Time For Opperation Spring Clean

Well Yesterday after breakfast and the giving and receiving of cards and presents for valentines day in the morning I went down to the allotment and did a bit of clearing up in readiness for a bonfire during the week.
because all the wood was wet through I wasn't going to light it till it dried out a little but with a little persuading from Noi my neighbour on the allotments we had a go at lighting it. Well it took about an hour and a half to get it going properly but we got a good pile of old and rotten wood burnt so all is well that ends well.
Today is a different day its been damp, overcast and cold all day and wouldn't you know  it its just started to rain quite heavy.
I have meant to get back to doing a regular blog again, well things have moved on and I feel I can give it the time that it deserves to compose my posts so I hope you forgive me for my absence I'll try and do better in the future.

Trying To Keep Up

All that propagating I've done is now coming home to roost and as usual I'm desperately trying to find room to fit it all in the greenhouse now that there potted on into larger pots, most could go outside now if it weren't for the night time temperatures.
This happens to me every year and every year I say I'll plan my propagating so that I've got enough to fill the greenhouse and no more. But when I do that, and I have done it in the past then usually some disaster hits and I end up with a shortage of certain plants and have to go out and buy them to make up. So all in all I prefer to have it this way, and it is only for a couple of weeks after all.
Besides that the front garden makeover is proceeding a pace for the most part as one set of spring planting is over it is being removed to make way for the new. But here too I'm only just keeping up.
Another load of compost was just acquired to help in converting an area of heavy clay near the house and straight away it was planted up with 28 pelargoniums rescued from the pub the compost was acquired from they have survived through the winter outside and for now I can only offer outside accommodation though if they survive I will use them for cutting material.
Well that's all I have time for at the moment I'll add more later when I get a moment or three.

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GLADIOLI FOR FREE

The weather is great at the moment last night the outside temperature was 8C and the day time temperature been up to 21C. In the greenhouse its been upto 38C even with the vents open its been in the 30s but It cant last the weather person's say the wind is to come from the north next week straight from the north pole "They did'nt say the last bit but that's what it looked like on the charts" so I cant plant out just yet and there isnt much room in the green house so it's back to filling up the window sills again which I had only just cleared.
Well here I am again with another post on money saved in the garden this week.
After looking at the collection of overgrown Gladioli and Lillies I had in containers at the back of the house from last years display I decided to divide them for the new season.
I will add that they haven't been divided for two years now so I hope yours won't be as overcrowded.The stems are quite delicate at this time of the year so take great care when dividing. Split the root ball into manageable size pieces with your hands.
There are usually two or three large corms all fixed together tear these apart "it often takes a bit of force". When you have parted then you will have lots of immature corms some with shoots on and some without and one with a rubbery texture dispose of the rubbery one and set out the large corms for this seasons display.


With the immature corms if you like me want to propagate as many plants as possible "I cant help it" then find an out of the way place or a place were you can use the foliage to benefit and set them out probably 3" to 4" apart and the small corms which you cleaned from the base of the large corms dig a shallow scrape about 2" deep and scater then around then cover them and leave till they put out new growth then set them out with the others.
Well there is lots to do here and I must get on. So till my next post make the most of this weather and get some free new plants made. Don't yer just love it.

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A CHANCE TO UPDATE

Well its been eventful if a little expensive since my last post the washing machine has decided to stop spinning clothes so I decided to replace it instead of repairing it, its pretty much had its day.
I was doing a bit of a make over in the front garden in preparation for the summer bedding when I came across NTL's fiber optic cable, "Oh dear".
But apart from that the cuttings that I showed you are doing well the petunias have managed a 89% take which I consider very good though I always aim for that 100%.
The pelargoniums are giving 100% though which is better than the busy Lizzy seeds that were sown in the middle of February from seed I collected last autumn their probably down to 250 of the 320 that were pricked out, but hey there all for free.
Night time temperatures have been down to 2C quite a few times but everything has survived so far.
Well that's all for now this is just a quick update to let you know how thing are going here and assure you all that I haven't given up on you.
Till my next post enjoy your gardening.

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PELARGONIUM CUTTINGS

First of all if there are any flowers take them off by the base of the stem then prepare them as shown in my herbaceous cuttings post the principles for all of this type of cuttings are the same but here I have something that works well with this plant. When you have taken all the available cuttings of the sort that I have shown you up to now. Because regeneration is in comparison to petunias quite slow.
Try this cut down the long stems of course leaving enough for the plant to regenerate into a bushy plant once more and lay them in a seed tray, cover them over with compost, water and stand on a window sill and at every node you will be rewarded with a new plant.
This is a terrific way of getting those extra cuttings because there never seems to be enough cuttings on this plant.
When they are rooted carefully cut the stem between the plants and transplant into pots to grow on ready for planting out into the garden, planter or basket.
Who knows you may even suprise some seasoned gardeners with this one. Just keep an eye on them and success is almost guaranteed.
Till my next post enjoy your gardening.

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SAVE MONEY WITH PETUNIA CUTTINGS

Not many people seem to think of cuttings when it comes to summer bedding plants apart from possibly geraniums and fuchsias but here is another to add to your list PETUNIA, its reasonably easy to keep through the winter with only the same attention you would give to your Geranium plants (a sunny windowsill or a frost-free greenhouse and water as and when needed).The picture shows one of three of mine, that I have kept through the winter in the greenhouse then brought in after Christmas was over for it to put on growth for cuttings.
On March the 10th I took 50 cuttings from these three plants and put them in a modular tray giving room for 60 young plants, fifty was all I could get at the first picking over so I filled the tray out with geraniums, but today the 18th and I have a host of almost ready shoots and by the 21st I now have enough for another full tray.
Last year these plants were bought for 50 pence each so the fifty that are set out for rooting could be worth £25 at last years prices and the sixty I have now done could be worth £30 and things are looking good for another tray in about another 10 days, so you can see the saving, and if I have too many then I can sell or swap them and that helps to pay for more plants.Taking cuttings is very easy and success is largely dependant on experience so I’ll talk you through my method.Other People have there own method but this works for me.Select the cuttings about 2 inch long and cut just above the next Leaf Joint below the one you want. Trim the cutting just below the leaf joint you have chosen with a slight angle. Strip of the leaves from the base to the last two below the growing point, if these are large leaves then with a sharp knife or scissors cut these in half. This is to reduce transpiration.I always use a pencil or dibber to make a hole first. Insert your cutting and use the pencil/dibber around the cutting to at least the depth you did for your cutting ensuring close contact between cutting and compost.I personally don’t use rooting compound on this type of cutting. It roots easily as it is just cover and keep warm on a sunny windowsill. For pictorial step by step guide see my Herbaceous Cuttings post. Give it a try and good luck.

For you Chris this is what I meant by a modular tray these in turn fit into a regular tray for stability when moving them around. Sorry it took so long to post this but I have been shoveling horse poo on the allotment in readiness for planting out and haven't been keeping an eye on this end of things try putting a plastic bag over your pot containing your cutting for the first week or so till it can stand alone, Sorry for my tardiness in replying.

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HERBACEOUS CUTTINGS

This is the time of the year I really look forward to. Even as the snow is coming down here in Huddersfield I have the start of a great summer display sitting on the windowsill and in my greenhouse all raring to go. I'm just in the middle of taking cutting from stock plants that I have kept over winter just for this purpose. I know that there are plenty of gardening programs on the television And there will be those who look at these posts and say "well this is only basic stuff", and it is but for those who I am aiming at its the basics they need to gain the experience to become confident gardeners. I try to include little bits that arn't in most books that mean you can get more cutting than you would if you just follow what's in most books.

First trim just below the leaf joint required	Remove the lower leaves trimming back to the stem to avoid infection.	If the remaining main leaves are large they can be cut to half size to reduce transpiration (wilt)

These cuttings are easy to take at any time of the year and should be done as
soon after collecting as possible.
A little rooting compound can be used to aid rooting but most of this type of
cutting I find don't really need the extra assistance.
When you have finished cover with a clear cover to keep a moist micro climate
around your cuttings if you use a plastic bag then use small pieces of cane or
wire to hold the condensed water away from the leaves. If your doing small
numbers in pots try securing your plastic bag with an elastic band.
And don't be tempted to see if their rooted yet for at least four to
six weeks or until they have put on a good amount of growth being impatient is
the cause of most losses suffered by novice propagators. Have a go and you will
get better, experience is the key. Good Luck and don't give up if you don't succeed
first time.

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