Wednesday 7 September 2016

Going it alone.

I have always been a vegetable grower. I usually do quite well at it too and always have enough to donate a few bits to the allotment shop and share with family and friends.

My mum was always the 'flower grower' and every year would grow from seed a variety of flowers which she would then share with us and we could plant out to have spectacular summer gardens. Any over's that were left would be sold to neighbours if they wanted them...they were always sold cheaply just to cover the cost of the compost so a box of forty(ish) plants would be sold for about £3.00. There was usually a variety of marigolds, tagetes, salvia, petunias, dahlias, lobelia, and sweet williams to name just a few.

So this year was the first where i had to have a go at doing all this myself. I kept the varieties to simple ones which I knew were always prolific germinators....Tagetes, petunia, marigolds and then a few lobelia which I know are harder to germinate but I do love them.

So how did I do??

  Tagetes and petunias
Tagetes and petunias

Marigolds and tagetes
Marigolds and tagetes

Tagetes, marigold and petunias
Tagetes, marigold and petunias

Tagetes, marigold and petunias
Tagetes, marigold and petunias
Well I think it's safe to say from the pictures above that I didn't do that great. My garden certainly doesn't have the spectacular show of years past. The weather hasn't been great this year and this may have factored into the patchiness but I think I am going to just believe that flower growing just isn't my forte. I have had a re-think about the garden and I am going to plant some perennials, lavender, a few shrubs and some grasses and stuff. I am going for pretty, low maintenance, but something that lets me potter. I am also going for flowers that the bees will love to forage on so that I will get some nice flowery honey too (that is if my bees visit my garden!!)

I'm not a defeatist at all but I really don't want to spend hours on something that may not turn out very well. There is nothing wrong with change and I figure now is as good a time as any and I know my Mum will be proud of the fact that I gave it a go!!

15 comments:

  1. I'm sure your mum would be proud. I really do think this year has been a struggle to grow a lot of stuff, my pots have certainly struggled x

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    2. Thanks Jo....not sure what happened with my previous thanks comment??

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  2. well you did way better than I would have. I have no green thumb at all. My dad always had such pretty flowers and I just kill stuff...lol

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    1. I'm sure you could grow something Ann..maybe a cactus?!?!

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  3. That's the way I wish I could make it look around my house. I can say that sitting here at the computer, but when the day starts I always find something else to do. One of these days it'll happen.

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    1. I guess gardening is something you love or hate..the hubby hates it so it's just as well I love to do it!!

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  4. I used to fill my garden with bedding plants but I've gone down the route of perennials now. The only problem now is that it's full and I can't squeeze anything else in, unless I dig up more of the grass.

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    1. I think this is the route I am going to take Jo, I want my garden to look pretty....and I think even I can take care of perennials!!

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  5. We gave up on bedding plants years ago - too much time and work involved for such a short time on display.

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    1. There is a lot of work involved...I didn't realise how much until I took the task on myself...My Mum always loved the time spent nurturing them though. That is why I think I shall always try to grow just a few.

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  6. English lavender, grasses and some flowering shrubs sound like a good idea to fill up your flower beds. The only success this year in growing from seed has been sweet peas and lupins.

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    1. I have already started with the lavender and the grasses, got some perennials too...I have a couple of shrubs but not many at the moment...going for some lovely spring bulbs too!! I was given some sweet peas seeds just a few days ago so looking forward to trying those next year11

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  7. I struggle starting annuals from seed. I tend to concentrate on the vegetables and buy flowers when they go on sale.

    I still think yours look nice and cheery.

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    1. Thanks tpals...they are incredibly expensive here and only ever go on sale when they are about dead!! I will concentrate more on the veggies next year and stick with what I'm good at!

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keep it clean...keep it relevant...I look forward to reading your comments!!