I am by no means an expert gardener but I hope that some of these hints and tips I have discovered over the years may be of interest to you. Some I have tried and tested and others are new ideas to me.
HELP FOR ROSES
Alliums and members of this family, which include onions, garlic and chives, are useful companion plants for roses as they help roses combat aphids, black spot and they can also enhance the strength of the roses' fragrance. They are also excellent at repelling weevil, borers and moles. I am trying this with garlic chives which are quite attractive plants and with the added bonus of being edible.
HOUSE PLANTS
Keep an eye on watering some plants like ferns need much more water than others. Stick your finger into the compost to check the moisture level.
Misting ferns once a week will keep them growing healthily. All plants will appreciate a feed in the growing season.
Succulents should be kept
above 15C and on the dry side in the winter.
PROTECT POTS
It is a good idea to line your pots with bubble wrap to prevent cracking in winter and stop water loss in summer, make sure water can still drain from the bottom of the pot. Also it stops plant roots sticking to the sides of the pot making it difficult to remove them when re-potting is required.
BANANA FERTILISER
How many times do you have a banana that is no longer worth eating? Why not make banana peel fertiliser. I applied this to my plants all last summer and they really seemed to thrive on it, especially the roses. Bananas contain a lot of potassium, magnesium and phosporous all of which are good for plants. It could not be easier to make. Chop them up and cover with water for 24 hours to a week. Cover the pot to avoid fruit fly in warmer weather. Strain off the liquid and dilute 1 part to 2 parts water. You can either compost the skins or leave them around plants, making sure they are not touching the stems.
SLUGS AND SNAILS
I have tried a number of ways to combat slugs and snails on vulnerable plants but garlic spray seems to work the best. Boil 2 separated bulbs of garlic in 2 liters of water until soft then crush. Sieve the liquid and dilute 2 tablespoons to 5 liters of water. Spray plants in the evening at least once a week and after rain. A bit smelly but it works.
EARLY START FOR SEEDS
I find a heated propagator an invaluable piece of kit. I start some of my seeds off really early and then they sit in the greenhouse which is
insulated with bubble wrap and heated with a paraffin heater. I also cover them with double thickness of fleece on frosty nights. The antirrhinums have already been pinched out and are looking really healthy. I like to get the flowers for my cutting garden going as soon as possible and then I can offer home grown flowers for bouquets which proved very popular last year. All grown without the use of chemicals and sprays to prolong their life as used by many florists. So many flowers are imported these days.
Comments