Evieweale's Inbox

Basically, don't touch them until new growth starts, probably March/April depending on how warm it is. Then take off the dead flowerheads, nip off any dead tops not showing growth, take out any dead stems.

I just leave them alone-- dead heads especially as they are supposed to protect the new shoots from frost, if you cut them back now they probably won't flower next year, most books say if you need to prune for size or shape etc.just up to a third per year

Hydrangea macrophylla flowers next year on wood produced this year. So, if you cut it off, no flowers. Normally the advice is to leave the dead flowers on over winter as frost protection and to remove them in Spring. At the same time you would remove any dead shoots. If the bush is overgrown and the centre congested, then you can remove those branches growing up through the middle.
Hydrangea paniculata and arborescens flower on new wood so they may be pruned as hard as you choose, again in February.

i dont do mine until late spring and then only deadhead or down to the first beds after the spent flower. I reduce a few down to the lowest bud but those dont flower.

Are the bits which are turning brown touching the window? They can burn that way? Mine is next to a mini oven, and the leaves have been scorched a couple of times. Also, check the root system, they can benefit enormously from being repotted into a bigger pot to let the root system take in more water. good luck.
Lol Volunteer!

Draughts may also cause leaf problems. But chess doesn't....ha ha.

Sounds like over or under watering - how often and how much do you water? Also, where is it kept and does it get enough sun? Mine does well in a place where it gets a lot of natural light, that is slightly filtered. I also water it heavily about once a week and I leave it in between. Do you have any pics, as it might be a pest causing the problem too?

Yes,if you sow sweet peas now they will grow really strong and give you bunches of flowers every week of the summer.Preferably in root trainers.
There are also viola seeds, I have some and they say sow in Oct.They would be lovely in the spring.

Cinerarias and Schizanthus, lots of winter flowers.

You could also start broad beans off in pots next month.

How about sweet peas ready for next year.

I think possibly foxgloves?! hope someone comes up with more I too am a lover of hours of sowing seeds

xx x

too late for winter flowering pansies from seed now. You will have to resort to buying plants if you want pansies - make sure you buy winter flowering ones (they still sell the ordinary ones at this time of year) and buy those with a good sized rootball, not the small plug plants.

these seeds can be sown now, but need to be kept frost free over winter, so greenhouse is fine. Flowering time depends on variety, but would be earlier than if sown in feb/march. cjr

if you have male plants then they won't fruit, you need female. try googling "how to grow cucumber" you should get a few sites with pictures on....good luck

Well, good luck with them is all I can say and how lucky are you to have been given some already growing.

I planted some bulbs (the size of peanuts) and not one came through, but Gilli (another member here) did manage to get hers going, so maybe she can help you if you contact her.

Do not put them outside in the winter. They say they're hardy, but I certainly wouldn't risk it.

Wow, what kind gift givers! Rare plants.co website says
"They like a compost based on sphagnum moss (living is best) with some sand added or one consisting of coarse sand with some peat mixed in. The compost should be wet but must be VERY free-draining. They will sometimes do well in conditions which also suit some carnivorous plants. ' It looks beautiful in the picture and says that it is hardy, but I'd keep it in a pot so you can keep an eye on it. It might get lost in the garden.

We usually get about 35 from 2 plants. Towards the end of summer I pick them small and pickle.

the plants will grow large and they will be ample for use make sure you keep them watered at the base and feed them

If you get too many, pick some small for gherkins. But they are delicious and our UK summers are not long enough to get fed up of them!

Have a look at the seed packet - it should say whether it's a self-fertile one or whatever. I bought an F1 plant that the lable says I don't need to remove the male flowers from. With 10 plants, you'll be able to go into business lol

dont worry about it but you can get up to 20 cucumbers per plant. i usually only grow 2 plants and that does a family of 4, 2 rabbits and a few friends too.
also rather than start a new question just reply at the bottom of your first one. there is a caption that says read/answer, click that and a dialogue box comes up. type your comment, then press submit and its plain sailing :o)

im not an expert but in some varieties the male flower polinates the female flower and the fruits are bitter. thats why we are advised to remove the male flower. the female flower has, as you say the swelling behind the petals. it looks like a very small cucumber.

i wouldnt put more than 2 in a grow bag as they are hungry/thirsty plants. [and how many cucumbers can you eat?] :o)

I don't think you'll be able to tell at the seedling stage.

When they flower the male has no lump at the base of the flower. The female has a large round lumpy bit which will develop into the fruit. A pregnant lump, lol.

I think you need the males for a while to pollinate the females and then you get rid of them so all the energy can go into the females to produce the fruit.

If I'm wrong, then I'm sure an expert will correct me. :-)

When they have 2 proper leaves pot them on into 4 inch pots (cucumbers) or 3 inch pots for the peppers,then when they are about 6 inches tall put them in your growbags or put the soil from the grobags into large pots and plant them in that. One per pot or 3 per grobag. Keep them under cover until mid May because of the danger of frost.

If there is condensation in the bag then you should not need to water them unless the compost looks dry. The seedlings are very small to begin with so give them lots of care and only water if they start to dry out. Open the bags once they have germinated but leave the bag in place as protection and to keep up the moisture levels. Pot them on when they are large enough to handle.

If you have lots of seeds, sow two or three in each individual tray, thin out later if you have to or leave the seedlings to grow together.

Fantastic Spritz! many news papers will be being kept now 2 make my very own Pots :)X

Spritzhenry, please do that blog. It'll be brilliant for all of us!

Glad it makes sense! PLEASE don't apologise - we are all learning new things all the time! The Sweet pea seeds usually germinate in about 10 - 14 days, sometimes quicker, depending on the temperature. I poke the seed into the compost with my finger about up to about an inch maybe? Oh, I forgot - the night before you want to plant your seeds, soak them in tepid water overnight, they will swell a little, and it helps them to germinate. Some people 'nick' the seed coating with a knife, but I haven't found that necessary (and I'd probably cut off my fingers! LOL)