Anyone planting ANYTHING at the moment?

[shiney]

Or what are you planning in the next month?

I need inspiration.

[Shirley]

well... we are TRYING to plant some trees... and a hedge... but the ground is currently like iron... hard frosts mainly, but also lots of large stones so it's going to take a bit longer than we reckoned... will be heeling them in at first.

We are busy planning our veggie plot - any recommendations for seed catalogues? We are in north east scotland.... a cold place with a short growing season so have to choose carefully.

Shirlzx x

[Boots]

Yeah I'm planting...always planting. I don't do much planning though and probably should.

I have a lime that I have to decide whether to repot or put straight in the orchard. Very hot here, so will go with a pot for a bit, I think. STrawberries I am scared to repot because every time I do, I seem to kill em. Can someone clarify the best mix for strawberries?
Also a few more passionfruit vines I haven't yet found a permanent home for
...and an enormous amount of leuceana I am slowly raising with plans to transfer into pens and a paddock at the back. I usually re-seed these areas with scatter seeding, so have been experimenting a bit here, and think I may have cracked it This is being planted for stock feed, shade, and its contribution to restoring the earth and assisting with global warming. A very interesting plant...

[matty]

Leuceana...i had planned on planting up a wind break of leuceana, but found out that they have hungry roots, that will stretch out into the field and steal water...read that a good way to deal with this was to dig a 12inche trench and fill it with wooden planks or thin concrete slabs (yeah right)...not sure if the thirsty plants are one particular type, i know the glauca has problems like that, but theres lots of leuceanas, so...but, they are great as they grow fast, and give good, straight sticks for supporting tomaotes or whatnot...if they are in a paddock, there is a variety which i think causes goats to lose their hair if they eat too much? thought i'd say that. never know.
but then i find that the most reliable tree to plant here is neem, as it grows well, and needs little atention. plus, i have the neem insecticide sorted out, and it works well for most squash pests, but neem will steal water, and can be quite a prolific seeder...but it is also good for putting out bush fires and is almost resistant to fire! but neem cant be fed to animals...
are u using the leuceana as a living fence, Boots?

[ina]

We are busy planning our veggie plot - any recommendations for seed catalogues?

I am getting quite a bit from the organic gardening catalogue http://www.organiccatalog.com/catalog/

They have a few early varities that I want to give a go this year - have already got some red cabbage and celeriac in trays (in a very cool place), and there are carrot seeds for sowing in February or so. That should give them a long enough growing season even up here!

Ina

[alcina]

The only thing I'm planting at the moment is my Victorian Plum. I bought dry root last Winter from Homebase for a mere 9 quid, and planted it in a big pot as it's final destination wasn't ready for it. I started pruning it into a fan and it's now dormant enough to be moved against the wall. Of course it could just be dead....

I *should* have already planted the bulbs...but I've just remembered that they're still sat sitting in the shed where I put them for safetly when I had mice in the Autumn!

I usually start to seed plant at the end of February beginning of March - I start them off indoors under lights and they take them outside a few weeks later. Give 'em a head start!

Alcina

[Magpie]

Matty, have you tried Tree Lucerne? It's a legume, so it fixes nitrogen, and can be fed to stock. It can become a weed, but I guess that applies to any easily-grown plant.

I am planting more lettuces at the moment, also about to test my spuds to see if any are ready - yum! We are frantically painting the house too, so not much planting going on. I am trying to trust my 8-year old children to plant seedlings, but it just isn't important enough to them yet, to do a job good enough for me.

[Wombat]

Now that I am back home I've got to work out what I can plant now, myself so I will keep you posted. I think I will have to to get some commercial punnets though (expensive) or I will lose some weeks growing my own!

Nev

[shiney]

Gosh you guys are a busy lot. I am feeling quite lazy at the moment!

Better get my head in to gear!

[ina]

Don't forget most of those replies were from folks from the other side of the planet... No wonder they are planting!

Are you trying to plan your wedding dinner - to make sure you've got enough carrots and peas in the garden when the time arrives?

Ina

[shiney]

Hi Ina,

No, I am not planning the wedding dinner. I am having the whole kit and caboodle in a hotel, which I know isn't very self suffish, but I am doing it on a tight budget. I am decorating the venue, doing the flowers, baked the cake and made the stationery.

My old man to be, is one of eight and there is a huge family to invite. As he is the last of the troup (at the ripe old age of 42) to get hitched.

They live all over the UK and so we had to find a place for them to stay, eat, attend the wedding, do terrible dancing etc. without moving around the country too much!

We are not going overboard on anything, but intend to have a fabulous day of celebrating with our nearest and dearest.

In the meantime, I must get something into the ground!

[Andy Hamilton]

If you are missing having stuff growing what about getting some cress or mustard seed. Or even some mung beans?

I have to 'build' my new garden this year before I can grow much. (as I have mentioned it is just concreate at the moment) I am contemplating starting off some more herbs for indoors.

[ina]

Thought of doing it in a tent? Maybe you can get an army surplus one cheap...

I'm sure you'll have enough work to do on the day without doing the cooking yourself, too... Ask everybody to bring a cake. That might help.

[Andy Hamilton]

Forgot to add, - when is the big day shiney. I think I must have missed the announcement whilst I was off line. Unless I am being the typical bloke that I am and you have mentioned it 20 times already! Anyway, congratualtions.

[Boots]

There is a wedding in the pipeworks Shiney?

Got to admit it was kinda funny reading that followed by your sig. Maybe in this case, if in doubt, put the hammer down

Sounds like you will all have a blast and while its a big job doing it all yourself, its gotta be better, I reckon. Enjoy!

I think you must have a different variation of leuceana Matty...this one is the L strand, and its trunks make good fence posts, but it would make a lousy wind break or living fence. Oh, and goats are the only animals that can process the mimosine. Unless its all back to front on the other side of the planet...