull up to look at our lovely pink rose rambling across the front verandah (miners cottage). As if that weren't enough, my daughter asked for a Mr Lincoln and the same thing happened. The plant turned out to be a mis-labelled climber. At the moment we have no flowers, but the long canes are behaving in exactly the same way as the first rose. We look forward to Great Things from Mr Lincoln! Other than that (this pair is at the front of the house), our raised bed contains fourteen favourites, including Double Delight, Woburn Abbey, Lady X, Pascali etc etc. I've warned my husband that if the bed is a roaring success, we'll be needing another one very soon. Varieties I'm looking out for include St Patrick (yellow), Catherine McCauley (pale pink), John F. Kennedy (white) and City of Newcastle (red). Before I shuddup on the subject of roses, it occurred to me to ask whether others have had much success with miniature varieties? I've been growing roses since I was about twelve years old ('way back in the dark ages), but I've never yet been able to keep a miniature alive past a single season. They just seem to shrivel up and kark it, dying back and back until there's nothing left. ??? -- Trish Brown {|:-} Newcastle, NSW, Australia |
#8
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July gardens
"FarmI" ask@itshall be given wrote in message ... So, who is doing what in their gardens? I'm puddling around when I should be working on my fruit cage. I've tidied up one border and pruned the roses in it which is a bit too early for my area, but I couldn't stand the look of it any longer. I've started weeding the huge rose bed as it'd disappeared under weeds and a groundcover and the roses were in danger of disappearing too. I've bought some onion seeds as I havent' been able to buy the onion sets that I used to be able to get after a very long trip to one nursery that actually bothered to get sets and I've bought a dozen raspbery plants of 3 different varieties - have bunged them into polystyrene boxes till the fruit cage is ready - prolly still be there come mid summer at the current rate of progress on that - too bloody cold to do anything much except for a few hours around midday. So, who's hibernating and who's active? Here in metro west oz have some sugar snap peas at 3ft high. I am taking off the tendrils and tieing them up with twine. Seem they travel up the bamboo stakes quicker and gives the better support in the wind. I am expecting the first flowers in a fortnight. Planted some more peas 9 days ago and they are up. Planted some carrot seeds and they are up. Planted out some seedlings of Tatsoi (Chinese whatever choy), English Spinach, silverbeet, Red Swiss Chard, turnips and coriander. All look good except the coriander but perhaps early days. The Yellow mustard I planted months back has supplied us with lots of nice feeds but alas it is wanting to flower. Which will make it bitter. I'll end up with a good lot of greens for the compost. Waiting for the warmer weather and have started to buy some seeds. Got some Kale which i could probably plant now. There is also Okra (never tried it b4), radish and I got some white sage. Cheers Richard |
#9
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July gardens
"Trish Brown" wrote in message
... Before I shuddup on the subject of roses, it occurred to me to ask whether others have had much success with miniature varieties? I've been growing roses since I was about twelve years old ('way back in the dark ages), but I've never yet been able to keep a miniature alive past a single season. They just seem to shrivel up and kark it, dying back and back until there's nothing left. ??? i think the miniatures are more prone to fungal disease & are generally a bit more delicate; what you describe could be fungal. i don't think i've ever seen one that's not covered in black spot :-) but i've most certainly seen them alive & kicking well after their first year (albeit covered in black spot like i said). when i was in charge of someone else's, i kept them pruned in a really open shape. never did quite cure them of their woes, though. concerning roses in general, i'm not a fan of them it must be said, but we have an old-fashioned-looking thornless climbing (rambling??) one with wee butter yellow flowers in clumps - i find it really beautiful! and because it's been forced to look after itself for quite some time now, it's very healthy. to celebrate this fact, i might give it a prune this winter (i let it go a bit berserk last year with all those shoots that come off the sides). kylie |
#10
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July gardens
"FarmI" ask@itshall be given wrote in message
... So, who is doing what in their gardens? I'm puddling around when I should be working on my fruit cage. I've tidied up one border and pruned the roses in it which is a bit too early for my area, but I couldn't stand the look of it any longer. I've started weeding the huge rose bed as it'd disappeared under weeds and a groundcover and the roses were in danger of disappearing too. I've bought some onion seeds as I havent' been able to buy the onion sets that I used to be able to get after a very long trip to one nursery that actually bothered to get sets and I've bought a dozen raspbery plants of 3 different varieties - have bunged them into polystyrene boxes till the fruit cage is ready - prolly still be there come mid summer at the current rate of progress on that - too bloody cold to do anything much except for a few hours around midday. So, who's hibernating and who's active? i'm hibernating. actually, i've made a concious decision to ignore the garden as much as i can for winter, because otherwise it overwhelms me with things-that-have-to-be-done. :-) it's just too cold atm for me to even think about planting anything but i might put in some rocket & stuff in a while if i feel like it. i'm keeping up with the weeding to facilitate the chooks getting their greens but that's about all i'm doing. in autumn, i had a bucket full of coriander seed that i couldn't seem to organise planting anywhere, so i threw it around in a few garden beds & now we have more coriander than i think i have ever seen! there are lots of veg kicking along nicely (things that like winter, obviously) but for the most part i'm ignoring everything unless eating it - there's enough rain to water them & i mulched for winter long ago of course. anyway, i'm finding it a convenient time to be run off my feet with other things beside the garden. i find winter extraordinarily difficult tbh. it's just so cold here & when there's been 3 days without sunlight i start to lose my mind. kylie |
#11
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July gardens
On Mon, 06 Jul 2009 10:35:42 +1000, FarmI wrote:
So, who is doing what in their gardens? 1) using a hand saw on a very long pole to cut dead branches off a dead wattle as they are needed for kindling for the slow combustion. 2) Arranged with the neighbour to start on the WA Red flowering gum of ours that is growing over his pool. It split and went Y shaped and is far too big for location. So it will be replaced by a Grey Myrtle. 3) Finally cleaned(shift crap around) al the bricks, pavers and blocks so I can start shovelling out the pit for the big plastic water pit. 4) Found out I have until september to get the 2nd bath tub out of the ground and mounted in time for the water chestnuts. 5) Doing excellent in spinach growing with borage, comfrey and mint in what was a awfully bare, hard garden. Simply piled on mountains of rabbit droppings and left it for a year to mulch down. 6) Chief gardner has planted a pile of Kale surrounded by peas on a short trellis(aka nusiance arch of slad mesh that cluttered up the place. 7) Broadbeans are going great although I am wondering just how we are going to dig in the green mulch that they were planted into. 8) Hacked off the last of the old wood on the last rose out in the front garden. That completes the five year plant to completely renew its wood. 9) Still to bolt together the new garden steps. these were made from old "railway sleepers" so that people(CG mainly) does not step on tin garden edge and bring it all down. So, who's hibernating and who's active? Mostly hibernating as it gets cold and windy here at times. The active part is turning over a five feet mound of soil that was a 2mx2m raised garden bed and was topped by a couple of cubic metres from compost bins. I work the edge which mixes the compost bit with the old hard garden soil from the bed. It all gets thrown onto a 1" sloping mesh that sieves out the chunky bits that went into the compost bins. Eventualy I'll produce enough soil to cover a 2m x 6m area and will be able to pull up all the side walls for the old unsuccessful raised garden bed idea. -- Great advances in Debian Linux; post a bug report and get spam in three days. -- Great advances in Debian Linux; post a bug report and get spam in three days. |
#12
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July gardens
"Trish Brown" wrote in message
FarmI wrote: Which reminds me, I have 2 x "Black Boy" climbing roses that I must plant in the next few days. News of other peoples' roses is exciting! :-)) Don't get me started 'cos I could go in the Boring Olympics representing Aus when it comes to roses. We planted fourteen (!) this year and look forward to a wholly rosy spring! Might have to wait a year for that, but it's worth it, IMHO. Speaking of climbing roses, I bought a Queen Elizabeth about three years ago and especially chose a bush plant, since I had nowhere I really wanted to put a climber. As luck would have it, the plant I bought was mis-labelled and turned out to be an extremely vigorous climber. We've had bushels of flowers from this bush, which started flowering in its first year and doesn't seem to have stopped yet! Hooray! People driving by pull up to look at our lovely pink rose rambling across the front verandah (miners cottage). As if that weren't enough, my daughter asked for a Mr Lincoln and the same thing happened. The plant turned out to be a mis-labelled climber. At the moment we have no flowers, but the long canes are behaving in exactly the same way as the first rose. We look forward to Great Things from Mr Lincoln! I love Mr Lincoln, and Papa Meilland. The perfume of both is just drool making. Other than that (this pair is at the front of the house), our raised bed contains fourteen favourites, including Double Delight, Woburn Abbey, Lady X, Pascali etc etc. I've warned my husband that if the bed is a roaring success, we'll be needing another one very soon. Varieties I'm looking out for include St Patrick (yellow), Catherine McCauley (pale pink), John F. Kennedy (white) and City of Newcastle (red). I haven't seen it for years but one I've alwyas loved is "Eiffel Tower" - plae pink, long stemmed and keeps that pointy rose bud look to it. should see if I can find it, I guess - not that I need any more - I stoped counting when I hit 112 roses in the garden. Before I shuddup on the subject of roses, it occurred to me to ask whether others have had much success with miniature varieties? I've been growing roses since I was about twelve years old ('way back in the dark ages), but I've never yet been able to keep a miniature alive past a single season. They just seem to shrivel up and kark it, dying back and back until there's nothing left. Never had a problem with them unless I plant them in pots. In the ground they do well; in a pot they sulk and then die. You probably arent' ignoring them enough. that's what I do with mine and just take to them with the hedge shears now and then. |
#13
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July gardens
"Loosecanon" wrote in message
Waiting for the warmer weather and have started to buy some seeds. Got some Kale which i could probably plant now. There is also Okra (never tried it b4), radish and I got some white sage. You have been busy! But tell me, what are you planning to do with the OKra? I too have been eyeing it off in the seed cattle dogs, but the only thing I know about it is that its supposed to mulicaginous and that it is an ingredient in gumbo. Since I'm not overly mad on snot textured things and I've never tried gumbo, I'm curious about your plans. 'Spose I can always give it some garden room and work from there as I'm sure there'll be a Yank somewhere on usenet who'd trip over themselves to tell me what to do with it (foodwise as opposed to jamming it wise). |
#14
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July gardens
"0tterbot" wrote in message
i think the miniatures are more prone to fungal disease & are generally a bit more delicate; what you describe could be fungal. i don't think i've ever seen one that's not covered in black spot :-) I just raced outside to see if mine had any black spot and not a leaf to be seen, but I'm pretty sure mine haven't been afflicted with BS. When summer comes, come over to lunch one day and we'll check them out. concerning roses in general, i'm not a fan of them it must be said, but we have an old-fashioned-looking thornless climbing (rambling??) one with wee butter yellow flowers in clumps - i find it really beautiful! and because it's been forced to look after itself for quite some time now, it's very healthy. to celebrate this fact, i might give it a prune this winter (i let it go a bit berserk last year with all those shoots that come off the sides). Sounds like a Banksia rose??? I've recently started buying Alister Clark roses - he was an Australian rose breeder and found they are brilliant for Australian conditions. The "Black Boy"s I mentioned previously are his and I also have a "Lorraine Lee" climber over the chook pen fence and it is superb - just keep sflowering and hides a rather ghastly fence very well. I did no ground prep at all for it and its in what was formerly paddock land and hard and hungry soil at that. It's thrived. I'm not especially fond of many roses but I love the old ones and I love the smell and form of some of the Hybrid Teas and i think if I could only ever have one rose, it might have to be Cecile Brunner - such a dear little rose but as tough as old boots. |
#15
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July gardens
"0tterbot" wrote in message
i'm hibernating. actually, i've made a concious decision to ignore the garden as much as i can for winter, because otherwise it overwhelms me with things-that-have-to-be-done. :-) it's just too cold atm for me to even think about planting anything but i might put in some rocket & stuff in a while if i feel like it. i'm keeping up with the weeding to facilitate the chooks getting their greens but that's about all i'm doing. in autumn, i had a bucket full of coriander seed that i couldn't seem to organise planting anywhere, so i threw it around in a few garden beds & now we have more coriander than i think i have ever seen! Ditto! Mine self seeded all over the end of one bed and into the path at the end of last summer and its growing beatifully ATM. there are lots of veg kicking along nicely (things that like winter, obviously) but for the most part i'm ignoring everything unless eating it - there's enough rain to water them & i mulched for winter long ago of course. anyway, i'm finding it a convenient time to be run off my feet with other things beside the garden. i find winter extraordinarily difficult tbh. it's just so cold here & when there's been 3 days without sunlight i start to lose my mind. Yep. All that sodding cloud and not a drop of real rain - **** ghastly mizzle at the best! Today I weeded the asparagus bed and half of one of the veg beds. tomorrow I'll spread horse poop and leaves on the weeded veg bed and give the asparagus a dose of dolomite. |
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