• About,  Life,  life,  Me,  Planting

    Mid March update

    So mid March – how’s it all going out there? I am trying not to get overwhelmed by what I have sown already and where I am going to put them all… I have decided (after much deliberation… and discussion and stress ) that I am going to grow most of my seeds babies up into pots – we decided that this actually is going to work much better for me this year giving me versatility. I will put some in the garden but just be putting them in rather than stressing about where they can go for cutting. Quick update (22/03/21) as to what I might autumn sow this…

  • Planting

    Lavender

    I haven’t sown these I would like to – my plan was to go to a lavender farm and see what they were growing and selling and hopefully get some great tips… and pick up some actual plants… GUESS what… COVID so last year 2020 I picked up a few potted ones from my local garden nursery. I follow @anya_thegarden_fairy (go follow her! 🙂 ) on Instagram she does great tutorials and one was propagating lavender – so I am going follow her advise and try this this year – Spring is the best / recommended for cuttings – not in the shade – sunny areas – they are happy…

  • Bouquets,  Flowers,  Seeds

    Phlox ’21

    I have never grown phlox before – I mean there is plenty of seeds I have never sown or plants I have grown until this year 2020 /2021 but a lot I have bought as flowers part of bouquet but not sure about these babies – BUT in following so many flower people over on insta I thought meh why not lets give them ago… I ordered mine from Chiltern Seeds I chose 2 packets both mix packets to give myself a taste of what I might like for the future. So I have Birds of a Feather – they should be Creme Brulee Cherry Caramel Isabellina And Phlox of…

  • About,  Bulbs,  Corms,  life,  Me,  Planting,  Seeds

    March Hello

    So, sow, sew… All together now – March is here – I always find the end the month and beginning of a new one a little strange and especially during this year of COVID (yes I know we all want out of this state we are in but for me just rushing the seasons / months / festivals doesn’t help) as I am a worrier and I want time to slow down not speed up and new months tend to make me stress as I see more the time is flying by- I know look forward but… hey we are who we are. As I said I am natural stresser…

  • Planting,  Seeds

    Snapdragons part II

    I am hoping to sow some more today can you have too many snapdragons? these seeds are from Chiltern Seeds (not sponsored just trying out some different seeds). Antirrhinum majus, ‘Monarch’ Mixed 107W 1 £ 1.95 Antirrhinum majus, ‘Appleblossom’ 107R 1 £ 1.95 I have another post on planting snapdragons part 1 I do have a few that have germinated and growing from previous planted – seeds but not enough!!! I need to keep my eye on when to pinch out – as usual video on Swan Cottage Flowers Insta stories (go follow if you don’t already! 🙂 I also have some seeds left from Swan Cottage Flowers. Vanilla and Malmaison –…

  • Planting,  Seeds

    Eucalyptus gunnii, ‘Silverdrop’

    I have bought Eucalyptus plants – seedlings before and this year I am going to have a go at growing from seed – apparently very difficult – so I am not holding too much hope as my germinating rates with even the easiest seed is ‘interesting’ . I bought my seeds from Chiltern Seed – again because I was putting in an order from them at the time – these are generally reasonably expensive you get 16 seeds in a pack – however to buy a tree is way more so going to see how I go… Eucalyptus gunnii, ‘Silverdrop’ 552A 1 £ 3.45 So yesterday 14/03/21 I dared to check…

  • Planting,  Seeds

    Rudbeckia hirta, ‘Sahara’

    On the seed sowing agenda today… Rudbeckia hirta, Sahara – My seeds are from Chiltern seeds (no reason as never ordered before from Chiltern but some seeds sell out pretty quickly and I was putting in an order from Chiltern at the time. They should be sown 1 seed per pot but very teeny tiny seed and NOT covered – you could sow along side Eucalyptus (apparently) as similar conditions… watch this space 😛 General Information Full sun Regular dead heading keeps flowers blooming longer Good air circulation is needed so think distance Well draining soil DONT over fertilize will result in weak stems and plants – give a top…

  • Planting,  Seeds

    Larkspur

    This has to be one of my top favourite flowers (but then actually I do have rather a lot of fav. flowers!) Growing from seed – this is my first year trying 2021 – well I did sow some seeds in an Autumn sow 2020 – for various reasons they didn’t / haven’t done well… – I drowned one tray in the water – I dropped one tray and… although I do have a few that have come on and they look like this, So I am doing round… god knows what in hope that some will maybe germinate and come through for me to enjoy this summer… Mr Fothergills…

  • Planting,  Seeds

    Cerinthe

    Today I am going to sow some more Cerinthe seeds… I feel I need a little more of a positive boost – I have plenty to be positive about and happy but somehow I just need a little more something – sooooo I had so much luck with these seeds when I Autumn sowed – I am hoping for the same from a early spring sowing – fingers crossed. So I have seeds from Swan Cottage Flowers and I also have seeds from TheFloralProject . I soak my seeds for about 12 hours (similar / same as sweet peas) as they have a tough skin / outer and soaking should…

  • Corms,  Planting

    Anemones and Ranunculus

    I sowed these in the Autumn / winter… – 6th / 7th November 2020 They were doing ok… I had a few near casualties and ICU moments but I think I saved most of them – but we are not 100% until we actually get flowers. They come sort of dormant and dried – shrived looking – lots of advise is to put in water – running water for 3 hours plus… I don’t as this seems like a lot of water and I don’t have a system rigged up that could circulate the water. So I change the water and make sure they are in a fairly big-ish bowl…