Turts' Inbox

Felicite Perpetue (pink buds turn to white flowers)

Gerbera plants grown in locations with insufficient light will not bloom well. If you intend to grow a Gerbera indoors, give the plant as much direct sunlight as you can. Six hours of direct sunlight usually suffice in this case and can be achieved by placing it on a sunny windowsill. Do not try to grow it under office lights, since fluorescent lighting, even if placed within close proximity, don't seem to give encouraging results.

The Gerbera loves to suntan but it must still be protected from the afternoon sun. The afternoon sun here will very likely fry your plants, hence Gerbera is rarely grown outdoors. They grow pretty fine as potted plants under semi-shaded conditions, like under a shaded verandah or patio, if placed outdoors. Slowly acclimatise your newly bought plants before exposing them to full sun outside.

Gerbera thrive well in well-drained soil. The peaty substrate in which a newly bought Gerbera is grown is not suitable for growing the plant on the long term under local conditions. After the first flowers have wilted, grab the opportunity to change the substrate to one which river sand is added to improve its drainage. Never over water the plant and let the soil dry out a little before watering it again. This is especially important if the plant is grown indoors.

Feed your plants regularly to encourage flowering. You can use a water-soluble fertilizer for flowering plants - those with a high phosphorous (P) and potassium (K) ratio.

Remove spent blooms to encourage further flowering. Remove flower stalks of wilted blooms at the base of the crown, and at the same time remove yellowing leaves, if any, to reduce the possibility of fungus infection.

My book just says grow at a temperature of 13 - 18 degrees in autumn or early spring. That's all - you'd be best reading the back of a seed packet for further help!

Or, if you can bear to do it, run your finger and thumb over them and SQUISH them!

Spray with diluted washing up liquid .

Sounds like too cold, if they have wilted they are unlikely to come back.

I have Passiflora Incarnata growing at the moment so I was curious too. I found this info online:

Seed Collection: Leathery berries develop during a 2-3 month period after flowering. Check seeds when the berry is soft and yellowish. Mature seeds are brown. Seeds should be cleaned soon (remove the sticky aril fomr seeds) and stored in moist sphagnum sealed, refrigerated containers.

Also:

Seed Collecting: Allow unblemished fruit to ripen; clean and dry seeds
Unblemished fruit must be significantly overripe before harvesting seed; clean and dry seeds

Good luck :)

How cold were the night temps? I haven't planted mine out yet - glad I haven't as on our way home last night the car thermometer went down to 3.5 degrees. I think that would probably be the cause. At least you can plant some more as they grow so fast!

Piper is Beautiful :)

nice pooch - was this picture taken on moors?

You must wait until there's no risk of frost - they are tender! I am in the SW and have not planted mine out yet. I don't think it makes a lot of difference as to the size - it's the outside temp. that matters! Oh, and when you do plant them out, protect them from the dreaded slugs and snails who will KNOW and LOVE it when you've planted them!

He is lovely! Is he a Vizsla ?

I agree with helen Turts, wait till warmer weather, i have a passion flower and i cut it right back in spring, gives me lovely flowers and fruit each year, fab plant..

Hi Turts as it's a very young plant I wouldn't take any chances by planting outside yet but would wait until after chances of any frost has passed.Hel.xxx.

R.Madame Alfred Carriere and scented too interplanted with a Clematis perhaps Comtesse de Bouchard pink or c.macropetala blue ? All good on north facing wall.

I read in this weeks Sunday paper that a diluted solution of Zoflora disinfectant sprayed around the affected area should work, and apparently leaves a lovely scented smell too. Woeth a try, eh?

Hi Turts I'm surprised you don't like the 'physical removal' form as it's the job that both my husband and I use and when you think about it snails are so much easier to pickup than slugs!

Normally it's a two man job most evenings I hold a bucket and hubby holds the torch I'm sure our neighbours think we're quite mad but it really is fun and you will be surprised just how many you can catch. Hel.xxx.

I'm surprised that Jacque hasn't chimed in about her lovely snail remedy...she has pics on her page of a thrushes breakfast bar...many empty snail shells! Do you have birdhouses or baths in your garden?

I really like that method - one problem - don't want a drunk Labrador! He would definitely find it and drink it...Ah me, back to slug pellets. I shall investigate the organic ones.

Beer traps work incredibly well - I gave it a go and caught 30 slugs in one cup in one night - I hadn't even realised I had a problem! Get some cheap beer and fill a small plastic cup and bury it up to the rim in the garden - it's as easy as that - and they will come............

Jasmines as a tribe really need sun or, at best, partial shade. If you are after something scented, honeysuckle would be a better bet for a north-facing aspect. Early Dutch on one side and Late Dutch on the other would give a long season of flower and scent

But throwing them on to a shed roof attracts thrushes who love them too. Plants in pots can be protected by copper tape or vaseline on the outside just below the rim.

Beer traps work , also there is now an organic snail slug pellet. If you build a wildlife pond it will attract frogs, they have quite an appetite for them. Keep ducks they love eating them! Hoe just before a frost and it exposes / kills their eggs. Lay some plastic guttering upside down they will collect underneath this making collection easy Use crushed eggshells as a barrier round tender plants. Nematodes watered on seems to work but is expensive especially for large areas Don't throw them over the hedge they have a homing instinct! LOL

My understanding is that Jasminum officinale is good in a north facing situation - I'm sure others will correct me if I'm wrong - in our old house we had one with very scented small white flowers in summer. However, it did need support as it is a twining plant.

Honeysuckles (lonicera) are more prone to get aphids in sunny positions. According to where in the UK you are and how big a space you want to cover, abutilon megapotanicum flowers over a long period (there is a picture on my page). Not really a climber - more a lax scrambler - it will need tying to the trellis but will enjoy the position

You could try planting some Comfrey seeds in your garden and gather ing the leaves to infuse into water. When they have completely rotted down and you are left with a green SMELLY liquid add about one cup full to 10 litres of water and feed your plants. If you don't want to grow comfrey gather some nettles in the
Summer and do the same thing with them, however you will only get the infusion later in the Summer rather than earlier. If you live near the sea gather some seaweed, wash it and infuse that into water, cut it up first as it is much thicker than the land loving plants.

Here in N Yorks, I've had Campsis radicans for 3 years. Its grown quite a bit but hasn't had any flowers. What about the Chilean glory vine, Eccremocarpus scaber?-especially the orange colour. It flowers for a long time-bunches of smallish trumpets- very attractive.

Hi Turts! I'm thinking....Parthenocissus tricuspidata - this does not flower, but will cover a fence with glossy green leaves that will turn a spectacular shade of bright red in the autumn.

If you are in the south of the country and your fence is west-facing (not east-facing), maybe a Passion Flower will grow? You can either get one with really VERY unusual flowers (there are a range of colours, but they are all very striking) or you can get one that produces edible fruit, but still looks good.

Solanum crispum 'Glasnevin' can be a beautiful plant, but it is more of a 'wall shrub' than a climber and they tend to be unruly.

What sort of Clematis have you got? If you want one that will cover a large area of fence and you are not worried about something getting REALLY big - then you could try Clematis montana. They come with either pink or white flowers and are pretty and easy to grow. (again best on west facing fence).

All of these plants are pretty cheap and you'll find them at any garden centre. Hope this helps!

Turts, Simply having 'UK' in your profile is no help to anyone when you are requesting help. That aside.
Glasnevin is a form of spud with purple/blue spud flowers. It's also very open & untidy without constant pruning.
Akebia quinata will cover a lot of ground, slowly at first. Curious flowers early on. Near-zilch in the summer.
Camsis radicans needs lots of sun and heat, best against a wall rather than a fence. You will see very little for first three years. Red or yellow flowers?
How big is your clematis? Do want another? Is your fence for decoration? Or is it a screen? Visual or wind? Or both? In short you are not providing enough info for a best advice reply.

HI TURTS WELCOME TO G O Y ,IF ITS FOR PRIVACY I HAVE A RUSSIAN VINE (MILE A MINUTE)BUT ONLY FOR MY BACK FENCE AS I WOULD NOT TRY IT NEAR ANY BUILDING OR OUT HOUSE AS IT LIVES UP TO ITS NAME.ITS EVEN COVERED MY LABURNUMAND IM FOREVER CUTTING IT BACK.MAYBE ANOTHER CLEMMIE TO MIX THE COLOURS.NO DOUBT YOULLE COME UP WITH A SOLUTION ,GOOD LUCK..SEEYA..