3: Gardening Diaries ...

[Perki]

Nice plant and variety BigC but it not worth that price for that size of plant. I planted 2 lupins about 3/4 week ago out of 3 litre pots, one has really got going at least tripled in size and the other doing well but the slugs/snails have a go at that one.

This picture is from 2016 of Lupin My Castle, it was lovely but after a move it was near the same. I moved it to the back of the border becaue the slugs destroyed it, it looked a right mess near the front of the border.

Lupin at the front grown from seed

 

[alp]

The ones that I saw in Homebase were even more packed than these

They were long and dramatic. But let's put it this way, if you collect seeds, the quality of the seeds would deteriorate. Have to admit they looked very good, but I wouldn't pay that money for them. Lupins do attract a lot of snails and slugs. This year, the hot weather has brought out a lot of SS and my delphinium never get a chance to have a flower stem. Very nice border, @Perki !

 

[Logan]

Morning all

 

[Logan]

It's when lupins have just started to grow that's when i had trouble with ss. If you collect seeds they ll revert back to the original colour of blue and they'll be taller.

 

[alp]

@BigC Hope you can catch up with your sleep a bit.

Good morning to all - a dull and cool day. Just what the doctor has prescribed. Watered part of the garden for 45 minutes and just have had some water to drink myself. It will be mostly cloudy today so it just helps me a bit. The bonfire went off like a damp squid, so have to do it again. The garden is sooooo dry. The acanthus really likes the heat and sun and have flowered handsomely.

 

[BigC]

Good Morning pitchforks
My my my what a beautiful day...Everything got a great dowsing last night again...and before work this morning I will spray the roses, fruit bushes and the Buddleia which some unbeknown pest has taken a shine to its leaves in previous season so I'm locked and loaded this time around.
Yes such a beautiful border @Perki...scalloped lawn edge with great depth and great soil quality by the looks of things..sadly I cannot afford myself such luxury and like everyone we have to go with what we have in front of us..for better for worse unless we undertake a huge landscaping job....but my soil could be improved I guess.....
I love Lupins and whilst, yes, they are an SS magnet..I will, by hook or by crook introduce them into the garden..I have 14 mixed seedlings on the go at the minute on their second set of leaves awaiting transplantation into larger pots this weekend, the ash method I have been using is serving me well up until this point...I have also made up a spray bottle of crushed slug pellets which turns the water blue as I thought this may also be toxic to the slithering marauding hoards. Every little helps as they say...and if my Hostas are anything to go by this season (and there's no greater SS attractor than a nice green Hosta mass)..this 2 pronged attack is working, not 100% I might add but to a level I'm comfortable with.

If you collect seeds they ll revert back to the original colour of blue and they'll be taller.

Is this down to soil type @Logan...I've heard this colouration trait happen with Hydrangea

 

[alp]

BigC If you watched the last episode of GW, a man used crushed garlic and water to spray on his hostas - NOT a hole in sight, and it's an organic method.

You're lucky to have rain at night and sunshine during the day. I am happy with a dull day so that I don't have to be drenched in sweat whilst out working 21C is a bit too high for me. It's going to be humid again in the afternoon. Need to buy grass seeds. Your lawn is good enough. @Perki is horticultural trained so he has a lovely shaped garden. I am not and so every hole is a square or rectangle.

 

[BigC]

@BigC Hope you can catch up with your sleep a bit.

Hahaha seems to be getting a little better @alp...not 100% yet the voices in my head are still too loud...I need some apple crates as a fence features to which I can place some plant pots up off the floor...Lavender seems to be the order of the day as more was purchased by the good lady yesterday...I love the smell so calming it would send you to sleep

 

[BigC]

BigC If you watched the last episode of GW, a man used crushed garlic and water to spray on his hostas - NOT a hole in sight, and it's an organic method.

Thanks @alp...its good to employ a greater arsenal..must try that

 

[Logan]

Is this down to soil type @Logan...I've heard this colouration trait happen with Hydrangea

No it's the breeding that they do to get the colours and to be shorter.

Especially the Russell lupin, because that was the man who first bred them.

It rained here last night, won't need to do any watering, might still do the blueberries because they're close to the house.

 

[alp]

You lot are so lucky! I won't have rain for a week at least!

Put some lavender in your pillow or do yoga with your great lady! Failing that, do some energetic exercise ..

 

[alp]

@BigC Next time you can't sleep, post something in my new thread

https://www.gardening-forums.com/threads/any-sweet-surprises-this-year.14412/

I am sure you have some new surprises. Had to come in to duck the heat. Was out after I posted last and trimmed neighbour's hedge facing my garden. Planted a helenium piquesqueak, a hibiscus. Will go out when the sun is out.

Don't have many flowers - another cistus

Like the papery texture of the petals

Alstroemerias doing very well

White ballerina lavender

Bottlebrush

I never allowed the acanthus to flower as the spikes are very vicious, but this year, I think I should do so. They are so pretty or actually, handsome!

This little thug needs to be contained in hot Essex. They lash onto the soil and there is no way you can get rid of it.

 

[alp]

For those who love Japanese artefacts or gardens, please watch The Beechgrove Garden

 

[Perki]

Thanks for the kind comments on the garden

I haven't been to collage / trained horticulturist I have considered it though, I've just grown up around gardening. My dad is a paid gardener and so was my grandad, I am more interested in plants than my dad & grandad.

If your struggling to grow Lupins BigC try Baptisia australis which is blue but they is also yellow / white / chocolate brown / purple blue colour, the flowers look similar to lupin but aren't attacked by slugs. It the same with delphiniums, Aconitums are a good alternative.

 

[alp]

Perki - You're so lucky! My dad was a farmer and we grew nothing but vegs mainly watercress!