Post by stormy on Mar 4, 2007 19:19:07 GMT
everyone always has that first question when starting out, with what shall i grow, when it should be, what can i grow.
so many people always come unstuck with the what shall i grow therory, when they discover that what they have picked isnt actually growing.
most people assume any plant can grow anywhere.
ok so according to the label it likes shade, or sun, or only grows in patio tubs.
there are four main things that everyone should know before starting out in what plants to buy for their garden.
1. what is the weather down here.
now you may look at me in a daft way, but lets just say what i can grow may differ from what the neighbour next door can grow. for example i am what you call a frost pocket. i cant grow anything that needs to be protected from the frost.
that label that says hardy, but needs to be protected, will die the first frost you get. unless you dig it up and take it inside.
2. what size plant
make a note of how big you want a plant to get.
so many people always again make the mistake of getting some magic plant called the miniture conifer. there is no such thing.
it will grow to the a size not stated on the label. that can only be removed by a chainsaw.
when it states a size on woody plant label, best to add another twenty foot to get the correct size.
2B, what size plant part 2B
plants dont just grow upwards they also do something called spreading, again whatever size it has on the label, always add another 10 ft.
3. what enviroment have i got
just think like a normal person, if i live by the sea, with sea winds blowing over my garden, will i be able to grow the same plants as someone who lives in for example, the amazon rainforest.
OOOh said some lady in the garden centre the other day, what a lovely exotic plant, it likes hot weather, it doesnt like cold weather and strong sea faring winds and it wont grow in a pot, i think i will buy it for my garden, which is not only facing the sea, but its always cold there, oh it will cheer up the place.
then they bring it back a day later wondering why it has died.
4. test your soil
no one does, i wonder why, major pain in garden nurserys, when people buy plants that really wont grow in their soil.
funny that marsh plants dont like hard dry clay soil isnt it.
or however hard you try you just cant grow roses in cement ;D
how do you test your soil (coming soon at a forum near you, or the best way, go up to someone in your garden centre and say 'excuse me how do i test my soil'
if the look at you blankly, its probally best you dont buy your plants there.
5. garden experts
there is no such thing, because every old gardener has their own way to do things, and in truth its like everything, all knowlegde is handed down.
according to someone on gardeners world, thyme and mint only grow in terricotta pots.
that is bollocks, they only reason they tell you that is because they have shares in the terricotta pot industry.
remember most garden experts dont make money on telling you about flowers, they want to tell you to rip up your garden and replace it with odd looking furniture and plastic art sculpures because its in fashion. oh and these people use latin names for everything, only because they really dont know what they are talking about. they tend to learn one or two just to keep you interested, oh yes mrs flowergrass you should grow some conium maculatum in your garden, nice and child friendly.
you will also come across the boiler suit expert in some big garden centres that sell more clothes and t spoon holders that plants themselves.
they tend to have a blank expression on their faces when you ask them where you can get an anthriscus sylvestris from. haha and they are supposed to be experts. Trust me just because they are wearing a suit with a name badge on it, doesnt mean anything. well it does, deep down they are saying, hello my names bert and i havent got a fucking clue.
that also is another good idea, if you every meet a so called garden expert ask them what they feel about anthriscus sylvestris in there garden.
ok so most garden experts are ok, i will give them that, but there is a lot that arent. and they are the ones that tend to pounce on you, which is why every new gardener should learn at least five latin plant names, to test the unsuspecting. ;D
and anyone can tell me what the two latin plants are that i have just mentioned, will win a kitcat.
so many people always come unstuck with the what shall i grow therory, when they discover that what they have picked isnt actually growing.
most people assume any plant can grow anywhere.
ok so according to the label it likes shade, or sun, or only grows in patio tubs.
there are four main things that everyone should know before starting out in what plants to buy for their garden.
1. what is the weather down here.
now you may look at me in a daft way, but lets just say what i can grow may differ from what the neighbour next door can grow. for example i am what you call a frost pocket. i cant grow anything that needs to be protected from the frost.
that label that says hardy, but needs to be protected, will die the first frost you get. unless you dig it up and take it inside.
2. what size plant
make a note of how big you want a plant to get.
so many people always again make the mistake of getting some magic plant called the miniture conifer. there is no such thing.
it will grow to the a size not stated on the label. that can only be removed by a chainsaw.
when it states a size on woody plant label, best to add another twenty foot to get the correct size.
2B, what size plant part 2B
plants dont just grow upwards they also do something called spreading, again whatever size it has on the label, always add another 10 ft.
3. what enviroment have i got
just think like a normal person, if i live by the sea, with sea winds blowing over my garden, will i be able to grow the same plants as someone who lives in for example, the amazon rainforest.
OOOh said some lady in the garden centre the other day, what a lovely exotic plant, it likes hot weather, it doesnt like cold weather and strong sea faring winds and it wont grow in a pot, i think i will buy it for my garden, which is not only facing the sea, but its always cold there, oh it will cheer up the place.
then they bring it back a day later wondering why it has died.
4. test your soil
no one does, i wonder why, major pain in garden nurserys, when people buy plants that really wont grow in their soil.
funny that marsh plants dont like hard dry clay soil isnt it.
or however hard you try you just cant grow roses in cement ;D
how do you test your soil (coming soon at a forum near you, or the best way, go up to someone in your garden centre and say 'excuse me how do i test my soil'
if the look at you blankly, its probally best you dont buy your plants there.
5. garden experts
there is no such thing, because every old gardener has their own way to do things, and in truth its like everything, all knowlegde is handed down.
according to someone on gardeners world, thyme and mint only grow in terricotta pots.
that is bollocks, they only reason they tell you that is because they have shares in the terricotta pot industry.
remember most garden experts dont make money on telling you about flowers, they want to tell you to rip up your garden and replace it with odd looking furniture and plastic art sculpures because its in fashion. oh and these people use latin names for everything, only because they really dont know what they are talking about. they tend to learn one or two just to keep you interested, oh yes mrs flowergrass you should grow some conium maculatum in your garden, nice and child friendly.
you will also come across the boiler suit expert in some big garden centres that sell more clothes and t spoon holders that plants themselves.
they tend to have a blank expression on their faces when you ask them where you can get an anthriscus sylvestris from. haha and they are supposed to be experts. Trust me just because they are wearing a suit with a name badge on it, doesnt mean anything. well it does, deep down they are saying, hello my names bert and i havent got a fucking clue.
that also is another good idea, if you every meet a so called garden expert ask them what they feel about anthriscus sylvestris in there garden.
ok so most garden experts are ok, i will give them that, but there is a lot that arent. and they are the ones that tend to pounce on you, which is why every new gardener should learn at least five latin plant names, to test the unsuspecting. ;D
and anyone can tell me what the two latin plants are that i have just mentioned, will win a kitcat.