Well the wind was drying out everything really nicely, then came over really black and we had 15 mins of torrential rain, sleet and snow…..now everything is soaked, the sun is back out….you have to smile!

Just come back from the allotments….the wind is bitter, even rolled my sleeves down!

Westi, what sort of pipe lagging are you using, as I can’t think of any that you could turn into Gargoyle?….

Dear Primrose, I meant to say, at one of the big gardens I work at, the Verbena self sows itself every year….so yes, it should be fine to sow it straight into the borders!

A lot of the trade decorators use that barn-paint, Peter, so must be good stuff.
Sounds as if you have been busy again….

It always used to be the second week in April for sowing Winter PSB outside but, with the weather being all over the place and since it has been so mild, I think there is a very good chance they will germinate…..you should know in a couple of weeks, so there will still be time to re-sow, if there is...

Same here Peter, and more rain on it’s way for us!

Are they a Winter variety, or a Summer variety, Grove?

Quite a few things popping through in the glasshouse now, so rather exciting!
Although the weekend is looking rather chilly, with a few frosts predicted….

Well here is hoping…..

I’m always worried about starting the Spring Bits and Bobs too early, because if the weather turns really bad, I get the blame…..

Morning Geoff, I grow them from seeds most years, (give a lot to the fete and other charity plant stalls), as they are cheap and easy to do! They germinate really easily and grow away quickly….maybe 8 to 10 weeks, from sowing to flowering! They do need potting up quite quickly, if you want large pla...

A poly tunnel, or large greenhouse, certainly does extend the growing season…..and even on very wet days, it is somewhere to go and just potter about!

I have never sown them that early, Myrkk, but i’m wondering if it’s low light levels that are making them on the tall side…..hopefully now the days are getting longer, they will fatten up a little.

Evening Wurzel and a warm welcome to the forum…. A bit of a tricky question…..Bay trees can be pruned back hard but, in an ideal world this should be done over several seasons! It surprising how much you can take off in one go, without leaving the Bay tree looking to bare….so I think I would try thi...

Another very wet day here, going to sow some extra veg in the greenhouse, to give them a head start, as it will be at least another 2 weeks, before the allotments are in a workable condition! I bet the farmers are getting really concerned now, as there was a lot of the Autumn sown crops they were un...