Muddy_boots' Blog

4 Apr, 2008

2 comments

Geraniums and Fuschias

Not done too much out there today. I must have done too much yesterday, as I overslept this morning. Even Terry Wogan didn’t wake me up! The radio comes on at 8.00 and I didn’t wake up until nearly 9.30.

Just did a bit more sorting out of my pots and tubs. It seemed like we were threatened with rain for most of the day. I found some more vine weevil larvae in another pot that had a fuchsia in last year, so I put them in a pot saucer ready for the birds, but a blackbird flew onto the table and took the lot! Would have loved to have had my camera handy, but maybe another time after the old blackbird has gained my trust.

Geraniums had some attention too. Several have made it through the winter months, though we are in for a cold snap this weekend. It surprises me that geraniums can survive frosts, being such a soft moist flesh. Still, those that made it, were under a fleece covered frame that I made up.

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A couple of the fuchsias made it too and are sprouting leaves. Hopefully, I will be getting some more from a friend, who used to be a commercial grower until he retired. His garden is wonderful and full of so many varieties.

This is the first time I have had Praestans Unicum and they’ve just suddenly opened up. Maybe that’s due to all the good weather we have had this week. Some of the daffodils are opening up too, but some bulbs have finished, especially Tet-a-Tete in the tubs they share with a couple of bay trees. They have been deadheaded and fed with Miracle Grow

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Tulipa praestans ‘Unicum’ (Red Riding Hood) – A bunch tulip (multi-flowering) just eight-inches tall, ‘Unicum’ has variegated leaves edged in creamy white and clusters of up to five cayenne red flowers, each centred with a light yellow base and blue-anthers.

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Tete-a-Tete

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spritzhenry

Spritzhenry

4 Apr, 2008

 

Hi Ken-Rummie-Badger, it doesn't do to do too much just because we get one sunny day, does it? I have been aching today after lots of digging and planting yesterday! Serves you right I hear you say. Yes, it does, but I do not learn and was out there again today - but with my gardening jacket on. More digging and planting of the Heleniums I bought at Holbrook Garden on Wednesday. My red tulips are open, too. They are 'Fusilier' but I have 'Red Riding Hood' to come - double ones this year! Well done for getting so many plants through the winter. I lost most of my geraniums and my fuchsias don't look very alive...:-(

majeekahead

Majeekahead

4 Apr, 2008

 

Hi Ken, your Red Riding Hood look fantasic - i really like them will have to add them to my wish list. and i don't know if this helps at all, but i find that geraniums are best if i take cuttings in late summer - so they have a chance to root well, then i keep them in my enclosed porch or window sil (unheated greenhouse too cold) and they seem to get through the winter far better than the parent plants and they are easier to store, and with a bit of MG all through the spring and summer, they soon reach the same size anyway. i am not so sure about fuchsia as i usually buy new every year, and just stand the old ones in a sheltered corner of the garden - or unheated greenhouse if there is room, then snap off the dead twigs in spring and see what happens, sometimes i get lucky. - and i love you idea with the fleece Ken, i would imagine that this would be very effective, as when i have put the big geranium plants in my cold greenhouse, they have rotted and got powdery grey mould all over them, and i think this is to do more with air circulation - maybe i will try your method next year, it is after all the frost that kills them.

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