Dave B's Blog - Winter here we come :-o
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Same rules apply here as on the Main Community forum, be polite, tolerant, and courteous. If you are not happy with a post,'report' it.
Users cannot start their own topics in this area, so if you want a blog topic started, contact using contacts form at the bottom of the page
- Dave Brown
- Site Admin
- Posts: 19742
- Joined: Sun Jul 09, 2006 10:17 am
- Location: Chalk, (Thames Estuary) Kent, England 51.5N 0.3E
- Contact:
Dave B's Blog - Winter here we come :-o
As a few other have been posting in a garden blog, I thought I'd do the same as there are things you can update that would not be worthy of a full topic of its own
Started late as still suffering from sleeping sickness, but out in the garden shortly after the sun came out at 10am. Temps warmed up very quickly prompting me to put many plants outside to help harden them off. All the colies, Ensete, canna, Musa zebrina, Musa basjoo overwintered pups, Brugs Trex etc Then the toms, Carica, Corbea, Dahlia imperialis seedlings all had a day in the garden. Then lots of watering particularly the Dicksonia antarctica abd Musa basjoo clumps.
Repotted Musa zebrina, a couple of Jack's Giant Colocasia. Then manhandled the Ensete Monbeliardii up the garden to see what it looks like in a different place to where planted before... nearly killed me as weighs a ton Then the Alocasia x calidora had to be carried across the garden and up two small terraces.... again weighs a ton.
Kids had lunch up the garden as over 23C on the deck. No time for me to stop, as lots of hay to make while the sun shines I know many people are eager to get started on planting out as the weather is good, but I have been caught out a few times in the past so overcome the urge to plant this early. Instead I place the plants where I think they will look good, wander up and down looking at them, much to the disgust of the other half who thinks I'm wasting time When I am happy and can visualise them growing in those positions, I dig shallow holes and pot plant. This way if the weather suddenly turns very cold, they can all be brought to shelter, but at the same time are being acclimatised to their new environment.
Here are a couple of shots of the proposed Colocasia bed
2 weeks ago empty Alocasia x calidora provisional pot planting Colocasia initial draft positioning. These won't necessarily stay in the same position, and some smaller ones were returned to the heat mat for further fattening up before hardening off. Then had lunch of mussels and brownbread with a banana to finish off, before moving the Alocasia macrorrhiza to the pond side. Quite pleased with the instant jungly effect. Then moved onto the Dicksonia antarctica bed. This was largely planted already, but needed some tweaking as I was not quite happy with it. The 3 foot Dicksonia antarctica planted last week was on its own with a 1foot Dicksonia antarctica about 5 feet away. I decided to move the 1 foota next to the 3 foota leaning slightly outward like it was growing away from the larger one. This vacated a hole near the top of the retaining wall.... an ideal spot for one of my standard Brugmansia. This give an instant extra couple of feet of height so the trumpets can be seem more from below.
Pic 'Little and Large' Dicksonia antarctica to the left with the poy planted single stem Brug leaning in the centre Standard Brug above wall pot planted Finally as the light was fading here is a shot of the Ensete Montbeliardii it proposed new position. Not dug a hole for this yet as not entirely sure on it's positioning. That is the most sheltered place from the wind as the Trachies are to the SW. Came in a 19:40 and had dinner, feet up now with a glass of red
Started late as still suffering from sleeping sickness, but out in the garden shortly after the sun came out at 10am. Temps warmed up very quickly prompting me to put many plants outside to help harden them off. All the colies, Ensete, canna, Musa zebrina, Musa basjoo overwintered pups, Brugs Trex etc Then the toms, Carica, Corbea, Dahlia imperialis seedlings all had a day in the garden. Then lots of watering particularly the Dicksonia antarctica abd Musa basjoo clumps.
Repotted Musa zebrina, a couple of Jack's Giant Colocasia. Then manhandled the Ensete Monbeliardii up the garden to see what it looks like in a different place to where planted before... nearly killed me as weighs a ton Then the Alocasia x calidora had to be carried across the garden and up two small terraces.... again weighs a ton.
Kids had lunch up the garden as over 23C on the deck. No time for me to stop, as lots of hay to make while the sun shines I know many people are eager to get started on planting out as the weather is good, but I have been caught out a few times in the past so overcome the urge to plant this early. Instead I place the plants where I think they will look good, wander up and down looking at them, much to the disgust of the other half who thinks I'm wasting time When I am happy and can visualise them growing in those positions, I dig shallow holes and pot plant. This way if the weather suddenly turns very cold, they can all be brought to shelter, but at the same time are being acclimatised to their new environment.
Here are a couple of shots of the proposed Colocasia bed
2 weeks ago empty Alocasia x calidora provisional pot planting Colocasia initial draft positioning. These won't necessarily stay in the same position, and some smaller ones were returned to the heat mat for further fattening up before hardening off. Then had lunch of mussels and brownbread with a banana to finish off, before moving the Alocasia macrorrhiza to the pond side. Quite pleased with the instant jungly effect. Then moved onto the Dicksonia antarctica bed. This was largely planted already, but needed some tweaking as I was not quite happy with it. The 3 foot Dicksonia antarctica planted last week was on its own with a 1foot Dicksonia antarctica about 5 feet away. I decided to move the 1 foota next to the 3 foota leaning slightly outward like it was growing away from the larger one. This vacated a hole near the top of the retaining wall.... an ideal spot for one of my standard Brugmansia. This give an instant extra couple of feet of height so the trumpets can be seem more from below.
Pic 'Little and Large' Dicksonia antarctica to the left with the poy planted single stem Brug leaning in the centre Standard Brug above wall pot planted Finally as the light was fading here is a shot of the Ensete Montbeliardii it proposed new position. Not dug a hole for this yet as not entirely sure on it's positioning. That is the most sheltered place from the wind as the Trachies are to the SW. Came in a 19:40 and had dinner, feet up now with a glass of red
Best regards
Dave
_________________________________________________
Roll on summer.....
http://www.hardytropicals.co.uk
Dave
_________________________________________________
Roll on summer.....
http://www.hardytropicals.co.uk
Re: Dave B's garden Blog
looks full already Dave love them Alocasia and Montys ready to go
Re: Dave B's garden Blog
I'm so glad you've started a Blog Dave, with a garden as inspiring as yours it's going to to be a great reference for many others as well as for yourself.
Beautiful garden, I love the Alocasia bed but am still very wary of introducing Alocasias and Colocasias into my own because they seem to beplants more suitable for advanced gardeners whereas I'm still such a noob.
Arlon's blog is a great help, there's no doubt yours will be too. Now all I need is for Simba to start a blog and I'll have 3 superb sources of reference and inspiration.
Beautiful garden, I love the Alocasia bed but am still very wary of introducing Alocasias and Colocasias into my own because they seem to beplants more suitable for advanced gardeners whereas I'm still such a noob.
Arlon's blog is a great help, there's no doubt yours will be too. Now all I need is for Simba to start a blog and I'll have 3 superb sources of reference and inspiration.
Re: Dave B's garden Blog
Your plants always look fantastic even at the begining of the season cant wait to see them in a few weeks
Re: Dave B's garden Blog
Crikey Dave, you've had a busy day then, well earned glass of red,well done!! This is only really my second year of proper tropical growing and your efforts leave me almost speechless! To be fair I'm in a rented 1st floor flat,so no conservatory etc which I'd dearley love, but do have a tiny garden with a tiny polycarb greenhouse. You amaze me with the amount,both quantity and varieties that you either manage to overwinter or get going early. You certainly give me something to aspire to. I also spent all day in my little garden re-potting etc and had hoped to also place nanas,collies etc outside to make use of the supposed good week to come. Unfortunately the sun only broke through about six thirty just as it dipped below the surrounding buildings d'oh! Will try tomorrow if the suns out.Just how long have you been honing your tropical gardening skills with regard to these type of plants? I only started after moving back from Oz,what prompted you? Sorry thats if you dont mind me asking? Nige
Re: Dave B's garden Blog
trying to grasp a garden liek yours dave is like trying to understand the ending of 2001:
omg, it's full of plants!
omg, it's full of plants!
- Dave Brown
- Site Admin
- Posts: 19742
- Joined: Sun Jul 09, 2006 10:17 am
- Location: Chalk, (Thames Estuary) Kent, England 51.5N 0.3E
- Contact:
Re: Dave B's garden Blog
Thanks for the comments.
This style of gardening is not suited to everyone, as it does require a lot of work in spring starting off and bringing on, then in late spring planting out, and again in autumn digging out and lifting. Also I do have quite a high proportion of overwintering glass and plastic, compared to planting area.
My most precious tool this spring so far has been the new 62w Reptile mat. This has brought on all the Colocasia, and Brugs, as well as the Musa zebrina, Alpina shell ginger etc.
The garden is still evolving even after being here for 27 years. I am particularly pleased with the new effect the Alocasia calidora has against the reed screening fence. To me it cunjures up Thailand or the like.
Nige, in answer to how long......Makes me feel old Growing Plants 42 years, Cordylines 39 years, Palms 36 years, Ensete 32 years, Hardy Bananas 20 years, Alocsasia and Colocasia 9 years. Tree Ferns 4 years
This style of gardening is not suited to everyone, as it does require a lot of work in spring starting off and bringing on, then in late spring planting out, and again in autumn digging out and lifting. Also I do have quite a high proportion of overwintering glass and plastic, compared to planting area.
My most precious tool this spring so far has been the new 62w Reptile mat. This has brought on all the Colocasia, and Brugs, as well as the Musa zebrina, Alpina shell ginger etc.
The garden is still evolving even after being here for 27 years. I am particularly pleased with the new effect the Alocasia calidora has against the reed screening fence. To me it cunjures up Thailand or the like.
Nige, in answer to how long......Makes me feel old Growing Plants 42 years, Cordylines 39 years, Palms 36 years, Ensete 32 years, Hardy Bananas 20 years, Alocsasia and Colocasia 9 years. Tree Ferns 4 years
Best regards
Dave
_________________________________________________
Roll on summer.....
http://www.hardytropicals.co.uk
Dave
_________________________________________________
Roll on summer.....
http://www.hardytropicals.co.uk
Re: Dave B's garden Blog
All looking great Dave,icon_thumright can see why you struggled moving the Monte, It'll soon be rivaling the washy trunk for size. Heres hoping we all have a good summer.
Re: Dave B's garden Blog
is there no way to get a 'Montbeliardii' through winter outside ?
i feel like such a novice compared to your advancing years of experience ( )
how long till you started tackling colo/alocasia?
i love the look of these but they are a bit above my skill level atm.
any experience with Colocasia fallax ?
amulree says it can get through -8 planted out.
i feel like such a novice compared to your advancing years of experience ( )
how long till you started tackling colo/alocasia?
i love the look of these but they are a bit above my skill level atm.
any experience with Colocasia fallax ?
amulree says it can get through -8 planted out.
Re: Dave B's garden Blog
Nice topic dave I am getting more edged to move mine in to my back garden now, i currently have them on my balcony during the days. I may even change the position of my Alocasia this year as last year it was only getting sun from 1 onwards.
And I'm loving your jacks giant dave STUNNING
And I'm loving your jacks giant dave STUNNING
Re: Dave B's garden Blog
So when do we get an invite for the grand tour dave?
I would never get mine looking like yours dave, i'm too lazy
I would never get mine looking like yours dave, i'm too lazy
Re: Dave B's garden Blog
Looking GREAT already!!!!!
Most wanted list - Any Young Trachycarpus and/or fern.
Re: Dave B's garden Blog
fantastic as ever Dave.
is that a cyathea in pic 8.
pic 7 looks very jungley
regards
Lee
is that a cyathea in pic 8.
pic 7 looks very jungley
regards
Lee