Hello everyone, welcome to my Six on Saturday. I’m not going to mention weather this week, save to say it’s been cold and very windy. Swiftly moving on, first we have:-
1. Seedlings
Last week I showed the tiny pepper seedlings. They are now growing well and in another few days will be ready to be potted up. It’s at this stage waves of guilt hit me. Do I pot up all the seedlings? Do I really need 24 pepper plants? Of course I can give away what I don’t want but everyone I know is growing peppers! I hate pulling out and discarding the weaker seedlings, it’s as though I am culling them because they are not as strong as the others.
Living in a flat, I don’t have a greenhouse but large white plastic boxes make for excellent substitutes on my patio. This deep one is especially good, because the sweet peas are romping along and getting tall, despite being pinched out. I also have some tomato plants, they are tiny but look healthy enough and should be quite hardy because they are not being cosseted on a warm windowsill.
2. Hyacinth ‘Woodstock’
I’m not sure why, but I usually grow white or pink hyacinths, always promising myself the fabulous purple of ‘Woodstock’. This year I actually did buy the bulbs and the flower and color is everything it promises to be.
3. Dahlias
It may still be a little early but I couldn’t hold back any more and I’ve started off my dahlias. They are under cover on the allotment and I will check them regularly. The raised bed cloche consists of a mesh cover and topped with a pvc cover to protect and keep warm. As I mentioned earlier I don’t have the luxury of a greenhouse on the allotment, however this set up should be fine.
4. Rhubarb
I have not grown rhubarb before; this plant is inherited. It looks pretty healthy but I’ve noticed this week something is eating the leaves. Googling health of plants can be almost as dangerous as googling your own health. I’ve read the plant could have a disease called curculio and to remove damaged leaves but I’ve also read that it’s just slugs and as we don’t eat the leaves it’s ok. HELP!!
5. Emsworth Floral Boats
Emsworth has a large sailing fraternity and boasts two sailing clubs. It is no surprise therefore that throughout the village there are rowing boats planted up with seasonal plants. This one on the Mill Pond is looking very pretty, packed with wallflowers, pansies, bulbs and heuchera.
6. Finally – Crocuses
I showed this container in last week’s Six on Saturday. The crocuses had just come out and because I had forgotten I’d planted them, I also mistakenly called them Snow Bunting. Now they are fully open they are Joan of Arc. I think they are also called Jeanne d’Arc, there can’t be two identical crocuses with such similar names but I’m sure someone will put me right. These are planted with deep red wine coloured cyclamens and a skimmia, I love the contrast of colours.
Thank you The Propagator Blog for hosting this great weekly meme. Please peep over the fence and take a look at his Six on Saturday and the very many contributors to Six on Saturday. If you haven’t taken part, give it a go, here is the Participant’s Guide.
