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Post by andy on Jun 9, 2008 15:05:40 GMT
Everything is absolutely fantastic Andy - the Catalpa is wonderful - how old is it? I thought they got to be enormous... RF Yep they do....or you can lop them down to 5-6 foot and allow the leaves to become massive. There's a few trees that you can do this with....Clerodendron and Paulonia are another two. There's also a lovely purple catalpa too. |
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Post by Tig on Jun 9, 2008 15:17:36 GMT
What a beautiful display of colour and from  Is your gunnera growing in a container Andy? Tig |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 9, 2008 15:37:45 GMT
wow andy what lovely coloured begonias you have, very nice. mine are just in bud but i'm not sure what colour they all are now  and they won't be as nice as those you have. are they saved or fresh ones this year ? |
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Post by andy on Jun 9, 2008 16:14:11 GMT
Is your gunnera growing in a container Andy? Tig Yeah...getting a bit big though Tig. It stands in a drip tray full of water so it remains wet all the time !!! They are new ones this winter blacky. They cost a small fortune so i will be saving them next autumn. |
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Post by Cheerypeabrain on Jun 9, 2008 19:31:20 GMT
Lovely pics Andy....I could be in danger of developing banana-envy.....  My gunnera is just starting to grow now..it's in some boggy ground in the front garden and sulked for weeks, but now seems to be taking off. The ensete maurellii is in it's pot in the front garden...OH thinks somebody will pinch it, but I've had a few big pots in the garden for a few years now and they've not been touched (fingers crossed)...already had a few comments about it...but I can't wait for the gunnera to get big...THAT will get them going! I'll take some pics when I have a mo... |
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Post by Pip on Jun 10, 2008 12:14:36 GMT
What a wonderful garden you have Andy. I didn't quite realise just how many things could be grown in pots. I am still at the geranium and fuchsia stage I am afraid.
Pip
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Post by Tig on Jun 15, 2008 22:58:52 GMT
Strelitzia (another plant bought because some folk have managed to grow them  ) - how often should I feed it? what with? And ... it has already got its roots out of the bottom of the pot!! Meaning a cutting job to release it.. will it mind going into a decent sized pot, or does it like to be in a tight spot? x Tig |
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Post by madonplants on Jun 16, 2008 9:59:02 GMT
Can I just say, WOW, Andy??
How big are you expecting the Catalpa to grow in it's pot? I would love to have one too, just not sure where to put it!
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Post by Rosefriend on Jun 17, 2008 14:15:35 GMT
Can someone tell me when my Fatsia will stop growing for this year. It is still at it - don't get me wrong I am happy enough but it just surprises me.  RF |
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Post by andy on Jun 17, 2008 14:38:33 GMT
Can I just say, WOW, Andy??How big are you expecting the Catalpa to grow in it's pot? I would love to have one too, just not sure where to put it! Thanks Keith....the Catalpa will grow as big as i let it grow....they're one of the plants that can be cut hard back and grown as a multi trunked shrub. The harder you cut it back, the bigger and more colourful the leaves will be. Again RF...they can be cut hard back if needed....and i mean hard back !!! Looks a treat though doesn't it. One small tip, get a big tub and plant 3-5 small fatsia in there...in a year, they will look awesome !!! |
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Post by Rosefriend on Jun 17, 2008 14:57:45 GMT
What's a big tub Andy- 100litres?
I can imagine it would look fantastic .....wonder what my OH would think of the idea.....
RF
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Post by andy on Jun 17, 2008 15:23:57 GMT
What's a big tub Andy- 100litres? I can imagine it would look fantastic .....wonder what my OH would think of the idea..... RF Maybe a bit smaller...mine have been in about 30 litre tub for the past 10 years but really do need to go into a bigger one now. |
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Post by isabella on Jun 17, 2008 19:42:33 GMT
Your plants are fantastic Andy - beautiful Begonias Do you prune your Catalpa hard back?I planted mine in the garden last year but I am a bit scared of pruning it  When is the best time to prune them? |
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Post by Rosefriend on Jun 18, 2008 6:01:19 GMT
What's a big tub Andy- 100litres? I can imagine it would look fantastic .....wonder what my OH would think of the idea..... RF Maybe a bit smaller...mine have been in about 30 litre tub for the past 10 years but really do need to go into a bigger one now. I have an empty 50 litre tub at the moment - could I put 3 in there do you think. I must admit andy that the test will be if it survives the winter. I have lost so many lovely plants to the German winters. RF |
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Post by andy on Jun 18, 2008 9:24:39 GMT
Yep...3 in a 50L should be fine.
If you're at all worried RF, why not cover it with a bit of fleece when you're expecting cold weather. I've grown them down to at least minus 10 before and no doubt they've been grown lower during colder winters.
Ye of little faith ;D
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Post by Rosefriend on Jun 18, 2008 10:15:51 GMT
well you have got me this far andy, I might as well go all the way!!
I have a fatsia, passiflora, alocasia, Punica granatum, Musa basjoo and one or two other things. Together with the tub veg garden, it is really no wonder that my neighbours think I have got a screw loose.
I brought the fatsia onto the terrace after one neighbour said - ooo that's lovely for summer, I suppose, but when do you take it indoors for winter......mmmmmh.
RF
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Post by andy on Jun 18, 2008 10:36:45 GMT
Why not try some of the larger bog plants in tubs RF....Gunnera, Rogersia and Rheum would all look superb and some of the ligularias are good too (just watch the slugs on some of them though)
I grow mine in a tub filled with a loam based compost such as JI and mix it with leaf mould or some other organic matter. Then, i put the tub in a large drip tray and keep it topped up with water at all times.
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Post by Rosefriend on Jun 18, 2008 11:16:56 GMT
Andy - what are you doing to me for gawd's sake. I was a rose/perennial gardener before I met you.....interesting idea though
RF
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Post by andy on Jun 26, 2008 16:00:49 GMT
Red Banana update. I'm sure those of you who have been following this thread remembers the red banana i had last year. I got too gig for the conservatory so in order to get it through the door, i had to chop every leaf off and cut the trunk in half.
I gave the poor blighter a chance and took it to my nursery where they put it in the propagating house (70 deg F in winter)...now it is back....no miles better than it's original best last year and takes pride of place outside in the nursery.
But...from small acorns grow mighty oaks and after a quick trip to tescos just now, i have just picked up another for £5....only ickle at 24" tall but i have high hopes.
I'll try to get a pic of the one at the nursery next week.
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Post by Cheerypeabrain on Jun 28, 2008 13:23:24 GMT
I was really worried that I'd lose mine this year as it's far too big to take indoors, but you've given me hope Andy ;D You just can't beat those big red leaves can you?.
Did I tell you that I managed to get a rice paper plant at GW Live?....the leaves are just lovely. I told the man I bought it from 'I know somebody who's just LOVE this plant!' I'd been after a honey bush (melianthus major) but I just couldn't get one at the show. I think I'll try growing one from seed next year.
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Post by andy on Jun 28, 2008 17:30:38 GMT
Did I tell you that I managed to get a rice paper plant at GW Live?....the leaves are just lovely. I told the man I bought it from 'I know somebody who's just LOVE this plant!' I'd been after a honey bush (melianthus major) but I just couldn't get one at the show. I think I'll try growing one from seed next year. No you didn't tell me  Photos   |
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Post by Cheerypeabrain on Jun 29, 2008 19:11:22 GMT
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Post by Rosefriend on Jul 6, 2008 6:41:30 GMT
Remember the tiny wee banana last year - well look now.....not bad eh?!!  RF |
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Post by andy on Jul 6, 2008 13:06:47 GMT
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Post by Cheerypeabrain on Jul 7, 2008 20:33:52 GMT
...and the plantation opens when?
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Post by Rosefriend on Jul 8, 2008 6:31:18 GMT
Thanks both - lovely isn't it - I am well pleased.
My nosey neighbour (thankfully a few houses away) came around the other day - I am always amazed how often, after being in my garden, the same plants seems to find there way into her beds and borders, I've stopped telling her what things are called, my memory is awful, don't you know...anyway she sat down and started looking around as she always does - she has these eyes that never miss anything.....no I don't really like her either.
Anyway she spotted the banana which isn't hard to miss and she said very dryly...that is a banana... I was just going to give her 10 points when she followed it up with ...and that is a Passion flower....by this time I was enjoying myself and wondered what she would say when she discovered the Fatsia which was tickling her left ear.....not to mention the Dipladenia, Punica and Mimosa.....she did glance at those but the banana plant was the winner of the day...
Getting up she made to leave the terrace - she always comes in at the front and goes out at the back (more to see) and as she wandered down the garden looking at the roses , I spied the Colocasia and as that is the last thing I want her to have, I plonked myself in front of it so that she couldn't see it. Thinking that I had won, I breathed a sigh of relief..only to hear her say, spuds, onions, carrots, toms....and my heart sank - she was at the veg plot.....
Well I think this gave her the rest and as she struggled with the gate (it sticks) I could see her writing her mental list of plants to buy.... She fair broke into a trot going down the road and then I heard her shout "Rainer, Rainer, rosefriend has got a huuuuuge banana"........my reputation as a rose grower has finally gone.......a terrace full of exotics and the back as a veg garden.....I do so wish she had used the word "plant" after the huuuuuge banana bit though!!
RF
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Post by andy on Jul 8, 2008 15:04:57 GMT
 .....now you make sure....by hook or by crook, that they all come through the winter ok You need to start coming across as a bit "high and mighty" RF....you know....... "oh, didn't you know Fatsias are hardy shrubs and the Japanese banana is root hardy down to minus 18c" ;D
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Post by Rosefriend on Jul 9, 2008 6:05:51 GMT
"high and mighty" eh??!
Well she has gone and bought herself a banana plant - she came round yesterday and shoved it up my nose....asked what she should do with it.....I was extremely polite Andy, believe me.
RF
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Post by Rosefriend on Jul 20, 2008 8:19:51 GMT
My colocasia is a dream this year again. I cannot get over the feel of the leaves - just like a chamois leather and the way the rain just pearls off....lovely.  RF |
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Post by andy on Jul 20, 2008 10:04:16 GMT
Got mine in the conservatory RF and it's stunning like yours.
I'm on the look out for the variety "lime zinger" next year !!!
Will you be bringing it in over winter RF ?
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Is your gunnera growing in a container Andy?
and they won't be as nice as those you have. are they saved or fresh ones this year ?
) - how often should I feed it? what with? And ... it has already got its roots out of the bottom of the pot!! Meaning a cutting job to release it.. will it mind going into a decent sized pot, or does it like to be in a tight spot?
