2013 gardening thread

[Virtuous]

I'm growing a goatee.

[kabeiros]

I'm growing a goatee.

Really? Have you ever milked one? I have and it was fun

[Virtuous]

Really? Have you ever milked one? I have and it was fun

Oh yes it's awesome, my goatee needs a lot of attention. Spoiled goatee it is.

[Aurora]

My tomato seedlings that I started later than usual.



Ornamental cherry tree





Lamprocapnos spectabilis; also known as old-fashioned bleeding-heart, Venus's car, Lady in a bath, Dutchman's trousers, or Lyre-flower






Fig Tree



Apple Tree

[Aurora]

Pear Blossoms

[Albion]

Lamprocapnos spectabilis; also known as old-fashioned bleeding-heart, Venus's car, Lady in a bath, Dutchman's trousers, or Lyre-flower

Seen some of these around, I almost bought some roots of them in winter, wish I had done now I've seen them in the flesh, they're very nice. Short season though, although will come back from roots each year. I'll plant it this winter.


Anyway, my tomato plants are doing very well. I started them some time in March I think (expecting a milder start to the year) and they've flowered and have the first fruits forming. They're growing in a window at my parent's place, south facing and 24c most of the day and have thrived in it (I start my indoor seedlings there). I'll be moving them to my place which is more varied, between a low of 10c and high of 18c, but typically around 15c and in a south facing window. I already have a chili plant (bought with chilis on a week or two ago) and that's doing okay, additional chilis are ripening so the light and heat levels must be good enough. I'll grow them inside all year if I can (if the plants don't get too big).

Here are some pictures of them, I'll take one of them as they are now in a day or so.

March:



April:



In the garden - cherry tree has bloomed, some look pollinated but bad weather is expected so I'm hoping the blossom isn't too damaged and that it passes before anything else blooms.
Apple and pear tree look set to bloom soon, but only a few and are still young so might abort the fruit (I was going to let them crop 1 or two fruits each). Plum tree burst into life but only had two flowers, that again is too young.

The gooseberry bushes that went in during winter are doing amazingly well, full of leaves and have new branches forming and I think I spotted some early signs of fruit formation, they're really great in a cool climate.
Raspberries plants also went in during winter and are doing good, planted close to gooseberries (space limited), but the idea is that gooseberries will be the understory and raspberries will grow above them.

Pea plants that were started indoors are doing nicely but now need support, new peas that were sowed in ground are sprouting. Radish cover crop that I sowed a few days ago is appearing too.
Strawberries are a mixed bag, supermarket plants look poor but are coming whilst garden centre ones a vigorous and doing well.

First grape vine is leafing out now, I need it to delay flowering until the bad weather passes though. Other grape vine from last year is budding whilst two new grape vines that I had in spring are growing away well. Bought another one this week as well, it looks to be a two or three year old plant - Lakemont, a hybrid seedless grape - should be fine against a wall, although not the best seedless variety for this climate (if we have a poor year and it struggles to ripen I'll have to stick a plastic greenhouse over it to finish it).

Hydrangeas are leafing out and doing nicely, I have an unknown species (looks like some sort of hydrangea) which I want to see flowering this year). Daffs and tulips look great, I have some purple tulips that have really impressed me despite me not really being a big fan of tulips (they can be a bit plastic and industrial looking).
Anemones have invaded part of the lawn and forget me nots have seeded in areas too.

I'll post pictures some time this week.

[Han Cholo]

I am growing cannabis, oranges and corn.

[Aurora]

Your tomato plants are doing well, Albion. Mine are ok, I should get them in the ground next week.

[Albion]

Your tomato plants are doing well, Albion. Mine are ok, I should get them in the ground next week.

Very nice. Mine are about two or three foot high now, I'll post a picture when I can.

[Aurora]

What kind of tomatoes are you growing, Albion?