The Gardening thread.....

[Marco]

Lol - that's why bays are better kept in pots, to limit their growth! Plus, when they grow too big and the stems become too 'woody', the leaves aren't as nice and lose their perfume and flavour. The same also applies to the likes of rosemary bushes and sage.

Small and nicely trimmed is best, just like other 'bushes'...

Marco.

[Barry]

Lol - that's why bays are better kept in pots, to limit their growth! Plus, when they grow too big and the stems become too 'woody', the leaves aren't as nice and lose their perfume and flavour. The same also applies to the likes of rosemary bushes and sage.

Small and nicely trimmed is best, just like other 'bushes'...

Marco.

No disagreement there Marco. Actually the new growth leaves had their perfume and taste, but the whole bush became just too large.

[Roy S]

Moved my ferns out of their corner into tubs.

[Barry]

What's growing in the toilet bowl?

[Roy S]

What's growing in the toilet bowl?

I'd always thought it was a form of holly but have just double checked on the web and the closest looking plant is Gilt Edge Silverberry (although I stand to be corrected by those in the know). What appeals to me is it needs zero maintenance (except the odd trim), it can go without water for weeks, just drops a few leaves. I've a larger one in the front garden my green bin hides behind.

[guy]

What's growing in the toilet bowl?

Now that is a question

[InThe Sticks]

Veg garden is doing well.
Courgettes are the perfect stir fry size, onions and shallots are ready, as are the mangetout, lettuce and baby spuds.
Just waiting on the sweetcorn, french/runner beans, tomatoes, patty pan & crown prince squashes.



Asparagus is finished and being left to fern out ready for next year..



And in the greenhouse the peppers, cucumbers/gherkins, courgettes and tomatoes are getting there.
I’ve also got a lemon verbena as a flavour for some home made ice cream.

[Marco]

Very impressive, Jon. Some top work there! You must hardly ever have to buy veg from shops?

What about herbs? If you've mentioned those, I must've missed it. We grow loads of different varieties, which we use a lot in cooking

Marco.

[InThe Sticks]

Thanks.
That lot doesn’t last as long as you may think.
Some can be frozen, but courgettes, toms, asparagus etc don’t respond well to it, but are ok for soups and sauce bases.
When you’ve got your veg garden up and running i think you’ll be surprised how fast you scythe through the produce, and then wish you’d grown more.
As an aside, i was talking to my mother yesterday (who’s veg garden makes mine look like a window box) and she can’t last that long on the produce she grows (she & my step father are vegetarians).
Herbs i have are parsley, sage, chives/garlic chives, thyme and rosemary. I’ll be planting garlic when the weather gets a bit colder.

These are the garden highlight for me..
Are you any further forward to getting some?

[Marco]

Lol - love it... They'd be also be ours! Not yet, as we've still got lots of prep to do. Noted on the quantity thing, so thanks.

We want to get the veg patches sorted first (before the chicken run is installed), and a seated patio area built in the main part of the garden, which will be kept shaded by a large fabric tarpaulin, and used for parties and entertaining.

When this CV crap is over, we intend on having a big party, to make up for all the get togethers with friends and family we've missed so far this year!

Marco.