http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Topic: OT: Gardening thread en Wed, 17 Jun 2026 04:45:03 +0000 http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20497&page=2#post-352663 Thu, 08 Jul 2021 21:26:09 +0000 crowriver 352663@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Harvest it, or it may rot in the ground in this wet weather. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20497&page=2#post-352661 Thu, 08 Jul 2021 21:12:46 +0000 SRD 352661@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>How do I know when to harvest my garlic? I planted some sprouting garlic very early in the spring. It has formed small bulbs and the tops seem to be dying. Should I harvest? Or will the bulbs grow bigger? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20497&page=2#post-352406 Sat, 03 Jul 2021 14:34:14 +0000 Arellcat 352406@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>If you're into cacti, this is a good book to have:</p> <p><a href="https://www.waterstones.com/book/happy-cactus/john-pilbeam/9780241341094" rel="nofollow">https://www.waterstones.com/book/happy-cactus/john-pilbeam/9780241341094</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20497&page=2#post-352396 Sat, 03 Jul 2021 11:39:51 +0000 chdot 352396@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>“</p> <p>‘Anyone can garden’: </p> <p>“</p> <p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2021/jul/03/royal-horticultural-society-hampton-court-palace-garden-festival-puts-community-centre-stage" rel="nofollow">https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2021/jul/03/royal-horticultural-society-hampton-court-palace-garden-festival-puts-community-centre-stage</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20497&page=2#post-351413 Tue, 08 Jun 2021 22:25:43 +0000 the canuck 351413@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Crow, not sure where you are, but on Easter Rd there's the Seb's Jungle, shop and cafe? They have a good range of plants there.</p> <p>Caoba in Stockbridge has a good range as well, but I can't remember if they did cacti. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20497#post-351360 Mon, 07 Jun 2021 10:01:53 +0000 Arellcat 351360@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Buy cacti from a garden centre, not a supermarket. I have several that live on my window ledge. Some grow slightly faster than others, but generally most are very slow growing, no more than one or two inches a year.</p> <p>My first is now a rampant monster and would be happy to donate one or two of its many limbs to stuff into a small pot! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20497#post-351359 Mon, 07 Jun 2021 09:29:13 +0000 fimm 351359@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Seeing as this thread has popped up - we now have 7 healthy chilli plants on the windowsill, and two have been given away. We also have some herbs in various states of healthiness... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20497#post-351335 Sat, 05 Jun 2021 10:45:44 +0000 Greenroofer 351335@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@crowriver, you have PM... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20497#post-351327 Fri, 04 Jun 2021 22:32:30 +0000 crowriver 351327@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Reviving this thread to ask for any tips on good places to buy small cactus plants. My kids would like a cactus or two in their rooms.</p> <p>Thought I would ask here as people might know places fairly central and/or bikeable. In days of yore would have been B&amp;Q, but nearest one is Newcraighall... They sometimes turn up in supermarkets but that can be a bit random.</p> <p>Any cactus enthusiasts care to share info? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20497#post-347509 Mon, 01 Mar 2021 16:06:59 +0000 crowriver 347509@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Got into window sill gardening during the first lockdown. Sowed parsley and chives, both of which for some reason have never done well at the allotment. Plants are still on the window sill, still growing and giving fresh herbs for salads or garnish. </p> <p>Also planted an orange pip and a lemon pip a year ago, taken from supermarché fruits. Orange is now a small (bonsai) shrub doing well on window sill, lemon a bit peaky at the moment. I have to be careful not to over water them.</p> <p>Chillies can be temperamental, I've not managed to successfully grow them yet. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20497#post-347508 Mon, 01 Mar 2021 15:22:36 +0000 Snowy 347508@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Nice and warm is the key for chilli seeds - it's hard to overdo it. Inside a sunny windowsill is perfect. And sown not deeper than 6 or 7mm ..ideally 3mm for the fussier varieties or they can struggle to get going. One they get going they are pretty tough. I moved about 20 chilli plants outdoors in May and they were cropping right through to November! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20497#post-347502 Mon, 01 Mar 2021 14:31:51 +0000 gembo 347502@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Bit of a frost this am but not a killer one </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20497#post-347496 Mon, 01 Mar 2021 11:48:40 +0000 fimm 347496@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Gardening, third floor flat style:<br /> mr fimm has planted some chilli seeds that my mother gave him for Christmas. Every day he reports that they have not come up yet... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20497#post-347470 Sun, 28 Feb 2021 21:00:33 +0000 crowriver 347470@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Apple tree duly planted this afternoon.</p> <p>March tomorrow, much digging, weeding and crop planting lies ahead... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20497#post-347446 Sat, 27 Feb 2021 21:55:12 +0000 SRD 347446@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I have grown potatoes. Just from unintended chatting. </p> <p>My father’s family were seed potato farmers in Maine and developed a number of potato varieties. </p> <p>I really ought to know better. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20497#post-347439 Sat, 27 Feb 2021 20:07:38 +0000 gembo 347439@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Long as dry doesn’t matter, window sill good. I sometimes prop mine up in egg boxes.</p> <p>Will be tattie day at Balerno farmers market March.</p> <p>You need deep planters. For piling soil up. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20497#post-347438 Sat, 27 Feb 2021 20:03:07 +0000 SRD 347438@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Thank you! I wasn’t sure where the best place to leave them was. Anyone want some seed potatoes? Happy to share! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20497#post-347435 Sat, 27 Feb 2021 19:42:20 +0000 crowriver 347435@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>That's six fruit bushes planted out, just in the nick of time. Apple tree tomorrow.</p> <p>Rhubarb buds are starting to poke through their red/pink tips. Established apple tree buds starting to open. Spring is just about here methinks. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20497#post-347434 Sat, 27 Feb 2021 19:24:35 +0000 wingpig 347434@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Sneak the seed potatoes back into the same place in the shop where the ones which sprouted in the cupboard came from. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20497#post-347433 Sat, 27 Feb 2021 19:22:13 +0000 gembo 347433@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Put them in the light and let them sprout. This is called Chitting. </p> <p>Plant in ground once frost has gone or if you are using planters that is less of an issue.</p> <p>Worms do like potatoes so watch for that. Again planters help.</p> <p>Once the shoots appear pile some more earth on top of them and wait a bit longer.</p> <p>Leave them to grow tall. Watch the flowers.quite pretty. Once the flowers fall off in late summer. You can howk them. They take very little time to cook fresh from the ground.</p> <p>To be honest if you ignore all of the rules except the frost one you will probably still get potatoes. Sharpo Mira brand favoured by Stalin even cope with a bit of frost. Spuds are about waiting, the longer you leave them the bigger they grow. But also the more likely the worms will feed off them</p> <p>Do you know if you have a type known as earlier, late earlier or main crop? That is supposed to determine when you plant them. I sometimes give mine some feed but as long as soil good that is quite optional. Again Stalin’s taters don’t even need good soil. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20497#post-347432 Sat, 27 Feb 2021 19:16:12 +0000 Colin 347432@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>SRD</p> <p> You might want to try chitting your seed tatties. Put them in half egg boxes on a window ledge and they’ll start sprouting in a few weeks. This gives them a head start and will allow the soil to warm up too. </p> <p> Cheers<br /> Colin </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20497#post-347431 Sat, 27 Feb 2021 18:49:27 +0000 SRD 347431@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Novice question: I’ve only ever planted supermarket potatoes that had sprouted by mistake in my cupboard. But ordered some seed potatoes which have just arrived. What do I do with them now? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20497#post-346637 Thu, 18 Feb 2021 00:22:25 +0000 steveo 346637@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>If anyone needs wood shavings for ground coverage or compost balancing let me know, I seem to generate tons of the stuff. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20497#post-346636 Wed, 17 Feb 2021 23:00:18 +0000 gembo 346636@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@srd I had a black currant bush also in a raised bed. Was a Hardy thing and grew quite large. Dug it out when it was quite mature and it went down to Currie where blackcurrants are favoured. I would hope it will be ok to go in no wish and will survive next winter. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20497#post-346633 Wed, 17 Feb 2021 21:57:37 +0000 SRD 346633@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I planted the bare root black currant today. it arrived during peak snow. hoping it will be happy in the ground. </p> <p>Noticed one of my peonies peeking through. hoping the other one (a cheap one from lidl) survives as well. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20497#post-346627 Wed, 17 Feb 2021 21:01:17 +0000 gembo 346627@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@crowriver, sympathies I remember when we had spuds in the ground as a youth and the worms loved them. </p> <p>My raised beds so far have reduced worm outrage.</p> <p>On the plus side, LEEKS are great </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20497#post-346626 Wed, 17 Feb 2021 20:59:42 +0000 crowriver 346626@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I have had enough of growing spuds. Too many wriggly things like to eat them before I've unearthed the tubers. My leeks are still in the ground, they are looking fandabidozi. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20497#post-346623 Wed, 17 Feb 2021 20:53:02 +0000 gembo 346623@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>The big snow just killed my kale. I had loads but am the only person who eats it.</p> <p>Due to world wide shortage of leeks in Scotmid, I was heartened to see the re. Emergence of last years leeks encouraged b6 the manure of famous Seamus and famous Ted.</p> <p>Will be mostly spuds I will be planting this season </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20497#post-346619 Wed, 17 Feb 2021 19:59:45 +0000 crowriver 346619@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Yeah I usually plant in November. However I was chastened last year by a rather wet summer, left the garlic in the ground too long and quite a few plants had got mildewed and started to rot. I'm trying the shorter approach this year. Also my turnips were occupying the bed until now, so... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20497#post-346615 Wed, 17 Feb 2021 19:37:02 +0000 I were right about that saddle 346615@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em>The growing season for many crops relatively short</em></p> <p>Scotland innit? I do not know what garlic is up to underground from November to February but it is doing something and grows bigger than if you plant now.</p> <p>Two years ago it was fertilised by the cat's cadaver and was huge. </p>