The gardening thread

[Artaxerxes]

i was thinkig of growing some grapes
but has dawned on me that the squirrels wont let me have nice things

Never seen squirrels munching on grapes and the guy at the allotment grows a fair few of them.

i got grapes in the conservatory that the squirrels don't bother with. Loads and loads of grapes

each 1cm across

This is the rub, most of the grapes I've seen grown in the UK (including Mums when she had an actual garden) were bloody tiny and occasionally bitter as fuck.

With the long summers of late climate change UK things might have improved...

 

[ska invita]

google says squirrels love grapes - i expect its true
but maybe there is hope?
there are vinyards in kent so suggests its possible?

 

[TopCat]

Fucking squirrels are plotting something here.

 

[BoatieBird]

google says squirrels love grapes - i expect its true
but maybe there is hope?
there are vinyards in kent so suggests its possible?

We have a vineyard in our village in Northants which produces award winning sparkling wine, so it's definitely possible.
They grow Seyval Blanc and Pinot Noir grapes

 

[campanula]

Boskoop Glory is an old, but reliable grape for the UK. Entirely possible to grow great grapes in the UK...as long as some judicial thinning (grape scissors) is applied...which is why most varieties have huge bunches on minuscule grapes.

 

[two sheds]

. huge bunches on minuscule grapes.

 

[campanula]

of, OF (I swear I edited this to correct myself).

 

[two sheds]

yes sorry but it's still a because that's what I get. I shall get out there and thin this year though.

 

[iona]

My (shit, inherited, apparently unkillable) allotment grapevines have an appointment with a mattock tomorrow morning

 

[AnnO'Neemus]

My (shit, inherited, apparently unkillable) allotment grapevines have an appointment with a mattock tomorrow morning

I saw a mattock last week for the first time ever and learned it was a mattock. * smug face *

 

[iona]

I saw a mattock last week for the first time ever and learned it was a mattock. * smug face *

I grew up on solid sussex weald clay, I can't remember a time I didn't know what a mattock was

 

[TopCat]

June is a magical month for gardeners. Enjoy it | Allan Jenkins

It sees flowers and food go full steam ahead. Be sure to take some time to soak it in, says Allan Jenkins

www.theguardian.com

 

[klang]

google says squirrels love grapes - i expect its true
but maybe there is hope?
there are vinyards in kent so suggests its possible?

the grapes in my allotment are plenty and sweet. The squirrels don't seem to bother with them.

 

[Artaxerxes]

If we're talking stolen fruit let me assure you cherries and blueberries take that spot...

 

[TopCat]

If we're talking stolen fruit let me assure you cherries and blueberries take that spot...

I used to have a garden with a massive cherry tree. I wondered why all the local Tom cats fought over the garden. Then the cherries were ripe and the tree was a mass of birds and a massive Tom cat attacking them.

I barely got a bowl of cherries each year.

 

[brogdale]

Quick Q; I've put a sprouting head of Garlic in a small glass of water to encourage rooting & when planting out do I separate cloves or bung the whole in the soil?
Tnx experts.

 

[Callie]

I'd plant the cloves individually but I'm not sure if that's right. Helpful!

 

[TopCat]

Quick Q; I've put a sprouting head of Garlic in a small glass of water to encourage rooting & when planting out do I separate bulbs or bung the whole in the soil?
Tnx experts.

Separate.

 

[brogdale]

I'd plant the cloves individually but I'm not sure if that's right. Helpful!

Helpful

& now I know to correct bulb to clove!

 

[TopCat]

I have a lot of these spiders lurking on and around my raised beds. They don’t seem to have webs but do this leap and pounce and bite the head move towards bugs.

They are my new best friends.

 

[iona]

Quick Q; I've put a sprouting head of Garlic in a small glass of water to encourage rooting & when planting out do I separate cloves or bung the whole in the soil?
Tnx experts.

Separate but it's the wrong time of year to be planting garlic, it needs cold to split into a head of multiple cloves. If you're just growing it for the scapes it probably doesn't matter whether you split it or not.

 

[heinous seamus]

If we're talking stolen fruit let me assure you cherries and blueberries take that spot...

There's a big cherry tree in my allotment. I haven't had one off it yet!

 

[BristolEcho]

Funny cherry trees should come up. I have been thinking about getting one in a pot. Anyone tried this before? Not to worried if we don't get the fruit off of it.

 

[BristolEcho]

I think we have black fungus on our roses?



Any particular products people would recommend?

I've been picking aphids off them for the last week too but that's pretty normal.

 

[Little Piranha]

Separate but it's the wrong time of year to be planting garlic, it needs cold to split into a head of multiple cloves. If you're just growing it for the scapes it probably doesn't matter whether you split it or not.

So can you plant it for scapes now? I was too late to plant hard neck so only have soft, but I really like the scapes.

 

[iona]

So can you plant it for scapes now? I was too late to plant hard neck so only have soft, but I really like the scapes.

If you're being lazy with words and not distinguishing between green leafy bits and proper scapes then yes, definitely

 

[BoatieBird]

Funny cherry trees should come up. I have been thinking about getting one in a pot. Anyone tried this before? Not to worried if we don't get the fruit off of it.

I had a lovely cherry tree in a pot which was just getting to a really productive state but it was killed by last year's late, harsh frost in May.
So definitely doable

 

[Little Piranha]

If you're being lazy with words and not distinguishing between green leafy bits and proper scapes then yes, definitely

Guess I'll have to wait till next year then...

 

[Little Piranha]

My first sweet pea flower came out today

 

[Artaxerxes]

Anyone recommended me where to pick up a hori hori from?