Autumnal Glory in our gardens!

8 Feb '06 3:41 pm

Great info Exclamation

I look forward to giving them a go sometime soon. I have a section of my garden that I could give a go at planting some, but the manure in the soil is still hot composting. I'm a bit scared that they might burn in these conditions and may have to wait for the horse * to decompose a bit. Will see how it goes.

I have a bunch of flower seeds sitting around here somewhere and I'm just about to plant them. Unfortunatally I have had lots of trouble finding perlite, which I like to cover all my small seeds with rather than soil, it floats above the seed rather than the seed floating above the soil so i get better germination and the little seed doesn't have so much wight to push through. Can't wait to get some flowers started, getting very jealous of all the colour in everyone's gardens on this site. I might have to skip on the perlite due to my impatience.

Check out my veg patch and tell me what you think. Would love any tips on how i can do a better job next year Very Happy

http://forums.mooseyscountrygarden.com/viewtopic.php?t=544

Laughing

I'm getting really off topic now HA HA I don't think I ever was on topic. Laughing

Great info and I can't wait to try some of the ideas in your post. Flowers are so beautiful!!! Very Happy

9 Feb '06 3:58 am

I do love perlite , too, especially for the indoor plants. But you can easily replace it by river sand, which is easily found in the various garden centers. By the way, you gave me great ideas on using seeds! Thank you so much!

And you are IN the topic, because the essence here is to be true and spontaneous, in order to help others and help yourself.

I have no idea of growing vegetables, my friend, but our Rebekah, whom you already discovered, is absolutely fantastic! Go to Rebekah's Vegetable Garden! You will not regret it!...

And thank you again for your kind words!

9 Feb '06 2:24 pm

Perlite rocks. If I had the money to spend on my plants I would add 10-20% perlite to any soil mix destined for a container plant (more often than not my budget only allows me to use found soil Mad

). It improves drainage dramatically and also keeps the moisture in the planter even Cool

. I’ve used up to 50% perlite for raising seeds in the past and had great success but that is probably overdoing it Twisted Evil

When I get my camera back I will start a new set of seeds and demonstrate my methods for germination, transplanting etc. Hopefully I can learn some new tricks and give others some ideas.

I think I have checked out Rebekah’s Vegetable Garden. I will have another look in case I am thinking of another thread. AGREED, great vegetables! I can’t imagine what it would be like looking after a garden of that size. A lot of hard work but rewarding and plenty of fun I’m sure Very Happy

I hope one day I will be privileged enough to have a garden of that size.

Exclamation

Talk to you later Exclamation

9 Feb '06 8:21 pm

Here I am again. You know, since me too don't easily find perlite for my indoor and container plants, I use these "magical" tiny terracora balls as replacement, and it works absolutely great! The river sand is only ideal for planting bulbs and seeds.

And I also use these tiny balls for the good drainage of ALL my plants , interior and garden plants. In case a plant needs an "airy" , light soil mixture, I dont only place them at the bottom ,but I mix them with the soil itself around the plant. Because, like perlite, they absorb and preserve the moisture, and this is so beneficial for the health and well being of all plants.

Cheers again!

11 Feb '06 7:06 pm

Nice tip Liza. I checked out river sand and those balls today at a gardening shop. I'll certainly test your ideas out and see how they perform for me next time I can afford supplies. I found a 100lt bag of perlite for $35ASD so that should do me for all my autumn planting. I ended up getting it at a Hydroponics shop, 7 garden centres later Mad

. Broke the budget a bit Rolling Eyes

but the plants will appreciate the money spent Very Happy

.

Any suggestions for flowers that i could plant in late summer/autumn from seed? I want to try as many different plants I can! The more attention the plants need the happier I am as I only have a small garden and find there is never enough to do and I love a challange. I hate suculents as I can't resist the temptation to water for that long.

Anyway, got to go to this party already.

Love and light,

Green Leaf Wink

11 Feb '06 10:04 pm

I'm so happy you found the precious perlite, in not bad a price, too!

I promise to write in detail about your seeds question.

But what I mostly loved in your letter, was the Angelic wish "Love and Light!"! I needed someone to wish me this! And here you are, from the other side of our Earth! I do love Life!

Love and Light to you, my good friend!

12 Feb '06 1:55 am

Here I am ,my friend, as promised.

All the plants you'll see now, are annuals and you can put their seeds directly in the ground. So! The seeds are planted during September (: beginning of the European Autumn). By the name of each plant I'll write down only when the plant is in bloom during the good season.

Unfortunatelly , almost all perennials are properly multiplied by dividing their clumps or by cuttings (: except perennial Delphiniums, Aquilegias/Colombines, Agapanthus,my beloved tall white daisies, and some others, which are also multiplied by seeds, even by self seeding--why don't you try them!).

However, many more annuals can be grown by seeds, using the Half Hardy Annual Technique, which means, you just put their seeds in pots in a green house, divide the seedlings, and plant them out in Spring.

And here we go:

Agrostemma(Corn Cakle), June-August, Anchusha,July-August, Calendula(Pot Marigold), June-October, Centaurea( Cornflower),June-September, Convolvulus (Dwarf Morning Glory) June-September, Annual Delphinium(Larkspur) June-August,Eschscholzia(Californian Poppy),June-September, Godetia,June -September, Gypsophila (Baby's Breath)June-September, Iberis( Candytuft) June-September, Lathyrus (Sweet Pea): seeds : each one separately in separate pots in October, overwinter protected, planted in the garden in March, Lavatera( Annual Mallow)July-September, Linnum(Flax), June-August, Nemophila( Baby Blue Eyes), June September, Nigelia(Love-in-a-mist),July-September, Annual Scabiosa (Sweet Scabious),July-October, Viscaria, June-August.

And something more, concerning your beloved Chrysanthemums : You buy them in pots in Autumn(outdoor varieties), like decorative plants. As soon as they fade , you place them in a fresh , protected place (:garage). You water them SPARINGLY. In Spring, you plant them out where you want, having cut back their faded "umbrella". Isn't it great news??

And that's it, my good friend, for now! See you!

13 Feb '06 3:49 am

Liza - Your garden is sssooooo beautiful! It makes me long for Spring even more! Crying or Very sad

I have a technique for using containers in the garden... but they have to stay in the garden. I cut the bottom completely out of the container and "plant" it a few inches into the ground. then fill it with a good mix of soil and organic matter (compost) and plant whatever into it. Its a great way to keep plants that demand good drainage... like Ranaculus... happy and healthy. Its also a great way to hide things like transformers, sprinkler heads, etc..

Okay... here's my contribution to fall color.... from last season, of course! Very Happy

13 Feb '06 5:39 am

Thank you, dear friend for your kind words! But ,remember! I've so many times admired your wonderful, beloved garden myself! Because , like I've already told you , your plants emmanate your love for them! And, I guess, mine ,too, respectively! Because true Love and Respect are vital in our interchange as living beings! And I mean all of us , Plant and Human kingdoms! Love is the best healer! It performs miracles!

Your container technique is ...intriguing! And your Rudbeckias are adorable! Are those blue beauties behind them Salvias?? Oh! How I love blue flowers!

13 Feb '06 6:41 am

Isn't it amazing what we can accomplish with a little love. And you are so right. Love creates miracles everywhere it lives.

Autumnal Glory in our gardens!

About perlite...

Wonderful news!

Autumnal seeding...

Thank you!