In The Greenhouse

See what’s happening in my greenhouse.

Sweet Peas

Posted on November 27, 2011 | Leave a comment

October sown Sweet Peas

The early October sowing of sweet peas is coming along nicely.  I’ve followed Sarah Ravens advice and sown 2 plants to a pot so that they develop a really strong root system.  I’ve decided to experiment with pinching out some plants and leaving others. Sweet pea specialist Roger Parsons says side shoots will develop naturally and pinching out is unnecessary.  On the other hand the plants that Sarah Raven sends out are the bushiest sweet pea plants I’ve ever seen and the sweet peas in her garden always look magnificent.

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Cyclamen Seedlings

Posted on November 21, 2011 | Leave a comment

Rather than leave a clump of cyclamen seedlings at the mercy of the builders boots, I transplanted them into gritty soil-based compost in cells.  They are on the east side of the greenhouse where I can keep an eye on them and once they are large enough I will plant them with the hellebores underneath the tulip tree.  I  have found upturned wire hanging baskets a brilliant way to protect cyclamen plants until they are well-established.

Cyclamen seedlings

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Sowing Home-Saved Seed

Posted on November 19, 2011 | Leave a comment

Hardy annual seedlings

It doesn’t seem like a year since my last seed harvesting. I’ve saved quite a lot of seed this year too and in late September I did an autumn sowing of Sweet Rocket, Calendula, Cornflower and Ammi Majus, all of which are growing nicely on the shelf in the greenhouse. If it stays relatively warm and they keep on growing I will pot them on, but they seem happy where they are right now.

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It’s Tomato Time

Posted on August 27, 2011 | 1 Comment

Brandywine & Sungold

The tomatoes in the greenhouse are providing us with pickings every other day.  Just about enough to keep pace with my current lunchtime obsession – walnut sourdough bread rubbed with garlic and piled high with sliced Brandywine tomatoes, pepper and salt and basil and a drizzle of olive oil. I’ve eaten the same lunch for 10 days now and it tastes as good as on the first day!

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Brandywine Tomatoes

Posted on June 24, 2011 | 2 Comments
 

The tomatoes have reached the greenhouse roof

The tomatoes have all set four trusses and I have pinched out the growing tips as they are bumping their heads against the roof.  I had a bit of an accident with one of the trusses when I was tying them in and the stem bent rather alarmingly.  I rushed indoors, cut the leg off an old pair of tights and tied the truss back in place with a small cane as a splint.  Four days on it is absolutely fine – because tomatoes graft easily, this type of repair is generally successful provided you act quickly.

Brandywine tomatoes

 

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