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My intro and questions!
Hello to all!
I'm new to this site and am looking forward to learning all that I can from you, as well as giving opinions, if I feel qualified to do so! ;o) I am an American, in America and will be moving to England sometime this year... I love to garden - flowers, herbs and lately, veggies! My hubby is from there (Lincoln)... and about all the gardening he had done was growing bamboo! Now, I need to know how things work over there... Are there any sites I can go to to learn how the zones work there? What can be grown there? Are your zones numbered the same as ours? What kind of growing seasons do you have? Yadda, yadda... Also, I've been reading the thread about greenhouses... Are these houses just to start seeds and transfer out or are the seasons so short that they might as well be left to do their thing in a greenhouse? Can these greenhouses be used for a winter garden? I don't want to offend anyone, so please let me know if there is something I had said that was out of line... I know all to well that there is a slight difference between my version of English and yours. ;o) Thank you! I'd appreciate all your help! Erin |
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Phil L wrote:
wrote: Hello to all! I'm new to this site and am looking forward to learning all that I can from you, as well as giving opinions, if I feel qualified to do so! ;o) I am an American, in America and will be moving to England sometime this year... I love to garden - flowers, herbs and lately, veggies! [...] Zones? Welcome aboard, Missus C! (We're not formal round he can I call you C?) No, as this is a group of islands in the North Atlantic, the climates are a bit too unpredictable for us to use anything precise like the USDA Zone system. There are climate maps, but people don't use them for ordinary gardening. It's roughly what you'd expect, though: wetter in the west, drier in the east, cooler in the north, warmer in the south, with few real extremes. Most temperate crops grow in most places, you'll find. We love answering questions in uk.rec.gardening, but you'll want to have a good book, too. Reader's Digest put out an excellent _Encyclopedia of Gardening_ for our conditions, and it's one of the best bargains you'll ever get (I'm on my second copy, having worn out the first one!). You can trust the notes on the backs of seed packets, too. It's fairly cold in Britain, we need the greenhouses for most plants native to warmer countries like tomatoes, grapes, melons, cucumbers etc...these don't grow well outdoors over here, most seeds are started off in greenhouses too, to give them an earlier start. [...] Not wanting to argue with Phil, but even most keen gardeners here don't own greenhouses: seeds which need starting off under cover usually give birth on the windowsills of the house! He's right about these crops which want extra warmth, except that there are special outdoor varieties: tomatoes in particular do fine if sheltered by a south-facing wall. Look forward to hearing from you again. -- Mike. |
Are your zones numbered the same as ours?
Most of the UK falls into three hardiness Zones: 7, 8 & 9. Zone 7 is the coldest and if you live in Scotland, you will know what it feels like. In Winter the average temperature can go down to between -12.3C and -17.7C (10 and 0F) which is cold Zone 8 covers most of England apart from a small bit in the Midlands and a strip around the coast. Here the Winter temperature can drop to -6.7C and -12.2C Zone 9 includes a strip all round the West, South and East Coast where the average Winter temperatures are between -1.2C and -6.6C Zone 10, yes I know its not listed above, but Zone 10 is the very tip of Cornwall and the Scilly Isles which can expect to stay free of frost with temperatures of +4.4C and -1.1C If you are joining your husband in Lincoln, you can expect Zone 8, BUT, English weather can be snow in one place and lovely warm sunshine not too far away. 20 - 30 miles Hope that helps a little Mike In the Isle of Wight which is just off the bottom near Portsmouth and Southampton |
Mike In the Isle of Wight which is just off the bottom near Portsmouth and Southampton Zone 9 |
In article , Mike wrote:
Are your zones numbered the same as ours? Most of the UK falls into three hardiness Zones: 7, 8 & 9. No. Three USDA hardiness zones, and don't even dream of assuming that a plant's USDA hardiness rating will indicate that it will survive in the same zone here. I have sent a copy of the weather FAQ, where I explain why. Regards, Nick Maclaren. |
Two important zones in the UK are divided by the Tees Exe line. North of
this line the soil in usually acid and south it is alkaline, So if you want to grow blueberries live north of the line. wrote in message oups.com... Hello to all! I'm new to this site and am looking forward to learning all that I can from you, as well as giving opinions, if I feel qualified to do so! ;o) I am an American, in America and will be moving to England sometime this year... I love to garden - flowers, herbs and lately, veggies! My hubby is from there (Lincoln)... and about all the gardening he had done was growing bamboo! Now, I need to know how things work over there... Are there any sites I can go to to learn how the zones work there? What can be grown there? Are your zones numbered the same as ours? What kind of growing seasons do you have? Yadda, yadda... Also, I've been reading the thread about greenhouses... Are these houses just to start seeds and transfer out or are the seasons so short that they might as well be left to do their thing in a greenhouse? Can these greenhouses be used for a winter garden? I don't want to offend anyone, so please let me know if there is something I had said that was out of line... I know all to well that there is a slight difference between my version of English and yours. ;o) Thank you! I'd appreciate all your help! Erin |
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I am an American, in America and will be moving to England sometime
this year... Erin Erin, if you have the facilities, watch the Great British Weather forecasts on Sky. It will give you an idea of the rapidly changing 'patterns' of weather we have. It will also give you an insight of the various temperature range and variation over the country. Mike |
Apart from being an American, you haven't offended anyone.
Here in Buxton the growing season is very short and there are lots of things that you can't grow. I've searched for info on growing veg in my region but to no avail. I suspect that as the UK is relativly tiny compared to the US it's not worth the effort to 'zone'. I know that just a few miles away from here the season is already three to four weeks ahead of us. So you'll have to resort to asking the local gardeners in your area. Sorry for the jibe. Just get rid of dubbya. Nicholas -- Nicholas Buttle - Quality Joinery and Cabinet Making http://www.nbjoinery.net -- wrote in message oups.com... Hello to all! I'm new to this site and am looking forward to learning all that I can from you, as well as giving opinions, if I feel qualified to do so! ;o) I am an American, in America and will be moving to England sometime this year... I love to garden - flowers, herbs and lately, veggies! My hubby is from there (Lincoln)... and about all the gardening he had done was growing bamboo! Now, I need to know how things work over there... Are there any sites I can go to to learn how the zones work there? What can be grown there? Are your zones numbered the same as ours? What kind of growing seasons do you have? Yadda, yadda... Also, I've been reading the thread about greenhouses... Are these houses just to start seeds and transfer out or are the seasons so short that they might as well be left to do their thing in a greenhouse? Can these greenhouses be used for a winter garden? I don't want to offend anyone, so please let me know if there is something I had said that was out of line... I know all to well that there is a slight difference between my version of English and yours. ;o) Thank you! I'd appreciate all your help! Erin |
"Nicholas" wrote in message ... Apart from being an American, you haven't offended anyone. Here in Buxton the growing season is very short and there are lots of things that you can't grow. I've searched for info on growing veg in my region but to no avail. I suspect that as the UK is relativly tiny compared to the US it's not worth the effort to 'zone'. I know that just a few miles away from here the season is already three to four weeks ahead of us. Ah, that would be drizzly Disley, where my sister lives. Steve |
Erin I am somewhat amazed that none of the 'experts' on the newsgroup have
advised you to talk to your neighbours when you get here, especially those you see 'in their gardens'. Most gardeners love to talk gardens, flowers, vegetables, greenshouses etc etc and if someone is in a garden within walking distance of where you settle, 'they' will first hand knowledge of the growing conditions, temperature ranges, soil type, suppliers, who not to buy plants and seeds from and who to go to. One of the things keen gardeners love to do, is share plants and stock. We have new neighbours moved in next door. They are 'gardening nuts' and the exchange of plants has to be seen to be believed and as the first thing they did was to erect a large heated greenhouse, we, well my wife Joan, spends many an hour chatting over the fence and nearly every time this happens, there is a plant exchange :-)) Get to know your neighbours :-)) Mike -- H.M.S.Collingwood Ass. Llandudno 20 - 23 May Trip to Portmeirion National Service (RAF) Ass. Cosford 24 - 27 June Spitfire Fly Past H.M.S.Impregnable Ass. Sussex 1 - 4 July Visit to Int. Fest of the Sea RAF Regiment Assoc. Scarborough 2 - 5 Sept. Visit to Eden Camp |
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In article ,
Nicholas wrote: Here in Buxton the growing season is very short and there are lots of things that you can't grow. I've searched for info on growing veg in my region but to no avail. I suspect that as the UK is relativly tiny compared to the US it's not worth the effort to 'zone'. I know that just a few miles away from here the season is already three to four weeks ahead of us. So you'll have to resort to asking the local gardeners in your area. While it's relatively tiny, there is relatively more variation. Still less than in the USA, of course. A more important point is that soil and aspect are at least as important as location - the former could be described by zones, but many zones would be a hundred yards across! And I am prepared to bet that, even in Buxton, a sheltered, south-facing hillside with no frost-trap would have a longer growing season than my garden in Cambridge. Regards, Nick Maclaren. |
wrote in message oups.com... Hello to all! I'm new to this site and am looking forward to learning all that I can from you, as well as giving opinions, if I feel qualified to do so! ;o) I am an American, in America and will be moving to England sometime this year... I love to garden - flowers, herbs and lately, veggies! My hubby is from there (Lincoln)... and about all the gardening he had done was growing bamboo! Now, I need to know how things work over there... Are there any sites I can go to to learn how the zones work there? What can be grown there? Are your zones numbered the same as ours? What kind of growing seasons do you have? Yadda, yadda... Also, I've been reading the thread about greenhouses... Are these houses just to start seeds and transfer out or are the seasons so short that they might as well be left to do their thing in a greenhouse? Can these greenhouses be used for a winter garden? I don't want to offend anyone, so please let me know if there is something I had said that was out of line... I know all to well that there is a slight difference between my version of English and yours. ;o) Thank you! I'd appreciate all your help! Erin Hi Erin, Welcome to URG. We don't really have zones in Europe like you do in the US, but the following sites translates US zones into European ones: http://www2.dicom.se/fuchsias/eurozoner.html - might be useful :~) The US is so huge that I guess you can grow more or less anything in various parts of it. Where were you living? Greenhouses are used for starting seeds, growing crops (veggies & fruit) or housing cacti :~)) Depends what you want to do with one (pics of mine on my site at www.ljconline.nl) Using one as a wintergarden might be a bit chilly unless you don't find paying for heating it....... No offending things in your post, just don't mention racoons in the corn............... :~)) Jenny |
"Kay" wrote in message ... In article .com, writes Can these greenhouses be used for a winter garden? Yes, provided they are heated, though most people would only do this with a conservatory attached to the house rather than a greenhouse of utilitarian appearance away from the house. Kay Don't you just love it when someone posts from the web, then never seems to come back..................I hope Erin gets to read all this good advice "~) Jenny |
Phil,
Living in a massive place like America I suppose you assume Britain is similarly huge?.... Oh no.. I know better! I went on holiday over Christmas there a few years ago... LOVED it! I thought "How cool is it to watch the sun rise and set in the sea in the same day!" hee!hee! ;o) Erin |
"JennyC" wrote in message ... wrote in message oups.com... Hello to all! I'm new to this site ......... snipped I'd appreciate all your help! Erin Hi Erin, Found you a couple more useful sites: USAUK gardening ! http://www.gardeningcd.com/Adapt/adaptPg21.htm Plant hardiness in the UK: http://www.jungleseeds.co.uk/Hardiness.htm I know lots of people here don't believe in the theory that US zones can be 'translated' to British one's, but lots of sites list stuff to add to the discussion : http://www.rootrainers.co.uk/guide/g...ason/hardiness and http://www.personal.u-net.com/~treetops/coldhrdy.html And if global warming (or dimming) takes of we might all be growing totally different stuff in a few years time :~) warming : http://www.worldviewofglobalwarming....s/england.html dimming : http://www.globalissues.org/EnvIssue...baldimming.asp HTH Jenny Jenny |
In article , "JennyC" writes: | | Found you a couple more useful sites: | | USAUK gardening ! | http://www.gardeningcd.com/Adapt/adaptPg21.htm | | Plant hardiness in the UK: http://www.jungleseeds.co.uk/Hardiness.htm | | I know lots of people here don't believe in the theory that US zones can be | 'translated' to British one's, but lots of sites list stuff to add to the | discussion : http://www.rootrainers.co.uk/guide/g...ason/hardiness and | http://www.personal.u-net.com/~treetops/coldhrdy.html An interesting collection of sites! Regards, Nick Maclaren. |
Jenny,
Don't you just love it when someone posts from the web, then never seems to come back..................I hope Erin gets to read all this good advice "~) I'm here, I'm here!!! I've been reading, just slow to say thanx! hee!hee! ;o) Thank you..Thank you!!! The US is so huge that I guess you can grow more or less anything in various parts of it. Where were you living? Currently, I am in Massachusetts - The North Atlantic... grew up in California! Yes, we can grow just about anything... sounds like I'm really going to need to read up! Using one as a wintergarden might be a bit chilly unless you don't find paying for heating it....... What about using concrete as a heatsink to harness the warmth from the sun and heat a greenhouse overnight? Insulated blinds to also help retain heat? Just something my hubby and I have thought of... Erin |
Mike,
Welcome aboard, Missus C! (We're not formal round he can I call you C?) Erin works.. ha!ha! ;oP It's roughly what you'd expect, though: wetter in the west, drier in the east, cooler in the north, warmer in the south, with few real extremes. I hadn't a clue what to expect...I've only seen England in the winter and your winters are far better than here in Massachusetts! I've made a note to myself to get a copy of that gardening book when I get there! Thank you! Looking forward to learning more! Erin |
Janet,
Do you know yet where you will settle? My hubby said we'd be in Lincoln for a bit.... eventually he'd like to up in north-west Scotland - not alot of people about he says... Any truth to that? hee!hee! measuring temperature in Fahrenheit, to measuring it in Centigrade, Centigrade... now there is something I'll need to figure out beside the money! hee!hee! ;o) Thank you! Erin |
Mike,
(10 and 0F) which is cold Well, that would feel divinely warm compared to the winter we've had... with wind chill of -20F... BRRR! I'm gonna feel spoiled! hee!hee! Erin |
Nick,
Got that! Thank you!! Loads of info!!! ;o) Erin |
Jenny,
OOOO! What a collection of sites! Thank you! Off to read! Erin |
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"Nick Maclaren" wrote in message ... In article , "JennyC" writes: | | Found you a couple more useful sites: | | USAUK gardening ! | http://www.gardeningcd.com/Adapt/adaptPg21.htm | | Plant hardiness in the UK: http://www.jungleseeds.co.uk/Hardiness.htm | | I know lots of people here don't believe in the theory that US zones can be | 'translated' to British one's, but lots of sites list stuff to add to the | discussion : http://www.rootrainers.co.uk/guide/g...ason/hardiness and | http://www.personal.u-net.com/~treetops/coldhrdy.html An interesting collection of sites! Regards, Nick Maclaren. Yes :~))) Saw an interesting prog on the TV awhile back about global warming and dimming keeping each other in balance..... Jenny |
In article , Janet Baraclough
writes The message from "JennyC" contains these words: Found you a couple more useful sites: USAUK gardening ! http://www.gardeningcd.com/Adapt/adaptPg21.htm Useful??????????????????????????? .Here's a taster of what that American site says about gardening in the UK:, "they don't have to contend with deer, rabbits, squirrels, moles, (snip) "In the 1960's, Miximitosis broke out in England. Rabbits are the victims. To kill the disease, the countryside was sprayed liberally with DDT, which not only killed off practically all the wild rabbit population, but also much of the wildlife and wildflowers. (snip) In the UK (again generalizing), winter temperatures rarely drop below 32ºF, summer temperatures average 75ºF " :-O See what you mean! Must admit, I find it irritating having to walk through all those 'DDT dips' while out hiking. -- Kay "Do not insult the crocodile until you have crossed the river" |
In article , JennyC
writes Saw an interesting prog on the TV awhile back about global warming and dimming keeping each other in balance..... IIRC, it suggested that the extra sunlight coming through the holes in the ozone layer, was being diffused by the pollution layer beneath. As global warming and levels of skin cancer are still rising, it would seem that we need even more pollution to protect us! :-( -- Alan & Joan Gould - North Lincs. |
Janet Baraclough wrote:
The message from Kay contains these words: In article , Janet Baraclough writes The message from "JennyC" contains these words: Found you a couple more useful sites: USAUK gardening ! http://www.gardeningcd.com/Adapt/adaptPg21.htm Useful??????????????????????????? .Here's a taster of what that American site says about gardening in the UK:, "they don't have to contend with deer, rabbits, squirrels, moles, (snip) "In the 1960's, Miximitosis broke out in England. Rabbits are the victims. To kill the disease, the countryside was sprayed liberally with DDT, which not only killed off practically all the wild rabbit population, but also much of the wildlife and wildflowers. (snip) In the UK (again generalizing), winter temperatures rarely drop below 32ºF, summer temperatures average 75ºF " :-O See what you mean! Must admit, I find it irritating having to walk through all those 'DDT dips' while out hiking. Are you sure you're still alive, Kay? ;-) Now I know the truth, I'm worried our legs will drop off soon. They get some bizarre ideas over there. I once had to field a letter-to-the-editor from a reader in British Columbia who said "mad cow disease" served the British right for their obstinate adherence to outdated traditional farming methods! I think I was fairly gentle -- you don't want to alienate readers, however far-flung -- in my suggestion that there might not have been anything too desperately traditional about feeding cows on minced sheep's heads. -- Mike. |
"Janet Baraclough" wrote in message ... The message from "JennyC" contains these words: Found you a couple more useful sites: USAUK gardening ! http://www.gardeningcd.com/Adapt/adaptPg21.htm Useful??????????????????????????? Perhpas 'interesting' would have been a better word :~)) Jenny .Here's a taster of what that American site says about gardening in the UK:, "they don't have to contend with deer, rabbits, squirrels, moles, (snip) "In the 1960's, Miximitosis broke out in England. Rabbits are the victims. To kill the disease, the countryside was sprayed liberally with DDT, which not only killed off practically all the wild rabbit population, but also much of the wildlife and wildflowers. (snip) In the UK (again generalizing), winter temperatures rarely drop below 32ºF, summer temperatures average 75ºF " :-O Janet. |
In article ,
Janet Baraclough wrote: The message from "Mike Lyle" contains these words: They get some bizarre ideas over there. That could possibly be related to duff guff handed out by Brits in uk newsgroups. Such as (British weather) "can be anything from arctic to tropical, and our gardens can be anything from desert to swamp". Sigh, yes :-( Hyperbole is one thing, but that is round the bend. As someone who has a clue what the real tropics, real swamps and real deserts are like, the claims that the USA has them make me laugh (all right, they have real swamps). But claims that the UK has them make me despair, because they are so far beyond the conception of people who know only the UK that it is impossible to explain. All right, reedbeds and estuarine marshes are swamps, of a sort, but we have tiny areas, effectively nobody lives in them, and we have no examples of most of the wooded types of swampland. We DO get up to arctic conditions, but nobody gardens there. Some people garden in (warm winter) sub-arctic conditions, with immense difficulty, so I will pass the "arctic" claim as mere hyperbole. Regards, Nick Maclaren. |
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