What I’m Doing This Week: I’m starting to get a bit ahead of myself I think and move some things around to prepare for future plans. The Erysimum ‘Bowles Mauve’ came out last week, as it had got too long and woody and the gaping hole its left in the rockery has been filled with three more of the same. The rest of the rockery will become a full display of Gladioli after putting in a cheeky order with Farmer Gracy this week. I’ve also moved a couple of Rudbeckia into the rockery too, which should make for a beautiful purple, white, yellow and orange display in summer…should do anyway, that’s the plan!
Getting that massive Erysimum out has meant I’ve broken yet another fork! I think that’s two or three I’ve broken in the last twelve months now – can anyone recommend a good tool company that sells ones that won’t break??
Moving the rudbeckia means that I’ve got the wide open space ready for the Dahlias later in the season. Never in a million years did I think I’d be back here preparing the ground for Dahlias…just goes to show that in gardening, never say never! The grand scheme is to be sunflowers against the fence, with dahlias in front, perhaps with cosmos and nigella mixed between, but we’ll see!
Scabious seeds are so distinctive and they always remind me of tiny little sharks teeth. Erigeron on the other hand couldn’t be more different, such tiny little things and one sneeze or breath in the wrong direction could spell disaster!
What I’m Sowing/Planting This Week: There have been lots of loose ends to tie up this week, including sowing some more seeds and potting things on. Sowing-wise, the last of the Scabious and Erigeron have gone in this week for starting indoors. Once they’re big enough, I’ll prick them out and into the zippy greenhouse they go!
Speaking of the zippy, I got myself a proper thermometer thing this week that tells you the maximum temperature and the minimum temperature. The maximum this week has been 34.9 Celsius and the minimum at a frosty -2.2!
Dont forget that some plants will still need that frost protection, even in a greenhouse – so bring out those horticultural fleece blankets and wrap them up at night!
In other news…? The podcast was back last week with the first guest Claus Dalby, the response has been phenomenal, so thank you from the bottom of my heart for that.
The second episode is now live with the wonderful Jason Williams, otherwise known as Cloud Gardener UK online. A fantastic chat about how he grows on his balcony in Manchester…really worth a listen!
Hopefully you’ve made it this far in the update this week. I’ll be back next week with more about my garden.
View From The Potting Bench 